Ad announcing the grand opening ("balloons for the kiddies"!)
Congratulatory ad from the company that paved the parking lot
Another congratulatory ad
1978 ad--the drive-in was gone
Recent photo showing the original building--now owned by Pepsi Bottling
The Clock Drive-In Restaurant opened with much fanfare at the intersection of South Blvd and Poindexter Rd on Thursday May 29, 1958. They specialized in barbecue and fried chicken (served with a side of honey!). Eventually, the drive-in part of the restaurant diminished, and the restaurant became known as the Clock Bar-B-Cue House and featured a more traditional Greek diner menu (in addition to the barbecue). The restaurant closed in the early '80's and the land was sold in 1984. The land is currently owned by the Pepsi Bottling Co. and the building and land served as a vending warehouse station until just recently when the building was torn down.
I was born and grew up in Charlotte, moving away when I was 19. One of my fondest food memories was my mother taking me to the Clock Drive-in restaurant for a Clock burger and french fries...Mmmmm it was sooo good...I still dream about it. I Googled to see if by some miracle The Clock Drive-in was still around, and while I am sad that it is gone, I am very thankful, Pat R., that you cared enough to post the information. A family outing to a drive-in restaurant to eat in the car...it was a real treat back then...and now just a sweet memory :)
ReplyDeleteThe owner of the Clock BBQ house was my uncle Steve G. Lainis who was born in Sella Eyritanias, Greece in 1924.
ReplyDeleteHe was brother to Eleni Laini – Pliatsika, Betty Laini – Nikolakopoulos and Harry Lainis.
He was a dear uncle to Kostas and George Nikolakopoulos, Alexanda and Andreas Pliatsikas and George, Maria and Chris Lainis.
Unfortunately he passed away in the year 1998.
I used to help him there either cooking or serving those great burgers for almost 8 years and afterwards at around 10:30 o’clock I used to go in the back tables, I’ve opened my books and studied for 2 hours so I could be a good student at the University of NC at Charlotte.
I still remember all the nice people there: Pete, Margie, Buck, BJ, Connie, Kliner…
Unfortunately after his retirement in 1988 he sold that place to Pepsi Cola and a few years ago this part of Charlotte’s restaurant history for 30 years was demolished...
Thank you Pat R. for bringing up to me all these memories.
Andreas Pliatsikas, Athens –Greece.