It’s the last weekend before legendary Gulfport restaurant closes doors forever
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Catfish Charlie will close March 14 after 46 years serving Gulfport diners.
- Open Fri–Sat dinners (5–8 p.m.); stay extended two weekends into Lent.
- Sinopolis retiring; Dedeaux-owned building available to lease; estate sale considered.
Just one weekend remains to get a last helping of Catfish Charlie fish, chicken and Southern sides before the Gulfport restaurant closes after 46 years.
They had planned to stay open until the end of February, said Karen Sinopoli, but agreed to extend that two more weekends into Lent. The final day is March 14.
The restaurant is open for dinner from 5-8 p.m. and only on Friday and Saturday.
The old-fashioned fish house filled with nostalgia is at 11419 Canal Road, Gulfport, a couple miles north of I-10. The scenic landmark was built by the Dedeaux Clan and is on a pond and next to the rocking chair that holds claim to the largest in the world.
Catfish Charlie opened in early 1980 and is named for the founder, Charlie Sinopoli, who opened the restaurant with his brother, Gary. Michael Sinopoli started working there with his father and uncle on weekends while continuing at his full-time job. He and Karen met at the restaurant, where she also was working. They helped keep the restaurant going for 10 years before moving to Washington state. They returned in March 2005, after Charlie died and Gary wanted to retire, and kept Catfish Charlie going another 21 years.
Southern food and hospitality
The restaurant thrived by serving classic Southern food paired with friendly service.
Their Homestead Special is served family-style, with catfish and country chicken filets fried in top-quality peanut oil and brought hot to the table as more are needed.
Their farm-raised catfish dinner provides a generous portion of crispy fried catfish, coleslaw, hushpuppies, biscuits and a helping of french fries or baked sweet potato.
Customers order plates of shrimp and combinations of fish, shrimp and oysters, along with their own onion rings and fried pickles appetizers, Diane said, and their buttermilk biscuits.
“We also have the best baked sweet potato that people say they’ve ever had, because we have a special way of prepping it and cooking it,” she said. People don’t realize until they try it how good sweet potato is with their fish, she said.
What’s next?
Four generations of the Sinopoli family have welcomed customers to Catfish Charlie. Like Baby Boomers who own businesses owners across the country, Michael and Karen are in their 70s, she said, and ready to retire and enjoy travel and life.
The building owned by the Dedeaux family is available to lease and the Sinopoli famy is considering an estate sale, so loyal customers can keep memento from the years of Catfish Charlie.
“We’re so beholden to all the people who came on a regular basis,” Diane said. “We appreciate them, all the years and all the support we’ve had in this little destination.” Even off the beaten track, she said tourists found them after searching online for a place with seafood and a warm Southern welcome.
This story was originally published March 6, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
