Tiger Den (Lester’s)

The Tiger Den was a beloved bar/eatery that left its mark on early-’80s Clemson. It’s often remembered for its famous “Businessman’s Special” – for the grand sum of $1, a patron could get a Busch beer and a hot dog, making it the best lunch deal in town for hungry college kids​tigernet.com. Tiger Den originally occupied a spot at 104 Seneca Road (just off College Avenue), a location that saw several incarnations. After a stint as “Strawberry’s” restaurant, it reopened in 1986 as Lester’s Burgers & Spirits – essentially a reboot of Tiger Den under a new name​clemsonwiki.com. Lester’s was a bar and grill run by local owner Lester (rumor has it he was Dr. “Doc” Skelton’s son-in-law, which gave Tiger Den its nickname “Doc’s Place” to some). At Lester’s, students could get a greasy burger to go with their pitcher of beer, and it maintained the casual, come-as-you-are vibe of its predecessor. It even kept the “Tiger Den” moniker alive informally – some flyers called it “Lester’s Tiger Den.” This place was also home to the “Bengal Ball”, a back-room pool hall whimsically named the Bengal Huddle, where dates often ended up after dinner. Though popular (especially for its cheap eats and drinks), Lester’s/Tiger Den was relatively short-lived. By late 1987 it had closed its doors​tigerpregameshow.blogspot.com. In 1988, the spot was taken over by a new sports bar called TD’s (short for Tim and Dewey’s), which continues to operate in that location. Still, older alumni never forgot Tiger Den’s dollar beer-and-dog special or the convivial atmosphere it offered. For a certain cohort in the early ’80s, saying “meet me at Tiger Den” guaranteed a satisfying (and inexpensive) good time.