Executive Spotlight: Charley Shin, Founder and CEO of Gosh Enterprises (2027)
Charley Shin is the founder and chief executive of Charleys Cheesesteaks and the sole owner of Gosh Enterprises, the Columbus, Ohio company that also owns BIBIBOP Asian Grill and Lennys Grill & Subs. He opened the first Charleys in 1986 as an Ohio State University student, began franchising in 1991, and by April 2026 Nation's Restaurant News reported more than 880 Charleys locations in 46 states and 17 countries.
This page covers public professional information only, drawn from trade press, local news and company pages.
Current role and company
Charleys' own press page calls Shin the founder and CEO of Charleys Philly Steaks and says he privately owns Gosh Enterprises, which also includes BIBIBOP Asian Grill and Lennys Grill & Subs. A 2024 Columbus Dispatch profile (carried by AOL) and an April 2026 NRN profile describe him the same way. Titles are as reported in those sources and may have changed since.
- CompanyGosh Enterprises, based in the Columbus, Ohio area; parent of Charleys, BIBIBOP and Lennys.
- TitleFounder and CEO (per the Charleys press page and NRN, April 2026).
- OwnershipSole owner of Gosh Enterprises (Charleys press page; Columbus Dispatch, 2024).
- BrandsCharleys Cheesesteaks, BIBIBOP Asian Grill, Lennys Grill & Subs.
Career path
- 1986. While a student at Ohio State, Shin opened a roughly 450-square-foot cheesesteak shop on High Street near campus. He had tasted his first Philly cheesesteak on a trip to Philadelphia the year before.
- Mid-1980s. Per NRN, a mentor advised him to move into mall locations, cook in front of customers and keep accurate books, which helped him secure loans for his next stores.
- 1991. Charleys began franchising.
- 1995. The first international Charleys opened in Ontario, Canada, per the company timeline.
- 2012. NRN (2015) reports a rebrand that put the cheesesteak at the center of the menu.
- 2013. The first BIBIBOP Asian Grill opened in the Columbus area, a Korean-inspired build-your-own rice bowl concept.
- Late 2019. Gosh Enterprises acquired Memphis-founded Lennys Grill & Subs, according to a 2021 Lennys post.
What he is known for
- Growing a campus shop into a global franchise. From one small store near Ohio State, Charleys grew to more than 880 locations in 46 states and 17 countries by April 2026, per NRN.
- A second brand, BIBIBOP. NRN reported in 2015 that Shin developed BIBIBOP after about eight months of work and that it was largely company-owned. By April 2026 NRN counted nearly 70 U.S. locations.
- Turning the menu toward cheesesteaks. NRN's 2015 coverage describes a 2012 rebrand that emphasized cheesesteaks and added a third sandwich size.
- Adding Lennys. Gosh Enterprises bought Lennys Grill & Subs in late 2019, giving the company a third brand.
Leadership style and philosophy
In NRN's 2015 coverage Shin said, "At its core, we take care of our employees and take care of our customers." In the 2024 Columbus Dispatch profile he said, "Making money is good, but how we do it is more important than the end result." In NRN's April 2026 profile he recalled, "I was such a stickler for quality; it was more important to me than making money," and on the market he said, "We just have to be sharp and adapt to what customers want." This page does not claim a wider philosophy than these remarks.
Key numbers
Company-reported or press-reported figures, each with its period.
- 1986Year the first Charleys opened near Ohio State (company).
- 2015540 Charleys locations, 70 of them international (NRN, March 2015).
- 2022Almost 700 Charleys locations in 47 U.S. states and 16 countries, per the company press page (figures as listed there).
- April 2026More than 880 Charleys locations in 46 states and 17 countries; nearly 70 BIBIBOP locations (NRN).
- 2021About 70 Lennys locations in 14 states (Lennys post, August 2021).
Questions people ask
Who is Charley Shin?
He is the founder and CEO of Charleys Cheesesteaks and the sole owner of Gosh Enterprises, which also owns BIBIBOP Asian Grill and Lennys Grill & Subs.
What does Gosh Enterprises own?
Charleys Cheesesteaks, BIBIBOP Asian Grill and Lennys Grill & Subs, per the Charleys press page and Columbus Dispatch coverage.
When did Charleys start?
Shin opened the first location in 1986 near the Ohio State campus and began franchising in 1991, per the company.
How many Charleys locations are there?
NRN reported more than 880 locations in 46 states and 17 countries in April 2026. Counts change, so check the company.
When did BIBIBOP open?
The first BIBIBOP Asian Grill opened in 2013 in the Columbus area, per NRN.
When did Gosh Enterprises acquire Lennys?
In late 2019, according to a 2021 post on the Lennys site.
Sources
- Nation's Restaurant News: How a college senior's cheesesteak dream became a global reality (Apr 2026) · Career timeline, 2026 location counts, quotes; hero photo whose alt text names Charley Shin
- Nation's Restaurant News: Parent of Charleys Philly Steak puts faith in new Asian concept (Mar 2015) · BIBIBOP development, 2015 counts, 2012 rebrand, quote
- Charleys: Press Resources (founder bio and timeline) · Title, 1986 opening, 1991 franchising, 1995 international, ownership of Gosh Enterprises
- Columbus Dispatch via AOL: Charleys Cheesesteaks founder Charley Shin started small, but found success in Columbus (2024) · Ownership of BIBIBOP and Lennys, 2013 BIBIBOP opening, quote
- Lennys Grill & Subs: Lennys on life with Charleys (Aug 2021) · Late-2019 acquisition, 2021 Lennys counts
Facts were read from the linked pages on November 1, 2026. Titles and counts are as of the dates shown and may have changed. The hero photo is the Nation's Restaurant News Power List image of Shin alone; its alt text on that page reads "Charley Shin, Charleys Cheesesteaks, NRN Power List". The Power List graphic was cropped off and the photo is shown on a blurred background to fit the page format. This page covers public professional information only.
Top photo: Nation's Restaurant News (nrn.com)