As a CHARLOTTE Engineering graduate and SigEp alumnus, I travel back and forth to Charlotte at…read moreleast 10 times a year. I remember stopping at Bill's as a far back as the early '80s.
On this trip, I was on my way to the CHARLOTTE 49ers men's basketball game vs. Tulane. On the way down, I stopped to use the restroom. I noticed that they serve Exxon gas (I use the Exxon-Mobil app whenever I can). Being the Architecture and Americana enthusiast -- and let's not forget Yelpie -- I snapped a lot of pictures.
On the way down, I didn't have time to stop and eat, and I decided it would be better to get gas on the way home, so I planned to stop again after the game.
Bill's Truck Stop is a long-standing, family-oriented truck stop and restaurant serving travelers, truckers, and locals. It's a full-service stop right off I-85 near Salisbury/Linwood, offering fuel, Country and Southern comfort food, and a range of traveler amenities in a more "old-school" atmosphere compared to modern corporate travel plazas. It never closes -- open 24 hours a day. It's easily noticeable by its tall sign and "Big Bill," a towering fiberglass figure originally installed decades ago as an eye-catching roadside attraction.
The property includes a convenience store paired with the Exxon station on the left, the restaurant in the middle, and a store on the right selling auto and truck supplies, clothing, and other merchandise. On my way down, I picked up ice scrapers, anticipating an approaching ice storm in North Carolina.
On the way home -- after the 49ers were victorious -- I stopped to sample the restaurant, go to the bathroom, and get gas.
I sat down at the counter and was greeted very warmly and hospitably, in both classic Southern and truck-stop wait-staff style. It seemed as if before the words "I'll have coffee" left my mouth, a cup of hot Joe was already in front of me -- really good diner-style coffee, the kind that keeps truckers and motorists alert all night.
Livermush can be hard to find in parts of Eastern North Carolina, so I decided to order breakfast. I had livermush, sunny-side-up eggs, hash browns with onions and peppers covered in melted cheese, and a very large biscuit. It was all very delicious.
The counter area was very clean. The restaurant décor and furniture are dated -- in a good way -- going back to the 1960s when the truck stop first opened to serve Interstate-85 traffic. The kitchen is in plain view and very clean, which adds a level of trust and transparency. In addition to the counter, there are tables and chairs as well as booths.
This is a classic "greasy spoon" diner and mom-and-pop truck stop -- I love its nostalgic feel. The menu features classics such as country-style steak, meatloaf, fried chicken, and chicken and dumplings. They also offer a solid selection of hearty soups, salads and slaw, hamburgers, hot dogs and other sandwiches, and fried seafood bites. I can't wait to return and sample more menu items. Imagine having a Salisbury steak in Salisbury!
The men's room was exceptionally clean and smelled nice -- especially impressive for a truck stop or travel plaza.
After I ate and used the restroom, I went out and pumped gas using the Exxon-Mobil app. The pump worked well, and the handle was fully intact -- I didn't have to squeeze it the entire fill-up in the cold, which I appreciated.
I plan on heading back and wholeheartedly recommend this truck stop and travel plaza to anyone needing gas, a clean restroom, automobile or truck parts and supplies, souvenir clothing, water, soda or snacks, and a hot, delicious comfort-food meal. And yes -- it's also worth stopping just to take a selfie with Big Bill.
