TV anchor

...and finally tonight, a local legend is calling it a career after operating his famous local eatery for 35 years. But that doesn't mean we won't be able to get those famous ribs anymore. Sharon, what does this mean for the community?

Reporter

Well Chet the name William Sharpe first gained notoriety in this town more than 35 years ago when he played football at state. Later, he returned home to establish what has become known as a world famous restaurant known as much for it's barbecue as for it's family atmosphere.

Reporter

So Mr. Sharpe, you're finally calling it a career.

Billy

Call me Billy. Thank you and thanks to all out there who come to eat at my place.

Reporter

How long have you been in business?

Billy

I cook my first rack of ribs here over 35 years ago. Been in business here ever since.

Reporter

What are you going to miss most?

Billy

Most of all I'll be missing the people. I love to see the people come in here and ordered a big rack of ribs and plate of barbeque. Get on the outside of them, get that contented look.That's a touchdown every time in my book.

Reporter

So why retire?

Billy

Well, I've finally gotten tired. This thing is regular, seven days a week, weekdays, holidays. Not like these little microwave places out here. Cooking barbeque is work. And I told the wife I'd be spending some more time with her, so I'm going to hand it off to the younger generation.

Reporter

Well now please tell us you're not closing the place.

Billy

Oh no. Bill Jr. Here is the one who's going to be taking over. He'll be calling the plays from now on.

Reporter

Bill Jr., what do you think about your father retiring?

Bill Jr.

I'll believe it when I see it. I think he's still going to be around here at the place from day to day.

Reporter

Well now taking over, do you have any changes for the place?

Bill Jr.

We're looking to expand throughout the state, opening up a few more places. But with that we need to prepare for any issues that arise.

Reporter

What kind of issues are we talking about?

Billy

Bill Jr.'s been around this place for many years and the boy's got a good eye. He's got a real good eye for making things run better. You've got to stay on top of things in case something goes wrong.

Bill Jr.

We just want to keep our food safe.

Reporter

So, explain that a little bit more.

Bill Jr.

Well we just want to make sure whatever we serve our customers is safe from accidental or intentional contamination.

Billy

I never wanted to fumble the ball, get people sick out here on account of some mistake or something we did that we should've know better and taken care of.

Bill Jr.

In recent years our focus is to prevent intentional contamination of our food.

Narrator

Accidental contamination is the contamination of food due to poor food management practices. Intentional contamination is the purposeful contamination of food by an individual or group.

Reporter

Father and son talk about their customers like they're family. It seems like every time they open the door to their famous eatery, they're inviting you in for Sunday dinner.

Billy

That's why I feel so good about turning the business over to bill Jr. He knows the business, he knows the people, knows the operation. He's got these ideas, responsive new things and trends coming up. The kinds of ideas I never even thought about. I've been here a long time and worked this place a long many years but I'm not too proud to admit that I've learned we've had to change things as the times and people and he's made me see that.

Bill Jr.

This is a family atmosphere. He always says "we know everybody and everybody know us and they trust us."

Billy

You put out food fresh, you watch your dates, you keep your hot stuff hot and your cold stuff cold. Keep your dishes clean, forks and stuff, cook it right. What else do you need to know?

Reporter

What else is there?

Bill Jr.

In recent years we've had to learn to prevent intentional contamination of our food, whether that be through bacteria, chemicals or viruses.

Reporter

Who would do something like that?

Billy

Years ago we there was this old boy married to one of our waitresses, and they got to having trouble at the house like people will. We were helping her out and he didn't much case for this. So jaybird found a way to get some rat poison and put it in our buffet. Once I found out I...

Bill Jr.

(interrupting) ...let's just say that that's one pig that didn't see the plate.

Reporter

Bill sr. Became so concerned about this problem, he and his son started taking steps to prevent this type of intentional contamination from happening in the future.

Bill Jr.

We've got our security system up to date, with our security cameras and alarms. We just want to make sure our food is delivered in a safe manner.

Billy

I was against that to start with; seemed to me like we were spying on the customers. But Jr. got me to see that what we were really doing was making sure we were keeping our customers safe by keeping up with the day to day comings and goings of the place.

Bill Jr.

Another reason is if we have a problem with a vendor, which we sometimes do, we just want to make sure that our food is delivered safely.

Reporter

Sounds like a lot of work.

Billy

It's a long run to the goal line with a project like this-time and money. But, it's important to keep the customers safe.

Reporter

It was apparent that Billy was as dedicated to his customers as he had been on the field. I didn't notice how much until he showed me the additional steps that he'd taken to help protect their business.

Billy

This is where we get all of the deliveries in back here. I want you to look at this over here. Had that put in so we could keep track of what was coming and out of the door; keep everything on the up and up right back in here.

Bill Jr.

Most of our delivery drivers are guys that we've known. They've been coming here a long time. But when we do get somebody new, we like to check their id to verify who they are.

Billy

Just to be sure we don't have no foxes getting in the hen house.

Reporter

Absolutely!

Billy

These here were Bill Jr.'s idea.

Reporter

Okay, these just look like lockers to me.

Billy

Well, they are, but we didn't have them til a few years ago. Now we have them so people have a safe place to keep their stuff while they're on shift. It's just a better system all around.

I've got something else right here i want you to look at.

Bill Jr.

We want to make sure our chemicals are properly stored and correctly labeled so that there is no risk of contamination.

Billy

We keep a real tight inventory on everything so that we know nothing is missing.

Bill Jr.

This is another thing that sticks in dad's side.

Billy

Everybody who works here knows who works here. We all know one another and people who come to eat here, they know who we are, so i couldn't see the point in that thing.

Bill Jr.

By wearing name tags a customer will know if somebody is working here or not. If they see somebody doing something suspicious, we can get a name from them.

Reporter

Does that happen a lot?

Billy

Well, he's got a point too. He's opening all these other locations around and so there's three times as many employees as what we use to have, so that way we know who's who. And now we've got the t-shirts too. Now, that was an idea I liked, cause we got that free advertising.

Reporter

How important are you're employees to you?

Billy

They keep the ship going. It's like a big family. Most of them that's worked here has worked here for many, many years. And then their children will come to work. They'll work in the ice cream bar, work part-time there or bussing tables after school. That sort of thing. It just makes the whole crowd like one big family.

Reporter

That's when I met molly.

Molly, how long have you been working for big bill?

Molly

25 years. Started scooping ice cream while i was in high school.

R eporter

And I take it you like working for him?

Molly

He's like a father to me.

Reporter

So, you're going to miss him with all this?

Molly

I'd say yes, but I know him to well so i don't believe he'll stay away that much.

Reporter

Well tell me some of the changes they've put in place over the past few years.

Molly

Well I think bill Jr., has done a real good job in putting in some routines that we can follow to make the place a little safer. For a little family place, they keep us in the know about things that could help and hurt the business.

Reporter

Like what, for example?

Molly

Well, they get everybody together before every shift and we huddle up in back. That way we know who's on the clock and whose missing. Everybody gets together, all the servers, cooks, everybody. It's a real big pep rally.

Reporter

Anything else?

Molly

They make sure they know everyone before they hire them. My family moved here from Texas and Mr. Billy here must have asked a million questions about my family, were we came from, why we moved here. At first, i thought he was being a little nosy, but he really cares about us and his customers.

R eporter

(to Billy) sounds like you really want to know all about your staff.

Billy

We do. Like I said before, we feel like everybody who works here or eats here, for that matter, is part of the family.

Bill Jr.

And with the number of people that we employee it's important to us to check on the new hires.

Reporter

How so?

Bill Jr.

We'll run a background check on anyone that we're thinking of hiring, for the protection of not only our employees bout our customers as well.

Bill Jr.

This here is Evan.

Reporter

Hey there, Evan...how long have you been working here?

Evan

A couple months now

Reporter

Was this your first job?

Evan

Yes mam.

Bill Jr.

Evan is the son of a good friend of mine. We've known his family for years now.

Reporter

I take it you enjoy working here, Evan?

Evan

I love working here. It's like a second family to me. I've known Mr. Billy and Billy Jr. Since I was a kid.

Reporter

And what are you getting ready to do here?

Evan

Getting ready to prep some lettuce

Reporter

So Bill Jr., what happens if you get a bad delivery?

Bill Jr.

Well our lettuce is from a local farm and we've been dealing with those people for years. So we know the product. But Evan and the rest of the prep cooks and staff know that if they find an open box or anything that looks suspicious, that they tell a manager immediately.

Reporter

Sounds like you really want to keep your customers safe.

Billy

That and keep their bellies full.

Reporter

Big Billy, thanks for showing us around you famous place here. And from all of our viewers we would like to wish you a very happy retirement.

Billy

Well, thank you. I'd like to thank everybody that's always come out and eaten with us over the years. And I hope they continue to come out to Big Billy's and get some of our famous BBQ and ribs.

Reporter

Don't think I won't get some before I go.

Billy

Thank you.

TV anchor

What a great story.

Reporter

Well Chet, he really is quite a guy - a real local legend finally calling it a career. He'll definitely be missed.

TV anchor

Did you ever get any of that BBQ?

Reporter

I sure did. The best BBQ I've ever eaten.

TV anchor

Fantastic! If you'd like more information on how to protect you food service establishment from intentional contamination call your local health department or visit www.scdhec.gov/food . To all of our viewers, have a good night.