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Replies: 33
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110%er [7221]
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Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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Apr 30, 2024, 7:01 PM
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I remember some years ago J.C. left us.
Wondering if the Beacon is still around anyone in or around the Spartanburg area?
Chili-Cheese-A-Plenty!
Anyone who has never gone; "if it's still there" you need to check out this greasy spoon. It's an icon; I haven't been to in many Moons!
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CU Guru [1466]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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Apr 30, 2024, 7:12 PM
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Alive, yes. Well, debatable.
I was a consistent Beacon fan through the 80s and 90s. Loved it. Moved back to Spartanburg 3 years ago and was disappointed. Mostly good, but not great. Maybe I’m just getting older.
Same burger(chili cheese burger) at Ike’s is much much better.
Hope I didn’t burst your bubble!
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110%er [9091]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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Apr 30, 2024, 7:17 PM
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i have the JC bobblehead lol
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All-TigerNet [11089]
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"Talk to me!!!!"***
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Apr 30, 2024, 7:38 PM
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Orange Blooded [4051]
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Re: "Talk to me!!!!"***
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May 1, 2024, 1:26 AM
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I worked for Duke Power in Spartanburg back in the day. A crew came down from Charlotte once and they wanted to go to the Beacon for lunch. One of the younger guys had never been, so I briefed him on the usual way to get through the line. The young guy was behind me and we went down to the counter obeying JC's sign that said it was fine to pass in line. JC took my order and turned to the other guy, who said nothing. After about 15 seconds, JC slammed both hands down on the stainless steel counter, leaned over the counter about 1.5 feet from his face, and yelled "Talk to me!" It scared the other guy so bad that he just blurted out, "I'll have what he's having!" Me and the other guys in the group about rolled in the floor laughing so hard.
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Orange Blooded [2617]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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Apr 30, 2024, 7:53 PM
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I grew up in Spartanburg and had many Chili cheese-a-plenty! Got it once with bacon. About 1/2 pound of bacon!
Loved that place!
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Scout Team [170]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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Apr 30, 2024, 7:57 PM
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Alive and well. Can't best the chili cheese w/ mustard, Beacon tea w/ lemon. Plus some of best chicken stew around.
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All-Conference [418]
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Gonna have to disagree with you on the chicken stew
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Apr 30, 2024, 9:14 PM
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Tried their chicken stew for the first time over the winter and it was ok. But I’m a Spartanburg County transplant (from Anderson County) and when you’re expecting chicken stew like Holden’s Ranch, you’ll be disappointed every time. That stuff is life changing. It took me 15 yrs to bother to try it since I’d never had anything like it in Anderson but don’t go long without it these last 15!
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110%er [6038]
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Re: Gonna have to disagree with you on the chicken stew
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May 1, 2024, 9:05 PM
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Holden's Ranch gets their chicken stew from Midway Barbecue in Buffalo, Union County. It is the bomb.
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All-In [39728]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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Apr 30, 2024, 8:00 PM
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It aint been the same since the huge billboard of Strom Thurmond was taken down.
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All-In [48061]
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Re: Those were the days...
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Apr 30, 2024, 8:23 PM
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Getting a chili cheeseburger a plenty meal would feed you for a week and enough grease and cholesterol to fill your yearly quota.
"CALL IT!"
It's still there. https://www.beacondrivein.com/
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Heisman Winner [137128]
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It is still there and The Sugar & Spice is still better
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Apr 30, 2024, 9:12 PM
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I you know, you know
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110%er [8146]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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Apr 30, 2024, 9:24 PM
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They serve a big glob of grease which will throw your system into disarray 25 minutes after you finish the meal. Make sure you have planned a bathroom stop as once it hits there will be little to no time for decision making
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Orange Blooded [2008]
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Yes! I agree. It's great!***
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Apr 30, 2024, 9:30 PM
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All-In [26218]
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Re: Yes! I agree. It's great!***
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Apr 30, 2024, 10:43 PM
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"Chili cheese a plentayyyy"
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Freshman [9]
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Re: Yes! I agree. It's great!***
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May 4, 2024, 12:41 AM
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JC chirped walk and talk -so iconic
Memories are from middle nineteen eighties
Went there first time as a JB football team after Spartanburg game - played for northwestern was awesome then chili cheese with bacon a plenty
Actually made second visit roadtrip as a freshman at cu with a bunch of buds in 86 cause it just had made that kind of impression
Still consider revisiting when passing through but hate to hear it may be less than it’s glorious past
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110%er [7221]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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May 1, 2024, 6:45 PM
[ in reply to Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well? ] |
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They serve a big glob of grease which will throw your system into disarray 25 minutes after you finish the meal. Make sure you have planned a bathroom stop as once it hits there will be little to no time for decision making
Bahahahahahaha! At "Make sure you have planned a bathroom stop as once it hits there will be little to no time for decision making"! Bahahahaha!
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Orange Blooded [4051]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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May 1, 2024, 1:14 AM
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My favorite was the Double Chili-Cheese-With-Bacon-A-Plenty! Ate every bit of it though I was stuffed afterwards. I used to work in Spartanburg and would go over there weekly to get my fix.
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CU Guru [1472]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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May 1, 2024, 6:44 AM
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I grew up in Spartanburg and would go there after the Spartanburg High football games with my date. The food was great back then, or perhaps it was the company I was keeping. Anyway, I took my family with me over there after the Clemson Homecoming last year. To be honest, the place just looks dirty inside and run down. The bathroom was repugnant. The food was so greasy, I could not finish my Chili Cheese a plenty. I realize it was about 1:30 in the afternoon on a weekday, but, we were the only ones there. That tells you a lot.
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Recruit [81]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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May 1, 2024, 6:24 PM
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I also grew up in Spartanburg. Graduated from high school with the youngest son. Wonder if any of the family who started the Beacon in 1946 are even involved anymore. The Beacon was a huge part of my life growing up as I lived about two or three miles away from it. Really sorry to hear that it’s gone downhill.
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110%er [6038]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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May 1, 2024, 9:09 PM
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They sold it years ago when John White had passed or couldn't run it anymore.
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Orange Blooded [2890]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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May 1, 2024, 6:48 AM
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Always overrated. Still a classic.
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Orange Blooded [4877]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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May 1, 2024, 6:51 AM
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Back in the 70's that place was hopping every day, all day. There is no telling how many people they pushed through that place on a busy day.The food was awesome. Mr. White would almost dance as he rang up sales on the register. Not the same anymore. Not even close.
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Orange Blooded [3043]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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May 1, 2024, 12:21 PM
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It wasn't unusual for us to run 5000 people through the line on a Saturday.
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Orange Blooded [4805]
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I have eaten there.
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May 1, 2024, 7:12 AM
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Once.
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Orange Blooded [3834]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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May 1, 2024, 7:31 AM
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Lived there 20 years and the Beacon was okay. Preferred Ike's by a large amount!
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All-In [30522]
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It's still here. Not quite the same, but I drop by once in a while to
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May 1, 2024, 7:43 AM
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get my BLT Plenty plate fix.
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CU Guru [1719]
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Re: It's still here. Not quite the same, but I drop by once in a while to
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May 1, 2024, 2:43 PM
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My Great Grandfather ate at the Beacon, born 1863, my Grandfather ate at the Beacon born 1897, My Father ate at the Beacon born 1922, I eat at the Beacon born 1946, my daughter eats at the Beacon when she goes to Spartanburg born 1970 and my Grandson eats at the Beacon born 1991. Needless to say we are a Beacon family, and was a great place to eat, but now not as much. If you think the Chicken stew at the Beacon is good, you haven't had it at "the Ranch", if you think the Beacon's Burgers are good, then you haven't eaten at "the Spice"!
However, sometimes you still have to got to the Beacon to get your Hash or Slice or Outside fix.
I think all the old time Spartanburger's will always love the Beacon, because some things should last forever....
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Orange Blooded [3043]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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May 1, 2024, 12:19 PM
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Worked there as a part time deal in the 90's. Mr. White was really good to me and my family. Just a great person as long as you did your job. I was never on the receiving end of a John B. White a$$ chewing, thank God. They were legendary.
Worked for a while for the folks that bought it from Mr. White. They were good folks too. IMHO, they thought that they could do some things different and make it better. Nope.
The Beacon is on it's third ownership group now (although part of the second group is in the third group).
Message was edited by: Tigerfan8002®
Message was edited by: Tigerfan8002®
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Orange Blooded [4423]
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still feels like old South Carolina
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May 1, 2024, 6:56 PM
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food was never good
but was always good
it's still up and running
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Trainer [42]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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May 1, 2024, 7:27 PM
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Grew up in Sparkle City, was married at the Hatcher Gardens. Use to go and "hangout in the gardens, then go crush the munchies at Beacon, Sugar n Spice or Boots N Sonny's. Then go get beers from the old ice house.
My mom's prom was at the Beacon.
It's still kickin...I take people there who ain't from the Upstate when I'm in on buisness.
Still be and only sweet tea I'll drink.
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Orange Blooded [4601]
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110%er [6038]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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May 1, 2024, 9:21 PM
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About 1993 My sister and I met at the Beacon for lunch. After putting in our order we went down the counter and ran into Gina Tolleson and Alan Thicke. We got to talking and he said he was told you have to go to the Beacon if you were in Spartanburg. Gina Tolleson is from here. They were very friendly as we chatted a little while there.
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110%er [7221]
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Re: Is The Beacon Drive Inn still Alive and Well?
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May 3, 2024, 10:19 PM
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About 1993 My sister and I met at the Beacon for lunch. After putting in our order we went down the counter and ran into Gina Tolleson and Alan Thicke. We got to talking and he said he was told you have to go to the Beacon if you were in Spartanburg. Gina Tolleson is from here. They were very friendly as we chatted a little while there.
Hopefully, it can regain it's luster. At least, maybe it can be preserved.
It's an institution of the upstate.
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Replies: 33
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