A Letter From our President & CEO

Our commitment to you starts here.

Welcome to ICON Hospitality, a company rooted in hard work, integrity, and dedication to excellence. Whether we’re serving you a cupcake or managing your construction project, we’re committed to offering you superior quality and service at every turn.

Plenty has changed since I bought and operated the 30-seat pizzeria that was to become the cornerstone of ICON Hospitality, but the ideas and principles that guided me as I greeted guests in that restaurant remain unchanged:

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We Strive To Be The Best

From the taste of the marinara sauce to the sparkle of the crystal chandeliers in The Carriage House, we work tirelessly to ensure that our venues, our cuisine, and our people are world-class.

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We care about the guest

Whether we’re updating a lunch menu or considering a brand new business venture, our ultimate concern is the experience of the guest. Your wants and needs matter to us, and we operate our business accordingly.
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We find & reward talent

We understand that to provide our guests with a first-rate experience, we must have the help of first-rate employees. Our interview, training and leadership development procedures are focused on finding the best employees, teaching them well, and keeping them happy.

If you’d like to learn more about our company, our portfolio, our history, and our people, feel free to explore this site. Then visit one of our properties, and experience the ICON commitment for yourself.

Our Family of Businesses

1992

Gourmet is Born

With his own money and a loan from his Grandmother, 23 year-old Michael Charlton, buys 30-seat pizzeria in downtown Galloway, NJ. The pizzeria quickly develops a solid reputation and loyal following. Within 5 years, business increases by 900 percent and the staff increase tenfold

1995

A New Vision

Charlton acquires a liquor license with visions of expanding to larger venues

1998

A Growing Gourmet

Charlton aquires real estate across the street and builds Gourmet Italian Cuisine, increasing the restaurants’s capacity to 360 seats, with the addition of a trendy bar/lounge, elegant banquet rooms and corporate offices

1998

ICON is born

Charlton forms ICON Construction and Development, a critical collaborator in the development of the town center, conceptualizing many of the design themes and elements

2000

ICON Grows

Charlton forms ICON Hospitality to serve as an umbrella over Gourmet Italian Cuisine and future business venues

2003

Gourmet Liquors

Designed and Constructed by ICON Construction and Development, ICON Hospitality opens Gourmet Liquors, an upscale 10,000 square-foot store offering a extensive selection of wines, spirits and beers

2006

The Carriage House

Designed and Constructed by ICON Construction and Development, ICON Hospitality opens The Carriage House, a premiere wedding and event venue combining the charm of a southern plantation cosmopolitan sophistication

2009

ICON Flourishes

ICON Construction and Development manages the construction of Ocean City Home Bank’s Galloway branch

2010

The Family Grows

Designed and Constructed by ICON Construction and Development, ICON Hospitality opens Luscious & Sweet Gourmet Bakery, a boutique bakery offering freshly made cupcakes, special occasion cakes, brownies, cookies and other confections

Today

ICON Hospitality continues to operate its successful businesses, with plans to expand into new venues