South 21 Drive-In Charlotte
It is increasingly more difficult in Charlotte to find places that have stood the test of time. As in many growing cities, when something old in Charlotte becomes available for development, that property is torn down, and something new takes its place. Such is the case when the land is considered more 'valuable' than the institution. The South 21 Drive-In along East Independence Boulevard (US 74) is one of those examples that connects generations of Charlotteans, whether native or transplant. The red and white neon sign of the South 21 Drive-In is a Charlotte mainstay. The Independence Boulevard location opened in 1959, roughly four years after the flagship location on South Boulevard (then US 21) near the Sedgefield neighborhood. The curb-service restaurant was founded by three Greek-immigrant brothers, George, Sam, and Nick Cospis. The brothers decided to go the All-American route instead of a Greek-inspired fare. The Cospis family still runs...
