Maurice’s Piggie Park in West Columbia celebrates 60 years in the Midlands
August 9, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Owned and operated by the second and third generation family, Maurice’s Piggie Park® is celebrating 60 years at its West Columbia, S.C. location on Charleston Hwy, starting on August 19, 2015.
Sibling owners, Lloyd and Paul Bessinger and Debbie Bennett are excited to kick off the 60th year in Columbia by offering their signature Little Joe® BBQ Pork Sandwich for only $2 on August 19 through 21, 2015, as a special treat to longtime customers and first time folks tasting their family’s signature pit-cooked barbeque.
Back in 1939, their father, Maurice Bessinger, started with his dad, “Big Joe”, in the restaurant business at the age of just 9 years old in Holly Hill, S.C. After returning from serving in the Korean War, Maurice and his brother began their own restaurant in Charleston, S.C in 1953. Maurice and his wife, Barbara, moved to Winston Salem, N.C. the next year to open their own place, and then decided to move back to Columbia, a city Maurice loved when in Army training at Fort Jackson. In 1955, Maurice and Barbara bought an old Zesto’s building and rebuilt it into their very own Piggie Park®, opening in August 1955, where the current headquarters location stands today. He expanded across the state to share the taste of real pit-cooked BBQ in convenient locations around the area. Maurice handed over the company to his children to keep South Carolina’s #1 BBQ going before he passed away in 2013. Today, Lloyd, Paul, and Debbie’s mission is to continue to serve gourmet pit-cooked BBQ in an authentic South Carolina style with exceptional quick service, in a friendly, family atmosphere.
First opened in August 1955, and conveniently located just miles from downtown Columbia, near the Columbia Metropolitan Airport, and just a mile off I-26, the original Piggie Park® restaurant has since been a favorite for local families, travelers headed to the beach, military from Fort Jackson, USC students, and others. Maurice’s Piggie Park® serves real pit-cooked South Carolina barbeque, smoked naturally over hickory and oak wood-fired pits that operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, overseen by Pitmaster Paul. And of course, the key factor in what makes South Carolina BBQ different from the rest of America is the signature mustard-based sauce. Maurice’s Southern Gold® BBQ Sauce heirloom recipe is still mixed up in secret, thousands of gallons weekly, by Maurice Bessinger’s grandsons.
Maurice’s Piggie Park® now operates 11 restaurant locations across the Midlands, serving the same great BBQ straight from the wood-fired pits, eat in or to go. The $2 Little Joe® anniversary special will be available at all 11 Columbia area locations on August 19 through 21, 2015.
“We serve more South Carolina barbeque than anyone else,” said Lloyd. Popular items include the signature Big Joe® and Little Joe® BBQ Sandwiches, Carolina Hash and Rice, Cole Slaw, Hushpuppies, Onion Rings, and Banana Pudding. Another customer favorite is the fresh ground burger, cooked to order. “We have many folks that come eat with us for BBQ on one day, and a burger the next! There’s plenty of variety for the whole family and whatever you are craving,” added sister, Debbie.
Maurice’s Piggie Park® is known for its extensive barbeque menu including Pulled Pork, Chicken, Ribs, Beef Brisket, Wings, Hash and other sides – but also offers options like hamburgers, chili dogs, and chicken tenders. The family owned restaurant also caters for organizations and events all over South Carolina, ranging from 30 guests to 5,000, and offers special tailgate packages for football season.
Lloyd, Paul, and Debbie invite the public to join them for ‘60 Years in Columbia’ anniversary celebration, enjoying Little Joe® BBQ Sandwiches, the signature item at Maurice’s Piggie Park®.
Maurice’s Piggie Park® has 11 Midlands locations; hours and location information is on their website at www.PiggiePark.com.
