Beloved Tahoe burger spot Char Pit is for sale

Char Pit at Kings Beach has been open since 1962. One of North Lake Tahoe’s most beloved restaurants is up for sale. The , a more than 60 year old institution in Kings Beach, was put for $1.9 million in December 2023. The sale includes the property — and, depending on the bid, could include the business, too.

Owner Bobby Starbard is hoping to find someone to take over and continue the burger joint’s legacy, but is open to other offers as well. Larry Peyton, the listing agent for the 8732 North Lake Blvd. property, said if Starbard doesn’t get a deal he’s happy with, he’ll continue operating the Char Pit.

That seems unlikely, though, as Peyton said they’ve had a lot of interest so far. Given its coveted location, on a busy street fronting the lake, he said some potential buyers have had other visions for the space beyond a burger joint. Starbard has been working at the Char Pit since he was 16 years old.

He later bought the restaurant from the former owner when he was just 21, with what he described as his “college money,” dedicating himself to serving the classic burgers and fries he grew up with. He also previously operated the nearby , as well as the Sand Harbor Bar and Grill in Carson City, Nev., but these days, he’s hoping to spend more time with his family, according to Peyton.

Advertisement Article continues below this ad “His hope and dream is for someone to buy the property and continue the Char Pit,” Peyton said. “That’s what he would prefer. That’s what I would prefer. That’s what the locals would prefer.” | | | |.