Since Tiger Town Tavern’s grand opening in 1977, second-generation owner Cameron Farish has maintained just one goal: give the Clemson community a bar to call its own.
“What I want is when someone asks you, ‘What did you do last night?’ I want you to say, ‘I went to my bar downtown,’ not a bar,” Farish said in an interview with The Tiger. “I want you to say I went to my bar.”
Tiger Town Tavern — deemed TTT or Triple by many of its loyal customers — is one of Clemson’s most esteemed bars. It’s primarily recognized for its $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon beers, signature Pickletinis and, of course, free 21st birthday T-shirts.
In addition to its signature drink deals and birthday gifts, Triple also offers trivia on Wednesday nights and live music on weekends with no cover charge. Too busy downstairs? You can head upstairs to the Top of the Tavern, an exclusive second-floor space for TTT members and their guests, for a calmer atmosphere.
While Farish is exceptionally proud of Triple’s success from a business standpoint, he attributes much of the bar’s success to its welcoming atmosphere and employees.
“This location is important,” Farish said. “But brick and mortar do not make a bar; it’s the people who work here. The building itself is a bonus, but it’s the people that engage the customer.”
As one of the bar’s beloved owners, Farish knew how important the bar was to him. After spending every weekend, holiday and home football game working, he fostered a sense of community between himself, his staff and his patrons. However, Farish did not realize just how far that sense of community stretched — especially with his customers — until the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
“You don’t understand how much the place means to people until bad things happen,” Farish told The Tiger. “When COVID hit, you know we were closed…We quickly burned through our reserves just to pay our people and keep the lights on. You just burn through all that money. You don’t make any…But people reached out and bought shirts. I mean, we went from selling a few shirts online to thousands. It was touching.”
So, if you’re ever looking for a $2 beer, some live music, a Pickletini or maybe even a free T-shirt on your 21st birthday, just know that “your” bar is waiting.
Hours:
Mon-Thurs: 4 p.m.-2 a.m.
Fri-Sun: 11-2 a.m.
Address:
368 College Ave.,
Clemson, SC 29631
Phone: (864) 654-5901
Website: https://www.tigertowntavern.com
Instagram: @tttofclemson
Facebook: TigerTownTavern
X: @TigerTownTavern
