Bell’s ring a generational change at Fowler’s Grill
Veteran staff and new owners at Fowler’s Grill in Loris include, from left, Tommy Aleo, Janice Smellen, David Bielieski,Rhonda Tyner, Lindsey Bell, Kylie Bell, and Kyle Bell. (Deuce Niven, TLT)
By DEUCE NIVEN
tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com
There are no Fowler’s left at the helm of the burger and hot dog businesses the late C.M. Fowler established in Loris and Tabor City.
His daughter, Rhonda Tyner, said the offer form Kyle and Lindsey Bell for the Broad Street business in Loris came at the right time. Rhonda has been running the Loris store for 38 years.
“Dad built it in 1985,” Rhonda said of the Loris store. “I’ve been here since 1986.”
Lindsey runs the business, Kyle is kept busy with his job in Horry County Code Enforcement. Customers may not have noticed as the transition took place last week. With the addition of Lindsey, the staff was unchanged, as was the menu.
Where they grew up
Lindsey is from Conway, Kyle from Longs where the family now lives. Loris, and Fowler’s, was central to growing up for them both.
“We both grew up in Loris, at Fowler’s,” Lindsey said.
As a girl, Lindsey said she wanted to won Fowler’s one day. That was no secret from Kyle, and while Lindsey thought it just a dream, Kyle set out to make it happen.
“Kyle said ‘I’m going to buy that restaurant for you,’” Lindsey said.
Kyle’s father asked Rhonda recently if she would consider selling it to Kyle and Lindsey.
“He hit me at the right time,” Rhonda said. “After 39 years, I’m ready for something else.”
Still, the restaurant is a part of who Rhonda is. Her father, C.M. Fowler, died on Nov. 12, 2010 at the age of 86. Nine days later Rhonda’s husband died.
She found something, solace maybe, at work.
“This was my salvation,” Rhonda said. “It was really a life-line to me.”
For more on this story see this week’s Tabor-Loris Tribune in print and online.
