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Replies: 42
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All-In [10404]
TigerPulse: 100%
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No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
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Aug 23, 2023, 3:40 PM
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Apparently Fatz has filed for bankruptcy and closed all locations. Had Calabash chicken many times for noon kickoffs.
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TigerNet Elite [73916]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: That stinks.
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Aug 23, 2023, 3:41 PM
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Love their calabash chicken.
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Athletic Dir [1199]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
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Aug 23, 2023, 3:45 PM
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The two nearest me closed down a year or so ago, i used to eat there often.
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Gridiron Giant [15821]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Posts: 16188
Joined: 2010
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
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Aug 23, 2023, 3:46 PM
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Casual dining Chains must be really struggling in this economy. Greenwood has lost two this week. First O'Charley's and now Fatz.
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All-In [10404]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
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Aug 23, 2023, 3:49 PM
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I stopped eating chains when local mom and pop places got popular, just because the quality was so much better. Still loved Calabash chicken though.
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Heisman Winner [80129]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Posts: 29614
Joined: 2018
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All-Pro [700]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: I stay away from eating at restaurants that I can
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Aug 23, 2023, 7:11 PM
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Preach
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Dynasty Maker [3471]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: I stay away from eating at restaurants that I can
Aug 24, 2023, 12:54 PM
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Home prepared food is almost always better for you anyway.
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Clemson Conqueror [11405]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Joined: 2014
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I think O'charley's in Lexington has been closed for a couple
Aug 23, 2023, 11:01 PM
[ in reply to Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates. ] |
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years. A sign says closed for renovations, but I don't see anything going on there.
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Asst Coach [850]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 24, 2023, 12:08 PM
[ in reply to Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates. ] |
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I live in Greenwood, and heard Cracker Barrel and Burger King will be closing as well
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TigerNet Elite [69800]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Posts: 90838
Joined: 2001
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The location on Woodruff Road in Greenville and...
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Aug 23, 2023, 3:49 PM
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the one in Easley and Anderson closed years ago.
As for as I know, the South Carolina locations on Wade Hampton in Greer, Greenwood, Clinton, Florence, Lexington, Rock Hill, and Gaffney were the only ones that remained. There may have ben one in Orangeburg too.
Not sure about the locations in Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina.
That's a shame. I always liked it, especially those poppy seed rolls.
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Gridiron Giant [15821]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Posts: 16188
Joined: 2010
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Re: The location on Woodruff Road in Greenville and...
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Aug 23, 2023, 3:55 PM
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Gosh I remember the original locations back in the 80's that had those black barrel swivel chairs and bar stools. They even had video games and maybe a video poker machine or two. There was one at Taylors Square in Taylors (Walmart shopping center) and Spartanburg in the shopping center where Kohl's is now and Walmart was once located on Hwy 29 @ I-26.
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Letterman [167]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: The location on Woodruff Road in Greenville and...
Aug 23, 2023, 11:08 PM
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Didn’t they buy that restaurant on the creek at 14 and Batesville road and turn it into a Fatz? From what I remember, that was when they solidified their brand, expanding quickly after that.
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Tiger Spirit [9386]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Paw Master [16128]
TigerPulse: 97%
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Posts: 24632
Joined: 2002
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They closed 21 stores yesterday....
Aug 24, 2023, 1:57 PM
[ in reply to The location on Woodruff Road in Greenville and... ] |
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At one point there were 56 stores in SC, NC, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia. The founder, Jimmy Rogers was a HUGE Clemson fan. That's why they were one of Clemson's biggest sponsor at one time.
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All-In [10902]
TigerPulse: 60%
45
Posts: 13963
Joined: 2006
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
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Aug 23, 2023, 4:01 PM
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Several years ago when they reorganized, changed the taste of their chicken and menu, we gave up on Fatz. Sad news but not really a surprise.
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All-In [10404]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
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Aug 23, 2023, 4:10 PM
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Your football program has reorganized many times and is still the same sorry chickens.
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Paw Master [16128]
TigerPulse: 97%
51
Posts: 24632
Joined: 2002
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They were bought by a private equity first and they tried...
Aug 24, 2023, 1:58 PM
[ in reply to Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates. ] |
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to make Fatz something it wasn't. They made a lot of horrible changes (like screwing up the poppy seed roll) but they never changed the chicken recipe.
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Hall of Famer [8392]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
1
Aug 23, 2023, 4:10 PM
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What a shame, hate to hear it. I ate at several of them. I know the one in north charleston was originally good, but ran terribly the last two times I went. Last time was worse dining experience the wife and I have ever had, never went back. Closed maybe 3 years ago.
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Ultimate Tiger [35116]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
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Aug 23, 2023, 5:54 PM
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Fatz had those really good biscuits too.
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Orange Phenom [14671]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
1
Aug 23, 2023, 6:46 PM
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Last time I ate at a Fatz was in Clinton, SC off of the interstate. Was ending a long trip and couldn't make it the last two hours without food. As soon as we were seated we noticed a foul smell in the air. After complaining, we were told the sewage had backed up in the restrooms. Everything was downhill from there. I did have to visit the restroom before we left and the odor was gagging!
Why in the world any business would try to stay open through that was beyond me.
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Paw Master [17606]
TigerPulse: 100%
51
Posts: 15441
Joined: 1999
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They have been a slow motion train wreck for 20 years
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Aug 23, 2023, 7:09 PM
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Surprised they survived this long. Don’t get me wrong…I was a big fan, but they have had at least intermittent struggles for awhile.
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Ultimate Tiger [34492]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Posts: 14382
Joined: 2014
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
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Aug 23, 2023, 7:23 PM
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Met someone a few months ago that seemed to be pretty connected to the owners and he said they were “phasing out” the Fatz locations and the same folks own the Willy Taco restaurants. Makes sense. The Fatz location in Easley is now a Willy Taco.
We used to eat at the Fatz in Asheville for lunch a lot and it was really good. That was between 2014 and 2019.
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Tiger Spirit [9386]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 23, 2023, 10:47 PM
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Willy Taco is owned by Hub City Hospitality and isn’t connected to Fatz in any way.
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Ultimate Tiger [34492]
TigerPulse: 100%
56
Posts: 14382
Joined: 2014
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
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Aug 24, 2023, 10:03 AM
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Did a little research and evidently there is a guy named Bill Burton that was involved with both parent companies, Hub City and Cafe Enterprises. That must be the connection.
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Letterman [167]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 23, 2023, 11:03 PM
[ in reply to Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates. ] |
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Don’t know about that, but the original guy was a hoot. His name was jimmy something, maybe Rogers. He had a house on Lake Bowen when I used to ski up there. He had some great parties at that house, as well as on his pontoon. Almost 30 years ago. Dang I’m old, but graduated to Lake Keowee.
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Tiger Spirit [9386]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 23, 2023, 11:19 PM
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Yeah, Jimmy Rogers. He died about 10 years ago.
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Ring of Honor [21128]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 23, 2023, 10:24 PM
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I hate to hear that. I don't live in SC but was looking forward to getting their awesome fried green tomatoes & grits. Dang I loved them and only got them during football season on trips to Tiger Town. The Fatz in Anderson had closed the last few years but the one in Seneca was open last season.
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Letterman [167]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 23, 2023, 10:57 PM
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Seneca closed a few months ago. Wasn’t fit to eat anyway.
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Paw Master [17204]
TigerPulse: 100%
51
Posts: 17029
Joined: 2004
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 23, 2023, 11:04 PM
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The guy who used to own it , CU alum, sold it several years ago. Without his leadership it has slowly been in decline.
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Letterman [167]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 23, 2023, 11:09 PM
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Was that Jimmy Rogers?
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110%er [6166]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Ernie Washington***
Aug 24, 2023, 10:29 AM
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Paw Master [16128]
TigerPulse: 97%
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Posts: 24632
Joined: 2002
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Ernie Washington was the Operating Partner in Seneca...
Aug 24, 2023, 2:51 PM
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Jimmy Rodgers and Bill Burton founded FATZ and both were big Clemson fans. Jimmy Rodgers passed away in 2013 but I saw Bill Burton at the National Championship game in San Francisco. 44-16 Baby!
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Paw Master [17204]
TigerPulse: 100%
51
Posts: 17029
Joined: 2004
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 24, 2023, 1:59 PM
[ in reply to Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates. ] |
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Bill Burton is who I am referring to.
I think he gave money a few years ago for naming rights at Death Valley, an entrance or something. Instead of naming it for himself he named it for someone at Clemson behind the scenes like a trainer or janitor if I remember correctly.
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Paw Master [16128]
TigerPulse: 97%
51
Posts: 24632
Joined: 2002
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Hall of Famer [8226]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 24, 2023, 10:07 AM
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Not surprising, last time I ate there my dinner was disgusting, and the place was nearly empty
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Game Day Hero [4584]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 24, 2023, 11:30 AM
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I'll surely miss the bread rolls so much, with that honey butter, mmmm. I do know the one in Lexington went very much downhill these last few years. Lots of people I knew had food poisoning from there.
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Rival Killer [2852]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 24, 2023, 3:09 PM
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Yeah - used to go to Fatz every so often 10-15 years ago and loved it but it has noticeably declined in the last few years. Glad I avoided the food poisoning!
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Ultimate Clemson Legend [101865]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Posts: 26312
Joined: 2006
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I didn't realize that they still had any restaurants open.***
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Aug 24, 2023, 11:36 AM
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Asst Coach [850]
TigerPulse: 99%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 24, 2023, 12:07 PM
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I remember many times in the past picking up some calabash tenders for tailgating in Lot 4
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Game Changer [1755]
TigerPulse: 99%
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There was a time, I’m guessing around 09 or 10, that the concession stands
Aug 24, 2023, 12:51 PM
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Served Fatz. I grabbed bacon and cheese fried from there a few times and I’m normally anti-concessions for the most part.
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Dynasty Maker [3471]
TigerPulse: 100%
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Re: No more Fatz Cafe at tailgates.
Aug 24, 2023, 12:58 PM
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I remember Fatz in the '80's and it was a great place. I think the original owner passed away a while ago. I am not surprised it has gone downhill since.
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Clemson Conqueror [11369]
TigerPulse: 100%
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That’s unfortunate
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Aug 24, 2023, 3:37 PM
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Grew up loving Fatz, especially the one in Seneca OTW to Westminister
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Replies: 42
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