Charlie mac’s

Art direction & interior design

An immersive restaurant and sports bar design for Charlie Mac's, blending handcrafted interiors, vintage-inspired branding, and Southern barbecue culture into a lively, character-filled Key West gathering place.

Interior of a bar with high stools along a brick counter, multiple TV screens hanging from the ceiling, and a large brick wall decorated with graffiti-style artwork and signage indicating the bar is open.
Three men smiling and posing together in a bar or restaurant, with other people and a TV screen showing a baseball game in the background.

Project details

Completed as a full-scale art direction and design project, Charlie Mac's opened in 2012 as a bold new restaurant and sports bar concept in the heart of Key West, later earning a Beautification Award from the Key West Chamber of Commerce. Led by Marky Pierson alongside Michael Marrero and crew, the project encompassed overall art direction, branding, interior design, logos, menus, signage, and environmental storytelling, shaping a space that felt both richly layered and deeply rooted in Americana. Original artwork, handcrafted faux finishes, aged signage, vintage-inspired billboards, and immersive details transformed the restaurant into an atmosphere that balanced Southern barbecue culture with the character and eccentricity of Key West. Located beside the iconic Green Parrot Bar, Charlie Mac’s became known not only for its slow-smoked barbecue and lively sports culture—with craft beer, oversized viewing screens, and devoted fan gatherings—but also for its memorable visual identity, including interactive moments like the now-famous “mugshot wall” that invited guests to become part of the experience.

Completed in 2012

Explore Project Galleries

Advertisement for Charlie Mac's, a barbecue restaurant located at 404 Southard Street. Features a plate of smoked ribs with sides, and text about specials including All You Can Eat Smoked Spare Ribs and PBR Drafts for $24.95. Mentions live music Thur
Sign for Charlie Mac's Smokehouse & Seafood with a 404 error message, featuring bold red and black text, and stylized design elements.
Black poster advertising Charlie Mac's BBQ restaurant with a photo of pulled pork sandwich and fries, featuring the address 404 Southard Street, phone number 305-320-0204, website charliemacs404.com, and happy hour details from 4 to 7 PM. It also men
A promotional coupon for Charlie Mac's Smokehouse & Seafood, featuring a cartoon pig with a cigar, sunglasses, and a baseball cap, offering a free baseball club after collecting seven stamps.
Flyer for a backyard BBQ championships event featuring Charlie Mac's Smokehouse & Seafood. The event takes place on Saturday, July 5 from 1 to 3 PM, with activities including tasting, voting, and rib judging. Registration details and contact info are
Menu from Charlie Mac's Smokehouse & Seafood featuring sections for Beer, Wine, Usual Suspects, Witness Protection, Work Release Program, Key West's Most Wanted, Life Sentence, White Collar Criminals, Armed & Dangerous, Repeat Offenders, and a silhou
Cartoon pig with sunglasses, wearing a baseball cap with initials 'CM', holding a cigar, and wearing a red bandana.
Promotional poster for Southernmost Rewards in Key West, FL, encouraging earning points from participating locations like Turtle Kraals, Rum Barrel, Green Parrot, and others, with photos of people enjoying food, drinks, and entertainment.
Menu with various sections including salads, starters, house smoked, charlies' picknick, burgers, and extras, listing dishes such as house salad, strawberry salad, Caesar salad, smoked tofu sliders, fresh catch platter, pulled pork, baby backs, and c
Decorative wall display with a pig graphic and the word 'Mercantile'. Various framed images, a black T-shirt, and a red sign are arranged on the display. The number '404' is prominent, indicating a missing or error message.
Flyer for Charlie Mac's Smokehouse & Seafood offering a $10 discount on carryout orders of $50 or more. The flyer features images of ribs, fries, a slice of bread, and a salad with fresh vegetables, plus the bar with condiments in the background. The
Promotional flyer for Charlie Mac's restaurant featuring a pulled pork sandwich with fries, the restaurant's name, address, phone number, website, and details about live music, happy hour, outdoor bar, and large TV screens.
A close-up of hanging industrial-style yellow-orange lamp fixtures mounted on a brick wall in a restaurant or cafe setting.
A bar with a row of wooden chairs in front, a brick wall with sports and previous news related screens, and several beer taps lined up on the counter.
A group of six people, three men and three women, standing together in a doorway at a social event at a restaurant or bar. The women are dressed in waitress costumes with blue skirts, white tops, and fishnet stockings. The men are wearing casual shir
Empty bar with chairs, liquor bottles on shelves, multiple television screens, brick wall with painted pig and neon sign that says 'Beer, Food, and Drink' in a restaurant or pub setting.
Interior of a restaurant with wooden tables and chairs, brick wall decorations including a '404' sign, a vintage-style framed portrait of a woman, and colorful mural art, with one large framed colorful painting on the right side.
A man with glasses and a plaid shirt holding a microphone and gesturing with his hand, standing in front of a painted mural of animated pigs. There is audio equipment and a guitar nearby.
The interior of a restaurant or bar with a brick wall featuring painted and illuminated signs, including a partly visible sign that reads 'BABETOUZ'. There are several black pendant lights hanging from the ceiling, and tables set with condiments such
Interior of a restaurant with a red brick wall, decorated with colorful graffiti-style painting and text. There are dark wooden tables and chairs, condiments on the tables, and industrial-style hanging light fixtures.
Inside a bar with a wooden counter, high stools, multiple TV screens, and brick walls with American-themed decorations, including black-and-white photos and neon signs.
Empty restaurant dining area with wooden tables and chairs, decorated with framed pictures, murals, and signs on the walls, including a large clock, neon sign, and colorful artwork, with pendant lighting and a patterned tile floor.
A family of four, including two children, is enjoying a meal at a restaurant. They are sitting at a dark wooden table with various food and drinks, including fries, salads, and soft drinks. The restaurant has a brick wall with colorful mural art and
Interior of a restaurant decorated with vintage signs, framed photos, and artwork including a rooster and a colorful bird, with hanging pendant lights and textured beige walls.
Brick wall mural advertising a steakhouse with large red cursive text, a cartoon cow holding a fork, and hanging light bulbs.
A burger with cheese, beef patty, bacon, onion rings, lettuce, tomato, and fries served in a basket lined with newspaper-style paper at a rustic bar or restaurant interior.
A brick wall with colorful graffiti art featuring a stylized face with exaggerated features, including large lips and a nose. The graffiti also includes text and vibrant colors, with a hanging light bulb illuminating part of the artwork.
Interior of a restaurant with dark wooden tables and booths, decorated with framed colorful artwork, a mounted ram skull with horns, candles, and a brass mannequin head, illuminated by hanging industrial-style pendant lights, with a brick wall and a
Interior of a bar with a brick wall featuring a colorful mural of a hand holding a beer mug and the words 'West Virginia'. There are five black bar stools with shiny metal bases lined up along a wooden bar counter. Hanging light bulbs and ceiling fan
A vintage round sign with a white background, large orange numbers '404', and a blue rim is mounted on a brick wall. The sign appears weathered and slightly off-center in the image.