Maurice's BBQ to open North Augusta site 11/14/2008 1:48 AM
By PHYLLIS BRITT North Augusta bureau
A South Carolina icon is coming to North Augusta. Maurice Bessinger's Gourmet Barbeque is opening a location in the Shoppes at North Augusta sometime before Thanksgiving, said company spokesman Chris Bennett, vice president of sales and marketing.
"We will have dine in and take out," said Bennett, explaining there will be a small dining area in the location where Friedman's Jewelers previously resided.
"We cook everything in Columbia and will truck it down every morning," he said, noting the hours for the restaurant will be 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.
The company has been installing equipment and redecorating the facility with a soft opening planned for the next week or so. "After Thanksgiving we'll have a grand opening," he explained.
When asked why North Augusta, Bennett said, "We have been expanding ... into Rock Hill this summer and that's going well." Looking to North Augusta, he concluded, "We're like cowboys venturing to the West."
Bennett did not want to dwell on events of several years ago and suggested the restaurant has moved beyond the time when Bessinger's barbecue sauce was eliminated from sale at many Southern grocery stores because officials were concerned about racial comments made by the restaurant owner.
At the time patrons in his restaurants could purchase a number of conservative tracts, including one called "The Biblical View of Slavery," which suggested Africans brought to the United States liked slavery.
Insisting he was not a racist, Bessinger wrote in 2001 an autobiography, entitled "Defending My Heritage: The Maurice Bessinger Story." The book cover boasted a huge Confederate battle flag, similar to the one that once flew over his restaurants in protest of pressure to remove the Confederate flag from the S.C. State House.
Bessinger subsequently filed a lawsuit against Kroger, Publix, Piggly Wiggly and Food Lion when his sauce was removed from their shelves; however, the courts ruled against him in 2004.
Since then Bessinger has toned down his public politics and has removed the Confederate flag - and the music of "Dixie" - from his business's website; however, his restaurants continue to offer a variety of tracts and books, including copies of the U.S. Constitution.
Maurice's began with a recipe for barbecue sauce that Maurice Bessinger inherited from his father, Joseph, who had begun a small family barbecue business in 1939.
The young Bessinger was known as "Little Joe®" because his dad was called "Big Joe®."
Maurice Bessinger was still in high school when his dad died, and the youth took over the family tradition. According to the company, in 55 years Bessinger has built the largest barbecue operation in the country - with restaurants in South Carolina and a clientele all over the United States who receive the barbecue through the Flying Pig Express®.
Bessinger's chain of Piggie Park® restaurants boasts more than 20,000 customers a week and more than 30 million servings of barbecue, according to information released by the company.
The Bessinger Gourmet Blend BBQ Sauce is a mustard-based recipe which boasts no preservatives, no cholesterol and no fat. The barbecue is cooked "slowly over smoldering hickory coals for 24 hours to optimize that hickory flavor and goodness," according to company information.
For more information on Maurice's, visit www.mauricesbbq.com.
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Posted by: BIG O On: Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:46 AM
Comment Title: THANK YOU MR. BESSINGER
NOW THE CSRA WILL HAVE A REAL BBQ EATING PLACE! NOW THE OTHER BBQ RESTAURANT'S IN THE AREA WILL SEE A DROP IN THEIR BUISNESS! I HAVE BEEN EATING MR. BESSINGER'S BBQ FOR APPROXIMATELY 33 YEARS. NOW I WILL NOT HAVE TO MAKE A TRIP TO LEXINGTON OR WEST COLUMBIA TO ENJOY BBQ. WHAT A SAVING FOR ME IN GAS. I HAVE EVEN ATE AT HIS ORANGEBURG AND SANTEE RESTAURANTS. THANK YOU MR. BESSINGER FOR EXPANDING. ANY PLANS FOR GEORGIA?
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Posted by: Dee On: Monday, November 17, 2008 7:11 AM
Comment Title: Typical southern good ole boy
Neither of you, with the exception of maybe one commentator thus far, are Afro-American. His ignorant mindset is, was, and will always be offensive to our race especially. As a business owner whose patrons list included soooo many of us, he should have not been so racially outspoken. Yes we all have our opinions but sometimes things are better left unsaid. Had he kept his mouth shut a bit more he would not have lost such a vast part of the non-white diners of his restaurant to the more respectable few (ie Shealy's BBQ - Batesburg,SC; Porky D's - Lexington, SC). I am proud to say that I haven't given Maurice Bessinger one cent of my money since 1999! :-)
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Posted by: On: Saturday, November 15, 2008 10:41 AM
Comment Title: Charlestonian Views
Thank GOD we're getting some people like Maurice Bessinger in Aiken County who aren't afraid of their shadow and will openly express their opinions. These Southern Baptist with all their generations of incest who run to their homes after church and get drunk and then get into everyone else's business are driving us crazy. Nice to have someone with some balls in Aiken County. You Go Maurice!!!
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Posted by: On: Friday, November 14, 2008 8:59 PM
Comment Title: LOVE IT !!!
Maurice's mustard based BBQ is GREAT....
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Posted by: Smarterthanu On: Friday, November 14, 2008 6:16 PM
Comment Title: Hey J-Holl
Don't be an A-Holl
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Posted by: Dee Dee On: Friday, November 14, 2008 6:12 PM
Comment Title: Maurice's BBQ
How nice it is to have you come to our county - I've always enjoyed your resturants both near and far - I'm happy to see you come this way - but I wanted you to put a resturant in Aiken but I'll settle for N. Augusta. Thanks a bunch - I do appreciate it more than you know.
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Posted by: Kathy On: Friday, November 14, 2008 5:41 PM
Comment Title: Bessinger,s BBQ
i worked at the Bessinger,s on Hwy 17 in Charleston years ago. What happened to Melvin Bessinger? They do have the best BBQ and onion rings.
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Posted by: Standing Tall On: Friday, November 14, 2008 1:12 PM
Comment Title: Take a Stand
We need more people like Mr. Bessinger....If we all would take a stand for what we believe and not walk around on eggshells so we don't "OFFEND" people, the world would be a much better place! Get Over it already!
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Posted by: LOVES BBQ On: Friday, November 14, 2008 11:57 AM
Comment Title: DON'T GET MAD!!
If you don't like BBQ don't eat it!!
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Posted by: J-Holl On: Friday, November 14, 2008 10:43 AM
Comment Title: No.
Is all I got to say. Can't do this here. Keep it in Columbia and Lexington I don't want this fool in Aiken County.
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