If you’ve ever pulled into the SnoCap Drive-in in North Augusta to enjoy a burger, hotdog, or shake, you may have felt like you were driving through history. The place has been around since 1964 and remains a local icon. Through various owners through those 59 years, most recently the Usry family in 2019, the joint still hops with dine-in, curb service, and drive-thru.
SnoCap’s piece of history will now be preserved through a $40,000 grant from the
Backing Historic Small Restaurants Grant Program awarded through Saving Places and American Express. They were one of only 25 historic small restaurants across the country to receive the grant.
“We were ecstatic to receive the grant, as our family is committed to preserving and improving the property,” explained co-owner Havird Usry.
In fact, extensive renovations have been occurring for some time inside SnoCap and outside with facelifts for the patio and parking lot.
“We already have several projects in mind for the grant funding, especially to upgrade our drive-up boxes for placing orders. The project will involve custom metal and plastic work.”
The Usry family is no stranger to the restaurant business or historic dining for that matter. They’ve owned Fat Man’s since the 1940’s. It started out as a grocery store owned by Darnell Usry. His son, Horace, turned it into Fat Man’s Corner which evolved into a restaurant and catering business, now manned by Brad and his son, Havird.
Besides Fat Man’s and SnoCap, the family also operates a catering business through Enterprise Mill, Southern Salad on Broad Street, and The Fourth Rooftop Venue on the fourth floor of the Plaza at Evans Towne Center.
“It’s under wraps for now, but we are working on another establishment for downtown.”
It looks like there is more history to be made for the Usry’s and Augusta. For more information on SnoCap, you can visit their Facebook page.
Editor’s Note:
Mitzi Oxford is a veteran broadcaster and features writer who also worked at the same television station in Columbus, Georgia as Augusta’s Brad Means!
If you have a South Carolina story idea for Mitzi, please email her at mitzioxfordcreative@gmail.com.
