Over 17 years ago, a smaller group took up the cause and began the struggle to try to bring forth an organization for the modern-day barkeep in Anchorage. Jack Higgins, of the Club Paris was one of the 10 members of the Anchorage Bar Owners Association, which was the forerunner of the Great Anchorage Cabaret and Bar Owners Association. With 17 members, this organization incorporated as a non-profit corporation in February of 1964. An 8.6 earthquake hit Southcentral Alaska just one month later providing the disaster that is often needed to pull folks together. Seventeen license holders in Anchorage lost their places of business and applies for relocation permits. It was the Cabaret and Bar Owners Association that went to bat for them at the City Council meetings.

When the common ground of labor problems, government restrictions and taxes, high insurance premiums and arbitrary issues of liquor licenses, the founders were fianlly able to convince fellow license holders of the necessity to organize.

In 1968 the by-laws were amended to include a broader scope of goals within the organization. The name of the group officially became Alaska Cabaret, Hotel and Restaurant Association, and CHAR went statewide with 103 members from throughout the State of Alaska. An Executive Director was chosen to serve CHAR and the first CHAR convention was held in 1969 in Anchorage.

Since then, becoming the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant & Retailers Association, CHARR has continued to gain strength in numbers and productivity. Group insurance benefits, an active lobbyist in Juneau, an affiliation with the National Licensed Beverage Association and National Restaurant Association, are a few of the advantages CHARR has gained for it's members. CHARR takes great strides in gaining legislative support for the industry and has greatly improved the public image of the food and beverage industry in the various communities across the State.