The American Dream is alive in Charlotte: How South 21 Drive-In has endured the test of time
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Eleni Krasias has worked at South 21, a classic American drive-in and longtime Charlotte staple, since she was 9 years old.
“I was really tall for my age, so I was able to reach the drink fountain,” said Krasias, now 33. “I was making drinks to help out on the weekends.”
Originally opened in 1954, South 21 personifies the American Dream here in Charlotte. Founded by three immigrant brothers from Arachova, Greece — George Copsis (Krasias’ grandfather), Sam and Nick — South 21’s continued success tells the enduring tale of a locally owned and family-run business passed down through the generations.
“It was something they were very proud of, and it’s really an honor to be able to still be a part of it,” Krasias said.
Though the brothers have all since passed away, Krasias, alongside her husband, Gianni, and her parents, George and Maria Housiadas, keep their memory alive through South 21’s surviving Independence Boulevard location, which has been in operation since 1959.
Humble beginnings
When brothers George, Sam and Nick first arrived in Charlotte, they didn’t have much. They were thousands of miles away from Greece and spoke no English. But what they did have was a dream to provide for their growing families and find success in a new country.
“Charlotte was much smaller back then, and they were just hoping that whatever business they started would catch on and be able to provide for their families,” Krasias explained.
The brothers opened the first South 21 location on South Boulevard (then referred to as Highway 21) in 1954. Instead of opening a traditional Greek restaurant, they choose the path of assimilation, opting for classic American food and a drive-in concept.
Together, they created dishes like homemade onion rings (cut and breaded fresh everyday), a fried trout plate, fried chicken and, of course, South 21’s emblematic “Super Boy” double hamburger.
“For the time frame that they started it, that’s what a good chunk of people were used to here,” Krasias explained.
While opening an American-style restaurant was a gamble for the brothers, they found success with their drive-in. South 21 just made sense in the context of the 1950s where drive-ins — the precursor to the drive-thru — were all the rage.
As Krasias puts it, “Drive-ins were the thing back then.”
Following World War II, the United States saw an influx of Greek immigrants. It may come as a surprise that many classic Charlotte restaurants, like South 21, have Greek roots. Beloved staples like Greystone Pub, Carolina Family Restaurant, Open Kitchen, Landmark Diner and Bar-B-Q King are all Greek owned.
Step back in time
Today, South 21’s menu acts as a relic from the past; it hasn’t changed much in the last 60 years. Many of the original dishes are still available, with little deviation from the recipes initially created by the brothers — a concerted effort on the family’s part to immortalize their vision.
“We definitely try to keep everything as close to the original as possible,” Krasias explained. “With the times changing, sometimes it’s harder to find a specific product; you might have to change it to something else, but we definitely strive to find the closest match.”
Not only is South 21’s cuisine very similar to the original 1955 menu, so is its appearance. Visiting the drive-in is like stepping back into a different era, with old-school ordering machines, vintage signs and curbside service.
South 21 is like a time capsule in a city where new restaurant concepts are a dime a dozen. And for many who grew up in Charlotte, its enduring and unchanging presence is a source of nostalgia.
“A large base of our customers are people that have been coming for generations with their families — either their parents started coming in or their grandparents,” Krasias explained. “We always welcome new faces and hope that we can get to know their families, too.”
Not only does South 21 have a loyal customer base that spans generations, many of its employees have also worked there for decades.
“We’re very grateful for all the people that we’ve had over the years and still have, that have worked with us and for us,” Krasias said. “People that worked most of their lives here, even retired from here.”
The future of South 21
As far as the future goes, Krasias says South 21 is here to stay.
“As long as we can hold on, we want to hold on,” she said.
The restaurant is going to keep doing what it’s done for the past 60 years: serve classic American food made fresh to order.
For Krasias and her family, South 21 has become a home away from home. It’s where she grew up and where her child will be raised. It represents more than an old-school burger joint — it’s her family’s legacy; It’s a part of Charlotte’s legacy, too. And while it may just be hamburgers and onion rings and fried fish platters, it’s symbolic of the American Dream.
“It feels really special to know where my grandfather and his two brothers came from and how hard it was to start here and then to have built something that exists for this many years and to continue,” Krasias said.
South 21 Drive-In
Location: 3101 E. Independence Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28205
Cuisine: American
Instagram: @south21drivein
Uniquely Charlotte: Uniquely Charlotte is an Observer subscriber collection of moments, landmarks and personalities that define the uniqueness (and pride) of why we live in the Charlotte region.
This story was originally published November 18, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
