Monday, May 19, 2008

The Esso Club

Our first entry in the Thirst and 10 contest is a strong one. Check out the Esso Club in Clemson, celebrating its 75th year of satisfying thirsty customers. (Click the images for a closer look.)

It started as a gas station in the 1920s and possesses the oldest beer license in town, dating to Dec. 5, 1933. The good times started mere hours after the end of prohibition and the business actually pumped gas until 1985, according to Wikipedia. We can imagine it took some customers several hours to fill their tanks. ...

The main bar is topped with the original wooden seating from Clemson's Memorial Stadium. As legend has it, Brent Musburger stops in for a cold one when he's in town.

Ryan of the site, Gobbler Country, paid a visit to the Esso Club last October for Virginia Tech's game against the Tigers. But despite the tradition and uniqueness of the Esso, he was not all that impressed.
"I would be surprised if the Esso Club loses the vote," he writes. "It has the history and the name recognition. However, I was a little disappointed when I went there last year. I think it's because I had it built up in my mind."

Have something to say about the Esso? Fire away in comments.

8 comments:

Kyle B. said...

Like everything at Clemson, it is overrated by the Clemmers themselves. I've actually been out to some good bars and had some good times up in Clemson, but Esso is nothing special.

Anonymous said...

Kyle B is obviously a hater (or maybe, even worse, a gamecock). Nothing rivals the Esso on a game weekend...

Anonymous said...

Nothing rivals the Esso because it's the only thing to do at Clemson. zing.

Anonymous said...

It's tradition. Plain and simple. That is why it is built up. You remember going there when you were in college and it is a fun place to recall old memories. That what makes it special. Unless you went to or have a connection to Clemson, it will just seem like another bar. The magic comes from the Orange Blood that runs through the veins of the Clemson Faithful.

Anonymous said...

Tiger Town Tavern is the best bar in Clemson, the Esso does not come close.

Anonymous said...

Esso is French for GAY!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Never been there. Just from looks alone it doesn't look like a place that I would want to go. Looks like I'd see Otis Campbell there.

Anonymous said...

nothing wrong with seeing Otis Campbell b/c that means barney Fife is just around the corner!!