Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives: The Beacon Drive In

[dodik34]

JC sounds like Dave Chappelle :)

[fourstarhotel]

i lived in greenville for about 2 years, and always heard my friends talking about this place but never was able to make it there. now im sad.

[chefkoo]

I just looked on their site and can assume that the average spend per head is about $15. Multiplied by 20,000 customers, comes to $300,000/week. Fucking unreal!!! Fine dining restaurants brag if they make $30,000/week

[humdrumpotatoskin]

@chefkoo you know they have to buy the raw stuff before they can cook it and sell it... not to mention costs for the building/land, water, electricity, and paying the staff

[chefkoo]

@humdrumpotatoskin So do fine dining restaurants. What's your point? I know that's not their profit.

[StephenNorman]

order calling guy is fucking awesome

[ProudWitch1990]

This place is so good. Grew up on it and even though I don't live in Spartanburg anymore, I go to the Beacon every time I visit. Nothing else like it ANYWHERE!

[1488slav]

they pay one guy just to yell orders all day ? wow

i wonder what he tells people when asked what he does for a living...

[l3xxd]

Bahaha, definitely saw my brother's friend ordering his food in this win.

[Sidelaugh]

Just eat there.. The Beacon is delish.

[7477238]

Well I want iced tea now.

[UNbowed62]

Shout out to J.C. Stroble and Charlie Wiggleton & the rest of my homies!!!!

[UNbowed62]

Everytime that I return to my hometown of Spartanburg SC, I do check out The Beacon! Yes I enjoy my healthy-eating lifestyle all the time. But when I travel home, it is on! Chili-CheeseBurger & those damn good, sweet, huge onion rings & that Beacon Ice Tea~To die for!That's the only time that I eat beef~once every 2 or 3 yrs. Yummmm!

[Ron0968]

I live about 30miles from the beacon, and that chili cheese of plenty is to die for!!!! In fact im going to make a trip up there this sat!!!! SOOOOO GOOD!!

[justasilly1]

what's bill doin in the kitchun

[mkl62]

If anyone knows the answer to this please reply: Is Joe at Bel Air's in Fort Lauderdale, FL still open?

[IceBaine]

the owner has one weird accent........

[backwoodsboi28]

Damn good food..onion rings rock

[MrSpider732]

this reminds me of the Varsity in Atlanta.

[NTL68]

@MrSpider732 Spartanburg used to have a Varsity, too.

[hellfire5670]

the guy that calls out the orders reminds me of dave chappelle

[joshtimasprime]

The reason you think race is unbalanced in the restaurant is that it is located near some government apartment projects and Mr. White was a community minded person, so he wanted to give the residents of the projects a chance at a good, honest way to make a living, so he hired them to work there. They have been very loyal to The Beacon and they do a fantastic job!

[SpudSpudoni]

Call it whatever you want, but you can't say anything without actually TASTING it. What ever happed to don't judge a book by its cover. I live in South Carolina, and The Beacon is the bomb. Burger looked greasy, but that is waht you expect. Bite of heaven, and the fries are great, Sweet Tea is perfect too! I'm just suprised that they didn't mention the homade ice cream and shake bar they have on the side of the building, 'tis a shame.

[firethower99]

15,000 ppl in 1 wk in a 45,000 ppl town. Damn!

[hotlittlenumber0010]

I live in Spartanburg and the beacon is a staple for the people around here. You can ask any stranger and they have all been to the beacon and love it. My grandparents ate there, my parents, and now my friends and I go as a treat every few months. It's a very special place because nothing has changed and it is has always been great food that everyone can enjoy.

[bushbasher85]

DEY YA GO! 

[soccerdude120]

to all those who eat the food try to cut back maybe once a month, and to all those narking on the place screw you this place seems special JC is a rad dude, its unique.

[fuckindork]

best grease in the world !

[dapappacn]

we've got heart attack after heart attack....lol

[ThunderZag2424]

loveeeeee that placeeee.

[southernman1010]

the rings are cut right there dude...lived in spartanburg all my adult life...and the food is great

[broccolihart1]

CAAAaaaaLLLLiiiiiTTTTTT

[coltsuperocean10]

...Its no wonder the population of the USA are mostly fat, obese pigs!! They eat so much bad shit they just pile on the pounds!! Cmon USA think healthy and think thin!! You will all be dead in 30 years or so!! Go Jamie Oliver!! Good luck to you lad!!

[petitepassionz]

You lie! Those onion rings came in a box that said "fresh chopped onions." So they don't "chop and ring them" fresh and the dude said. A liar from South Carlonia? I am shocked.

[dragonflychainsaw]

wonder why so many people lined up waiting if the food is so bad ?excuse me if i don't believe you

[gangstamind187]

G.O.A.T

[sandyb1209]

this place is fantastic! i love it! i lived in spartanburg for many years! its one of the best places to get a Chilly Cheese A Plenty!! =) and the onion rings are awesome, the tea is fantastic! who the heck wouldnt want to eat there? WOW

[fjordking]

just met JC today at the beacon he is a wonderful person it was a honor



[pitchblackart]

I ate there after I saw this and if y'all ever notice that Guy don't eat the burgers or fries. THAT SHIT IS NASTY AS FUCK! DON'T WASTE YOUR THOUGHT!

[mkl62]

@pitchblackart The hell it is. I ate there last year (Double Cheeseburger and Fries) and it was the best ever. Sadly, I live 73 miles from Spartanburg and I don't get up there often, but when I do, I'm gonna fill up at The Beacon.

[justworldwide]

that food dont look good no care taken its looks like a homeless shank or cheap school dinners .....

[ArtClash]

Ew... no offense. >_>

[jenerationle]

I love the guy who calls the orders. LOOOL, seems so fun!

[jonneyj]

@jenerationle harder than it seems LOL

[Shadeleaves]

I thought it said the bacon drive in...that's why I clicked on this video... Oh well, still cool!

[TheJSlone]

I ate there on my way to florida it was da bomb i gotta chili chesse oplinta

[MissCiro]

The race dynamics of this place are disgraceful. Apparently only the white bosses can explain what the workers do day in and day out.

[cubbies4e]

@MissCiro yeah i've noticed that too with a few places in the south DDD have gone too. The Varsity Jr in Atl made me equally squimish.

[sparkl1nwat3r]

Sorry but I really have to agree with the other comments regarding the food. It does look disgusting. I wouldn't even step foot in the first place. I respect those people who would stay and eat but I'm definitey out. Waste of money...if I don't eat it. Good luck to them.

[TehLunaScamander]

I love going there, especially when J.C. says "CAAAALLL IIIITT" :D

[bellwitch24]

Wow! The guy is calling orders for 50 years! Respect!

[Valorwynd]

whats kenny's accent???

[ilovtvxquknowyunho]

I am seriously thinking of doing a Triple D Roadtrip!!!!!

[tinmanfoto]

Just went there. Wonderful place, wonderful staff, and wonderful ribs.

[firethower99]

place looks nasty

[YouMessinUp]

I have never visited Spartanburg and NOT gone to the Beacon. Bacon Cheeseburger -plentaaaaaaayy everytime. Mr. White died the morning we were coming back to Ohio. RIP.

[Dixieshep]

Rest in Peace John B. White Sr

[suune]

Looks healthy

[heartkendal]

IMO The Beacon food tastes like poop. D:

[utubeteam6]

@heartkendal what the hell?? have you even eaten their? like for real their food is great.

[heartkendal]

@utubeteam6 Yes, I have eaten THERE, and it tastes like greasy poop.

[smartblonde07]

@utubeteam6 Ya know how it is, heartkendal. Opinions are like armpits, but most of them stink. I <3 The Beacon. :)

[smartblonde07]

@utubeteam6 You know what they say, utubeteam. opinions are like armpits. everyone has them and most of them stink. I <3 The Beacon. :)

(also, IDK, if my other post went through. i don't see it and it had a mistake in there anyway, lol)

[sweeetcheeba]

@addiehazen oh ya! well thats just swell lol

[soldion51]

Call it

[soldion51]

Call it

[marliesas]

i love that guy who gives the orders!!! hehe...too too sweet xxx

[ConnecticutsBest]

Where are there so many black people there and they look likeslaves so over worked. One of them kept calling Guy "Sir". Can't believe this

[zampakto93]

@ConnecticutsBest thats called respect fool

[rgould2]

@ConnecticutsBest i agree sounds like the 1820s

[pemchem]

@ConnecticutsBest Probably because this is South Carolina you ignoramus. And they do not look like slaves. "Can't believe this." Sheesh get over your racism issues.

[paigeb2008]

you guys that are saying it looks so gross have no idea. I've been going to the beacon ever since I can remember, I'm 20 and have gone at least a few times a year. I don't even live near Spartanburg anymore, a couple hours away, but whenever I'm in the upstate I don't think of going anywhere else. Great food, great tradition

[doodlerduck0]

love this place. remember when i was like 4 and we all went to the beacon. it was my turn in line to order and i couldn't get my order out fast enough..he yelled and i took off crying..funny and a great part of my childhood :). if you think this place looks "gross or nasty" just look around at some of the places you eat. 9 times out of 10 these "rough around the edges" diners are cleaner than you're local outbacks olive gardens etc. WE AINT JUS SOME COUNTRY BUMPKINS YA HEAR!

[Stretchmancando]

@sgarchar I have lived in S.B. for 20 years and have ventured to the Beacon about 10 times. I can't endorse the food although it is tasty at first if you are starving and it works better than Milk of Magnesia!

[ewanbyrne]

looks like cheap nasty food

[hcig]

just watching this makes me want to drive 9 hours to the beacon, ive been going there my entire life, following a tradition of my father.

hash a plenty, and those tasty new jalapeno hush puppies with no lemon tea, thats how it goes.

[sweeetcheeba]

i love this show, but that place looks fuc*ing disgusting! lol

[Sattyy89]

they don't show u how to make anything in this vid.

But I like JC's enthusiasm, keep it up brotha

[terpanese]

@whiterock1985 whatd ya get goin there tommorow i am

[bconnerballer]

its aplenty not EGGGPPLLAANNTTAAAYY

[aliciaangel23]

@bconnerballer you tell em'

[ANewBosnianKing]

black guy in the kitchen : another mother fucking cracker coming in here to take my job

[Sanctus19]

Damn Dave Chappelle would be the PERFECT man to impersonate JC

[cazia9]

is that tea concentrate or liquid sugar @ 4:45 ?

[SoulStatement]

I hate to say it but that man reminds me of the dave chappelle character blind kkk member

so wrong I know

[cazia9]

@SoulStatement

good comedy has its roots in truth

[haydensi]

okay to clear this up for people that dont know. i am a manager at a restraunt that is not to far from the beacon and we get our food from the same place.. fres cut means the ends are cut off and they have been peeled... you hear he said they fresh SLICE their onion rings.. the box says cut not sliced

[reallink2000]

this is my kinda place

[patriotman9911]

i live there and i go to the beacon atleast once a week! GREAT FOOD...

[ericbrant82]

EVERY Onion has a stem on it. That is what is "cut fresh" the onions aren't coming by the truckload already hollowed out and ringed you idiots!

[limpbizquick]

the guy said they cut their own onion rings, but they showed a dolly full of pre cut onion cases being brought in to stock

[xdivinebladex]

@limpbizquick Haha it even said on the boxes "Fresh cut onions"

[swoody34]

Hash a plaaaaaaaannnnnnnnttttttyyyyyy­yyyy!!! lol This is the ultimate! Really good sandwich but a definite artery clogger.

[swoody34]

Beacon rules!!!!!

[whiterock1985]

The tea is great.. The food is OK but the place is a dirty mess. Paint is peeling, tables, walls and floors are old and dirty. Don't use the bathrooms if you don't really have to, they are disgustingly dirty.

[adamcrap]

shameful too see that slavery is still alive and well in the south, jeez

[lucasgiles]

@adamcrap You're an idiot

[AcidSpittingAngel]

I would Loooove to go here.

oh

my

gawd

om nom nom nom

[dantheman61793]

I ate here today.

[AustinKay]

That blind dude is awesome!

[haydensi]

This is the best place in the world to eat i just recently went for the first time after living in greenville my whole life.. i did not know they didnt take cards so they let me and my girlfriend eat and trusted us to return with the money. this is the best place i have ever been and i will be returning as much as possible

[Leonsma]

Mr. J.C. is THE MAN! Love the Beacon is awesome!!!

[BigHickory357]

OMG i started to cry, this is real food.....so glad I live here in South Carolina.... Aint no tofu queers eating down here

[reallink2000]

@BigHickory357 hey i find that offensive ! mapo tofu is awsome/!

[clarish2009]

@reallink2000 i agree, mapo tofu is wonderful. only narrow minded people who only know burgers/hot dogs and no veggies will diss mapo tofu lol

[clarish2009]

@BigHickory357 well at least tofu queers won't have a high mortality rate >.> and what's wrong with tofu :D

[11825code6]

stroke city CALLLLLLL THE AMBULANCE

[firethower99]

that's a lot of hicks in one place.

[Fallennyte]

I'm visiting SC, and today my hosts are planning on takin' me there! Can't wait to see what it's all about.

[superman2k38]

The Beacon is a SC treasure if not a national one! Mr. Stroble (Caaaaaaall IT!!) deserves a statue in his honor. And the service is downhome perfect. If you have to wait too long for part of your order, they'll replace any cold plates w/o asking. Show up with no cash or check...they'll trust you to come back with money after you've eaten. Know this for a fact cause it happened to me. The Beacon gives as much love as it gets. Long live the Beacon.

[pokelegendben]

i live there ate there today lol

[MrBAMBI49]

Yummiee!! i wanna go eat there! ha ha

[CHUBAASAURUS]

EGGGPPLLAANNTTAAAYYY

[lucasgiles]

@CHUBAASAURUS Hey he is saying AAAAAAPLLLEEENNNTTTAAYYYY nothing is said about an egg.

[aj2kewl]

@CHUBAASAURUS he's sayin' A-plenty. that does sound like that though. lol

[ajpone]

place is amazing haha

[sharonblue1971]

that's cool, i love Guy (food network junkie here) & gotta love JC!! :)

lmao @ Howard & his "ham on permento" ...permento? ;) hehee

[SCnanaholmes]

Oh I love this video, we grew up in Spartanburg but moved away 20 years ago. The Beacon was our favorite place to eat even when it was only a drive in, sit in your car and the car hops would take your order and bring it back to you. Delicious, then they built the new building where you could eat inside, noisy and busy, but you go to eat and see people you know. JC is the Beacon. Thanks fo the memories.

[apeters38]

My friend lives in Ashville NC I've gone to visit him twice and we've gone here since Spartanburg isn't to far from Ashville its such a cool place nothing like this in Roseville CA.

[itsrustyitsrusty]

I grew up in Spartanburg. I remember being a little girl (40 years ago) and having JC and the other men take our orders out in the parking lot, curb side, and never writing down one order. They might would do up to 5 cars before going in to place the order!!! Remarkably, everyone always got their orders. Great place to hang out after high school football games. Go Vikings:)

[Musicluver1723]

I live in Greenville and I've only been to the beacon once, But it was GREAT!!! I think I was about 9 years old when I went and I was scared because Jc was sreaming and they kept saying move on, I didn't know what to order cus you had to order like right when you walked in the door. But even with all this, IT was the best experience in my life!!! So want to go back again!!

[bluegrasserNC]

my arteries are clogging while I watch...Yummm!

[Btwiceborn]

CAAAAAAAALLLL IT!!

[lovely11k]

I remmeber when I went there for the first time i was like 8 and JC scared the poop right outta me. God bless him

[Golem100]

I have gone weeks where I went to the Beacon every day for lunch and sometimes for supper on the same day. I can't count the number of times I got free desserts and/or chips with my meal from Mr. White.  One thing that was left out of the video is that they still have "curb" service. Pull into a spot in the right part of the parking lot, give a blast on your horn and one of the 'hops will be right there.

[34howard]

This place is an icon that's known all over the world.

Try the Chicken livers a-plenty or the ham on permento sandwich

nobody makes a snadwich like this one (nobody) It's out of this world

[TehNaaruPwnzor]

I lived here for a few years <3

BEST place to eat EVER.

[ruckerd2324]

40 Year ago..this place had curb hops that would come out to your car and take 6 or 7 orders without a note pad! It was amazing....I ate breakfast there every day for around 15 years....um--em good!!

[catherynlittlejohn]

Oh, how I miss the Beacon and JC......

[assetswork]

You go JC

[ThePawleysDude]

There's nothing else in God's good world quite as good as a slice-a-plenty, heavy on the red. I would have starved in high school without the Beacon. I can still remember Mr. White kicking a bunch of us out for making too much noise, then treating us all to free sandwiches the next day. The Beacon is one of a kind, and Mr. White was truly one of a kind.

[richboyakamoneyman]

this is the best place ever. i recomend the jc pounder a-plenty to anyone who dares to take it on a pound of meat and as you can tell from this video a mountian of onion rings and french fries

[Litening78]

I am from Germany and got good friends in Spartanburg. Back in 1996 when i was 18 they took me to the Beacon and let me make my order at the desk. JC was very nice but I didn´t get a single word.

Since that day every time I am in Spartanburg I go to the beacon an enjoy the food...

If anyone get´s there, take the Chilicheese on a planty of corse

[bjwuncc49]

I so miss this place...I'm taking a trip to the Burg as soon as I get home for Charlotte.1

[terrell18usa]

Can't wait to hit this spot when I go back home for Christmas...delicious. I love San Antonio, but nothing here compares to The Beacon. Kenny Church is a GREAT guy...what an influence he made in my life, growing up.