Club Charles And The Ghost of Frenchie

Posted: 09.26.2024 | Updated: 09.26.2024

Baltimore has always been known for its off-the-wall nightspots. And Club Charles might be the most off-the-wall of them all, which is saying a lot. For nearly 70 years, this Baltimore institution has marched to its own beat. Part dive joint, part speakeasy, part hipster bar, the club’s crimson hue, neon cocktail signs, and slightly offbeat atmosphere have made it the “it” joint on the local scene.  

Club Charles attracts an eclectic crowd of buttoned-down businessmen in their swanky Brooks Brothers suits, avant-garde artists, local college students, and just plain ole everymen. Over the years, it has also attracted a rather odd list of celebrity clientele, including renowned filmmaker John Waters (who basically calls it his home away from home), Johhny Depp, Anthony Bourdain, Iggy Pop, Deborah Harry, The Cars’ Ric Ocasek, and even supermodel Paulina Porizkova. 

But perhaps its most famous patron isn’t a patron at all. It's actually a restless spirit.

Why Does “Frenchie” Haunt Club Charles?

“Frenchie” - a one-time waiter in Baltimore—loved his work. He was dedicated, hardworking, and extremely popular. He lived in a tiny apartment above Club Charles. Frenchie’s job was his life, so he could never leave it behind—even in death. This is why he chose to hang out in his old haunts, naturally right above a bar and restaurant, the kind of setting he was most comfortable in.

Who Is “Frenchie” 

Frenchie is a rather fun-loving ghost who, true to his nature, still likes to have a good time. And being who he was or is, he has never let a minor inconvenience like death get in the way of those good times. Today, he continues to pursue his two true passions—charming women and forever playing silly pranks on unsuspecting victims.

Born Edouard Andre Neyt near Paris in 1925, the diminutive (all of 5’3”)  Frenchman’s early life was purported to be as fascinating as his afterlife exploits. He was reputed to live the dangerous life of a double agent in World War II. The erstwhile spy supposedly worked for the Nazis in his occupied homeland, all the while passing on their secrets to the French Resistance. Perhaps due to the utter destruction and hopelessness left behind by the war, Frenchie crossed the Atlantic and landed in Baltimore, where he began his lifelong career as a waiter. He died alone in his apartment above Club Charles in 1979 due to, not surprisingly, acute alcoholism.

Frenchie’s life and afterlife are the stuff of legend. But if you want the real scoop on Club Charles’ most spirited patron, come along on our Baltimore Ghost tour, and we’ll tell you all about it.

Club Charles, Baltimore’s Favorite Haunt

Club Charles has become a true cultural landmark on the Baltimore night scene. Hidden away in the dodgy cultural corridor just south of North Ave on Charles Street, now known as the Station North Arts & Entertainment District, it has continuously served hungry and thirsty patrons in the same spot since 1941. Once considered a rough and tumble speakeasy where it was “customers beware,” the recently refurbished bar has morphed into something completely different - a favorite hangout for the artsy crowd, musicians, and suburban housewives coming from a movie at the Charles Theater across the street, even celebrities. It’s somehow gone from Baltimore’s scariest place to its coolest nightspot.

Club Charles is a funky hodgepodge of bizarre trappings that border on the absurd. In fact, they are just as crazy as the spirit who hangs out there. Its stylized art deco surroundings include bordello-red lighting that casts a crimson hue, neon lights, and ceiling murals of the zodiac and Hell reclaimed from a New York theater. There are even waitresses flying overhead on trapezes! Yes. Actual flying trapezes. It’s a true hipster’s paradise! And the perfect place for a good time spirit like Frenchie.

For many years, a sign hung above the bar, proclaiming, “I’ll sleep when I’m dead.”  But good old Frenchie doesn’t sleep. He just keeps on partying. 

So What’s Frenchie Up To These Days?

Apparitions. Footsteps. Shadows. Moving bottles. And a little dead Frenchman. Yes, Club Charles is haunted. And the number one culprit is a spirit named Frenchie. Unlike most ghosts, Frenchie wants to do anything but keep a low profile. He routinely pops up in his black and white waiter’s garb, only to disappear into thin air when he’s approached. Moreover, patrons are known to experience the feeling of having the back of their hair mussed  (a well-known Frenchie prank). Of course, when they turn around, there’s no one there.

He’s also known to rearrange the bottles at the bar and even pour himself a cold one from the beer tap. After all, there’s nothing worse than a sober, thirsty spirit.

Frenchie’s shenanigans don’t end there. He frequently calls the staff on the house pay phone. There’s only one problem. It doesn't accept incoming calls. But perhaps Frenchie’s coup de grace may be his juggling act. Patrons, wondering if they’ve done a bit too much partying, watch in amazement as glasses float and tumble through thin air before eventually settling on the floor unbroken. It’s Frenchie at his best.

Tales of Frenchie the Friendly Ghost

The stories of Frenchie’s exploits abound. The club owner says she sees Frenchie so often that she’s ready to put him on the payroll. And she’s not alone when it comes to dealing with the Puckish presence.

Another tale comes from the Baltimore City Paper of the eerie happenings at Club Charles. For years, a group of cops and cab drivers would gather for a few hands of cards at the club after closing. Frenchie would usually arrive home late from work and head straight to the table to give the players a hard time. He’d muss with their hair and try to sit in their laps.

He had had such a great time he just couldn’t bear to leave all the fun behind … even in death. After his sad demise, the games continued. However, late at night, about the time Frenchie would usually arrive, some of the players reported objects mysteriously moving about and, once again, feeling their hair being ruffled. One cop, tiring of being interrupted in the middle of the game, actually pulled out his revolver and fired it in the air as he shouted at Frenchie. He obviously missed.

On another occasion, a recently hired bartender was preparing for the evening. The club was closed, and the doors were locked. The club owner was in the basement office, while the new bartender was basically alone in the shadowy bar.

Glancing up from her duties, she spotted a “small, older gentleman in black trousers and white shirt” at the top of the stairs leading to the upper bar. When she glanced away for a moment, he disappeared. The young bartender screamed in fear. The owner calmly looked up from her paperwork. “Oh, that’s just Frenchie,” she said. “We don’t like to tell the new people about him.”

Haunted Baltimore

In a city widely known for its dark history, treachery, and evil spirits, Club Charles and its resident ghost are a welcome breath of paranormal fresh air. After all, Frenchie isn’t really scary (well, as non-scary as a ghost can be). He’s just out for a good time. Yep. He’s the life of the party, just not in the classic sense.

Dying, pardon the pun, to find out more about good old Frenchie and his escapades? Then join us for a spirited good time on our Baltimore Ghosts tour. Just hope you have a sense of humor and don't mind pranks.

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