"Littlejohn's Grill" ... a little-known Clemson landmark

Mar 30, 2011, 8:44 AM

Most of us have heard the stories of the more famous night spots around Clemson over the years. Some of us more mature fans even remember experiencing them.

"The Esso Club", "The Study Hall", "Lester's Tiger Den", "The Red Carpet Lounge", "Lamar's", "The Sloan Street Tap Room", "Bollwinkle's", etc., etc. The list goes on and on.

But, how many are aware of perhaps the most historically important Clemson night spot of all time?

I'm talking about a place called "Littlejohn's Grill" that was located out on highway 93 going toward Central. It was opened just after WW II and went by the name of "Littlejohn's Grill" until the owner died in the mid 60s. Later it was called "Alfies' Playpen" and "The King Cobra" ...

So, what's so what's so important about this particular place?

Simply that some of the greatest musical acts in history played there at one time or another. Take a look.

http://www.littlejohnsgrill.com/

Otis Redding, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Little Richard, Jackie Wilson, The Shirelles ... these acts actually came to Clemson and they got practically no fanfare.

Check out the web site and read the amazing history of what has to be one of Clemson's best kept secrets.

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For us kids....

Re: Great Post.... The Jim Crow era may be gone

Great Post.... The Jim Crow era may be gone

This is somewhat off-topic, but I once interviewed a local man who told a story about his work experiences at a local manufacturing plant in the 50s and 60s. He was made a manager and every couple of years managers were treated to a banquet reception at the Clemson House. Everyone who had hit a new service milestone received a plaque or something like that. Every year his bosses told him he could come to the banquet, but he would have to be served his dinner outside since black people were not allowed to eat in the Clemson House with whites. He didn't raise a stink about it, I think because he was more than happy to be a black manager at a time in the South when not many black people were allowed to manage anyone, much less manage white workers like he did. He politely declined the invitation every year, and to compensate him, his company paid for him to attend his SC State College homecoming every year. As the civil rights movement went on, he eventually told his bosses that he felt he should be able to attend the banquet with the rest of them. His bosses, representing significant clients of the Clemson House, called up the Clemson House management, made what I'm sure was a convincing argument, and he was allowed to attend. From that point on the Clemson House was integrated.