It’s a tiny nook bar in a gritty South Philadelphia neighborhood, a hangout no greater than the row homes that encompass it. A bunch of possibly 30 locals, some pals for 50 years, collect at Massive Charlie’s Saloon each fall Sunday, filling the place to the brim.
Generally you wanna go
The place all people loves your staff
Think about, a Kansas Metropolis Chiefs bar within the Metropolis of Brotherly Love, the place authorities must grease the sunshine poles to maintain jubilant Eagles followers from climbing them — and even that doesn’t work. But, even with Philadelphia squaring off in opposition to Kansas Metropolis in Tremendous Bowl LIX in New Orleans, the patrons of Massive Charlie’s nonetheless stomach as much as the bar within the stomach of the beast.
“That is our neighborhood, and it really works as a result of we’re neighborhood guys,” mentioned Paul Staico, who owns the institution 5 blocks from Lincoln Monetary Discipline. “So you could have Eagles followers, Chiefs followers mingling each single day. It does occur.”
It received’t be occurring Sunday, although — no less than not on a grand scale. As he did two years in the past when the Eagles and Chiefs first met within the Tremendous Bowl, Staico closed the bar to the general public and invited solely a small group of family and friends. He didn’t at all times like the way in which the bar was portrayed by native media.
“Final time round, a few totally different TV stations type of made us appear like the unhealthy man,” he mentioned. “I felt like we’ve been right here so lengthy they shouldn’t have put a spin like that on it.”
For that sport, which the Chiefs received, Staico initially had deliberate a Tremendous Bowl celebration and bought tickets. When the primary 150 bought out in two hours, nevertheless, he realized the occasion was getting too large too shortly. He feared the intersection could be clogged with journey shares, and he didn’t need strangers meandering the unfamiliar streets in Chiefs jerseys.
“For those who had been wandering anyplace outdoors of this neighborhood you’d have bother,” he mentioned. “I don’t need to have that on my fingers.”
Staico is a Philly man via and thru. He loves the 76ers, Flyers and Phillies and celebrates them at his bar. He pours gallons of Budweiser and Coors, however plenty of Yuengling and Rolling Rock too. There are six TVs at Massive Charlie’s, and at any given time there’s considered one of 5 motion pictures enjoying: “The Godfather,” “Goodfellas,” “A Bronx Story,” “Jaws” and — naturally — “Rocky.”
In reality, there’s a scene in “Rocky” that was shot close by.
Massive Charlie’s Saloon proprietor Paul Staico, heart with finger up, gathers with patrons at his South Philadelphia bar.
(Courtesy of Paul Staico)
“Sylvester Stallone walks via a convent that’s close to a church that’s two blocks away,” Staico mentioned. “It’s my parish.”
So why, within the identify of Sly, does Staico root for the Chiefs?
It appears his late father, for whom Massive Charlie’s is known as, was a gambler who guess on Kansas Metropolis to beat Minnesota in Tremendous Bowl IV (which, coincidentally, was performed in New Orleans). It was 1970, and younger Paul hadn’t began grade college.
“I keep in mind him telling me we want the pink staff to win,” Staico mentioned. “They received, and the subsequent day I obtained a motorbike. I used to be loyal after that.”
A couple of years later, Charlie purchased the bar. Paul stayed loyal to the Chiefs, despite the fact that they weren’t on TV in Philadelphia greater than possibly a sport per season. Years later, his household obtained a satellite tv for pc dish and his fandom grew.
Charlie died in 1983, and ultimately Paul and his buddies started watching video games on the bar. The group grew and started to build up Chiefs memorabilia — jerseys, helmets, posters, cups — and embellish their hangout.
When NFL Movies showcased Massive Charlie’s in 2003, then stunned everybody in 2023 by bringing former Chiefs (and Eagles) coach Dick Vermeil by for a go to, the place turned greater than a neighborhood curiosity.
“That actually put us on the map,” Staico mentioned.
Michael Puggi, who grew up across the nook from Massive Charlie’s Saloon, holds a duplicate of the Lombardi Trophy that was gifted to the bar.
(Jessica Griffin / The Philadelphia Inquirer)
At some point, the spouse of Kansas Metropolis defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo stopped by and introduced her father. They cherished the vibe of the place. Quickly sufficient, Spagnuolo dropped in with a present: a duplicate Lombardi Trophy from the Tremendous Bowl win over the Eagles.
“After we obtained the one,” Staico mentioned, “I mentioned I gotta get the one from 1970 too. Then over time we received a pair extra, and now I’ve obtained 4 trophies at the back of the bar.”
A relentless circulation of Chiefs followers take selfies with these shiny silver keepsakes.
However not this Tremendous Bowl Sunday.
“We’re gonna take a knee,” mentioned Staico, South Philly’s reply to Sam Malone.
Cheers to that.