There is a Charleston drinking establishment where patrons leave something to mark their visit. As a result, that something covers every inch of available interior wall and rafter space. That something is dollar bills, 27 years worth. There are layers upon layers of Washingtons autographed by customers marking first dates, inside jokes, anniversaries, parties, and holidays. In 2020, it was estimated to be about $50,000 worth, and the amount has grown since, and continues to grow. The unique practice is impossible to resist.
The Griffon is a prominent staple in the community and a tribute to the locals. Many people consider it to be a Charleston legend. Two pals looking for a place to kick up their feet with their friends opened it in 1996. It was that simple. To this day, that homey feeling remains. Dan Wenz began working for the brothers close to a decade ago and purchased the business from them in 2008. He became partners with Scott London. He vowed to leave the bar unchanged. The bills that plaster the walls since its beginning are still there, at least a significant majority.
There was a moment when necessity dictated a divergence from the norm. It was during the Covid-19 shutdowns. Seventeen employees of the Griffon became unemployed as a result. The Griffon took down some of the dollar bills on their walls to support their furloughed staff to help pay for bills and groceries.
The Griffon is acclaimed by various media outlets as being a gem to the city. Southern Living Magazine called it "Unapologetically Awesome," and Maxim Magazine added "Where to Eat, Drink, and Party in Charleston, South Carolina." It packs a lot of power in a small punch, and the press loves it as much as the people.
In its early days, the Griffon was the center of nightlife downtown. People made a loop between Charlie's Little Bar, the Rooftop at Vendue Inn, Blind Tiger, and maybe Dengate's in those days. Everyone had just been to Dengate's or the Tiger. It was a smaller pool back then. Now the area is a bit more touristy, and the college-aged crowd has migrated to Upper King with its ongoing development, now rarely seen.
The Griffon is a bar for two distinctly different patrons: the locals and the astute tourist who asked a local. The old English-style pub appeals mostly to the working class—and there's a good reason, its lunch menu. It gets a lot of lawyers, a lot of food and beverage workers, and a lot of tourists. Quality food that's affordable is hard to find. As the neighborhood slowly transforms, the locals still flock to the Griffon because they know they can get a great meal that won't bend their credit card.
The Griffon's lunches are loaded, so they're doing really well in the good eats department. A crowd comes through its door every day. The secret is pretty simple: a meat and three veg daily special. Other items on the menu include classic comfort food, like grilled cheese, hot wings, and burgers.
The pub has served a lot of beer over its time, Bud Lights and Pabst Blue Ribbons, but have shifted more to satisfy the craft beer craze. The pub went from selling 10 cases of Bud Light a night to selling a couple of Bud Light cases and mostly draft beers. With that said, Pabst Blue Ribbon is still the number one seller.
The Griffon is a casual beer bar with cheap food. With the restructuring of the Anchorage Inn at 26 Vendue and 24 Vendue in 2013, along with the presence of Waterfront Park, the tourist crowd flowing in from East Bay Street and through the doors of The Vendue keep the English style pub busy, not to leave unmentioned, the dedicated locals who patronize it just because they want to. Next time you are in the downtown French Quarter, visit the Griffon, have a beer, enjoy the menu, and staple a Washington on the walls of anonymity. Nobody will know you did it, except you, and that is all that matters.
18 Vendue Range, Charleston, SC
Monday-Friday 11am-2am
Saturday and Sunday 12pm-2am
(843) 723-1700
1 comment:
One of our favorite places to pop in for lunch, staff is great, good food and music and so close to the waterfront you could throw a stone and hit one of the fountains!
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