A family-friendly business bringing quality food and essential services closer to the community

Businesses are the lifeline of communities. They offer more than just services and goods—they create a safe space for families, a hangout spot for friends, and a place where neighbours can reconnect. That is exactly what Collette Charles set out to build when she opened her business, Charlie’s. She wanted to create something meaningful, rooted in community and made for families. Today, she stands as the woman behind Charlie’s—one of the newest and most vibrant businesses already gaining massive support in the Parfait Harmony community.
Speaking to Pepperpot Magazine, Collette said the idea of Charlie’s was to craft a space for families. “I wanted to bring something to the community. Something that is family-oriented,” she shared. With warm lighting, a clean, family-friendly setup, and good food, Charlie’s offers far more than a good meal—it offers a place where families can gather, friends can meet, and people can feel at home.

Collette, who is a headteacher by profession, has been in the education sector for nearly three decades. “I’ve worked over 20, close to 26, 27 years. I’ve loved it since I started just out of high school,” she shared. Her venture into entrepreneurship came later. Teaching, however, she said, is in her blood. “Both my parents were teachers,” she noted, adding that her parents had a strong, positive influence on her career choices.
Though she spent most of her life in Georgetown, Collette was born in 51 Village, Berbice. “I left Berbice since I was like three. Most of my life I lived in Georgetown,” she recalled. But it was Parfait Harmony, on the West Bank of Demerara, where she chose to build her home—and eventually, her business. “I have land in Parfait, so I built my home here with my family. And then I built Charlie’s,” she explained.

Collette’s vision for Charlie’s began more than a decade ago. “Past 10 years, I had it in thought,” she said. With the support of her husband and family, she turned that idea into a physical space—one that quickly grew from a food outlet into a mini commercial hub. The business features more than just food—it houses several other essential services. As Collette shared, “We got water. We got detergent. We got the barbershop. We got the laundromat. We got the food. There’s six different businesses. I would say essential, if you think about it.”
What makes Charlie’s particularly special is its commitment to quality. With a love for cooking and a family that loves food, Collette ensures that Charlie’s serves the kind of food people would usually travel to get. “We’re foodies. We eat out a lot. So we saw the need for something in the scheme. People face the same plight as us—going over the bridge, all the way to Georgetown, if you need something to eat,” she said.

Located in the heart of the community, Charlie’s brings restaurant-standard food closer to home. “Let’s bring that right here in the community. Same standard as Georgetown, and the malls and so on.” She further added, “We wanted to provide a lot of businesses so people don’t have to go far.” It’s a model that seems to work. Whether it’s a quick haircut, a bite to eat, or laundry day—Charlie’s has become a one-stop shop.

Her food, she said, is made with a difference, drawing inspiration from various places. “We do everything different. We also travel a lot, so we see a lot of things and ideas that we could introduce here as well,” Collette shared. It’s that global experience paired with local heart that shapes the Charlie’s experience.

Beyond business, Collette is deeply invested in changing perceptions about the Parfait Harmony community. Tucked away on the West Bank of Demerara, the village of Parfait Harmony is not known by many—but with the emergence of new businesses like hers, Collette hopes to change that. As she explained, “Parfait has a vibrant middle class, and people need somewhere close that they can go, sit, and enjoy good food and certain services,” she said.

However, Collette’s dream doesn’t stop here. Moving forward, she and her husband hope to develop a sports bar—a relaxing, close-to-home space for adults to unwind. “I want to create a space where people just sit at the bar, look at the sports—something really nice,” she shared.
Since moving to Parfait Harmony in 2012, Collette has watched the area grow. Now, with Charlie’s quickly growing alongside the community, she hopes to continue playing a role in that growth—both as a business owner and a proud resident. With just a handful of staff members, Collette says family support played a major role in making the business both a reality and a success. And that’s what truly makes Charlie’s stand out—not just its menu or range of services, but the love and teamwork that built it.

For Collette, Charlie’s isn’t just a business—it’s her community contribution. As she described it, something clean. Where people could come and sit and relax and feel like they’re at home.” So if you’re on the West Side and need a quick haircut or a bite to eat, check out Charlie’s.