5 and 10 Ferse's Luncheonette (Gone)
Orangeburg, SC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Stepping into Ferse's Luncheonette felt like walking back a few decades. Tucked inside the old Ferse's 5 & 10 in downtown Orangeburg, it was the kind of lunch counter where a quick sandwich or cup of coffee came with plenty of small-town atmosphere. 02-08

The old department store had been part of Orangeburg since 1906, growing from a produce stand into a hometown institution where you could shop, grab a bite to eat, and run a few errands all under one roof. The luncheonette kept that old-fashioned five-and-dime tradition alive long after it had disappeared from most towns.

Unfortunately, both the store and the luncheonette closed in 2015, bringing an end to more than a century of serving the Orangeburg community.

UPDATE: Ferse's 5 & 10 and its luncheonette permanently closed in 2015, and the old storefront signs have since been removed. 08-26

Stavros Grill
Burlington, NC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

If you're driving through Burlington, just follow the familiar red hook arrow. It's been pointing hungry travelers toward Stavros Grill for years, making it one of those simple roadside signs that's easy to recognize from a distance. 03-08

Stavros has long been a favorite neighborhood stop for breakfast and lunch, serving classic diner fare in a relaxed, no-frills setting. Like so many Greek-owned diners across the South, it's the kind of place where the coffee stays hot, the grill is always busy, and the regulars seem to have their favorite booth waiting for them.

UPDATE: Stavros Grill remains open, and the classic red hook arrow continues pointing the way inside. 08-26

Bar-B-Que Shack
Thomasville, NC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Not every roadside sign has to be vintage to catch your eye. The one at Bar-B-Que Shack does its job just fine, letting hungry travelers know there's barbecue just ahead as they make their way through Thomasville. 03-08

For decades, Bar-B-Que Shack has been a favorite local stop for Lexington-style barbecue, serving chopped pork, hushpuppies, and hearty breakfast biscuits in a simple, no-frills setting. It's the kind of place where the drive-thru stays busy, the parking lot fills up around lunchtime, and regulars seem to know exactly what they're ordering before they reach the counter.

UPDATE: Bar-B-Que Shack remains open, and the roadside sign continues welcoming hungry travelers along Randolph Street. 08-26

Bubba's Barbecue (Gone)
Charlotte, NC
Photo courtesy Richard Weiss

Bubba's Barbecue is off I-77 in Charlotte near the northern edge of the city. It said "Eastern NC style" on the sign (whatever that means.) The people at the table next to me were from Philadelphia and made a trip just for this place! So that's one more for the Bubba collection! As is typical of these places (except Bridge's) the interior was very plain, little more than tables with plaid tablecloths with the restaurants own BBQ sauce waiting for you. This "Bubba's famous sauce" was weird in that it had vinegar in it so I mostly opted for the sweeter more normal stuff. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 03-08

Bubba's carried on barbecue recipes that dated back to Charlotte's Spoon's Barbecue in 1963, serving chopped pork, homemade slaw, and other Carolina favorites for many years. It became a popular stop for locals and visitors looking for authentic Eastern-style barbecue.

UPDATE: Bubba's Barbecue permanently closed in early 2026 after the property was sold. The original roadside sign has since been removed. 08-26