You could pull into the Clock’s lot on a Friday night and have to wade through 2,000 students to get up to the bustling counter. The Clock Drive-In quickly became WHHS’s joint. In the ‘60s, Wade Hampton High School opened just a mile down the road. The Winn-Dixie Supermarket provided meat and produce for the restaurant, and the Clock’s parking lot, about three times the size it is now, could fill up with the cars of eager customers. Wade Hampton Blvd soon became a main thoroughfare, allowing Upstate residents to travel between Greenville, Spartanburg, and Charlotte. Located adjacent to a Winn grocery store (before Winn-Lovett and Dixie Home Stores partnered in 1955 to become Winn-Dixie), a pharmacy, and a Shoney’s, The Clock #3’s location turned out to be a product of great business foresight. If you were a student in Greenville and wanted to contact someone outside of school hours, you’d have to ring their home phone and speak to their parents. In fact, each high school in Greenville had its own “joint,” a popular place to socialize over hot food and cold drinks. The Clock, which was a popular family spot, began to fill with the cars of oh-so-cool teens after school. New opportunities for teens to socialize later and with less supervision was met with excitement by some and shunned by others. But the motor vehicle was exploding in popularity, and with four wheels came freedom. There was an attitude of thankfulness that inspired a supportive attitude between Greeks working hard to make a life in America.ġ950s Greenville was a conservative city built on the textile industry, steeped in Southern tradition. There were no brand rights claimed by original Clock founders there were no menu specifications. Nick’s son Paul Hambaris describes the expansion of the Clock name this way: “No strings attached: no franchises, no fees.just hard work.” That’s right. After getting a good handle on the business, Alex and his brother John (not to be confused with the other John!) took over ownership of the Clock a few years later. The brothers Hamberis hired friend Alex Koutsoukis to manage the third Clock. It was the third of over five businesses that would go on to open and benefit from the reputation for the good food, great prices, and fast curb-hop that came with the name. The newest Clock, the Clock Drive-In #3, opened its doors in 1954. A shiny new building was constructed in the Wade Hampton area of town. After learning the business from his managers, Nick, along with his brother John, purchased both Clock restaurants and planned a third. Nick Hambaris worked the cash register, cleaned, cooked, made orders–and made plans. They opened a second restaurant, The Clock #2 on Stone Avenue, soon after. Growing with Greer for the past 40 years, the Clock has proved year after year that listening to the people and providing great quality food and service is what allows a restaurant to succeed.The First Clock The first restaurant bearing The Clock name appeared in Greenville in 1950, on Buncombe Street across from the Kash and Karry. Whether you’re joining your team after the big game for burgers, holding a lunch meeting, or enjoying dinner with your family, the Clock Restaurants of Greer is the place to be. Jimmy Chulkas, Arthur, and Kathy continue to be a familiar face at the restaurants. – Jimmy Chulkas, Owner of the Clock Restaurant in Greer. Thank you for making my family’s dream come true.” “ On behalf of my father and mother, Arthur and Fay Chulkas, we would like to thank you for your continued support. Known for having it’s finger on the pulse of the community, the Clock has been serving up southern cooking, classic meat and threes, hand crafted burgers, and piled high sandwiches for over 40 years. The Clock Express of Greer, run by his daughter Kathy, is only a few miles away from the original Clock and is located on Wade Hampton Blvd. In 1997, Arthur expanded his dream and opened a second location. The Clock Restaurant, located on West Poinsett Street sits in the heart of historic downtown Greer. In 1974 Arthur and his family acquired what is now a Greer landmark. Arthur worked with his brother for five years before he was able to pursue his personal dream of his own restaurant. I was a busboy and cleaned up tables for five waitresses,” recalls Chulkas.Īfter moving to the South, he gained cooking experience while working for his brother at the Lil Rebel on Highway 291 in Greenville. In 1966, Arthur Chulkas arrived in America from Greece.
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