Jim Fair
Jason Clark, owner/operator of BIN112, is awarded his second Restaurateur of the Year award.
Jim Fair
Joining Jason Clark Monday at the Embassy Suites was his wife, Lori, daughter, Madison, and his mother, Anne.
Jim Fair
Chef Patrick Wagner, of the Spartanburg Technical College Culinary School, was awarded the Educator of the Year. Wagner is a former instructor at the Bonds Career Center.
Jim Fair
The 2016 Class of the Upstate South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association award winners.
The South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association (SCRLA) honored Clark as the Upstate’s Restaurateur of the Year for BIN112 for the second time in three years. The recognition, that included an artsy dinner plate, was held at the Embassy Suites Monday.
BIN112 was the restaurant earning the recognition but Clark’s Strip Club 104 A Steak House is mentioned in the same breath.
Stan Coster, a restaurant equipment supplier, introduced Clark, straying from his notes. “Jason is humble and attributes his success to his staff,” Coster said. “His father (Banks) passed away earlier this year and would be proud see his son honored.”
Banks Clark was present when Clark won his first award in 2014. Joining Clark today was his wife, Lori, daughter, Madison, and his mother, Anne
“He made it personal,” Clark said of Coster’s remarks. “That was special. He knows what I’ve been through and Stan has been a great partner and friend for a long time.”
Coster gave Clark a big hug making his way to the stage to receive his award.
Mark Owens, President/CEO for the Greater Greer Chamber of Commerce, attended the luncheon. “
“Jason carries the flag for Greer in a setting like this,” Owens said. “This is huge and it’s not about Jason. It’s about his team. “He’s very passionate for our community and he knows that he has great folks that he works with and loves to show Greer off,” Owens said. “Jason is a great champion for our community.”
“I look at these (plates) and feel very bad about having my name on them,” Clark said. “My staff deserves this more than me. It’s an honor to be here with all the people that have accomplished so much.”
Clark has set a standard that defines Greer dining. “It has taken us a while,” he said. “We came into the city to make a difference. It has always been simply great for us.”
Chef Patrick Wagner, 15 years with the Greenville Technical College Culinary School was awarded the Educator of the Year award for the Upstate. Wagner formerly headed the culinary program at the Bonds Career Center.
“We’ve a very stable population of students,” Wagner said. “But we’ve got to find a way to drive people to school. A reflection of our industry is we have the capability to teach students. The restaurateurs are dying for people.
“We’ve got to try to the old and true things,” Patrick said. “We need to use the co-op, take the best employees and give them a $1.20 an hour raise to pay them for school.”