A 70-year-old establishment passes its secret sauce for hot dogs to one loyal customer
Kyle Childers is the first person from outside the family to learn the inimitable Holmes Hotdogs chili recipe. He holds the distinction humbly, and with honor.
Since 1953, the recipe has been guarded and deployed daily—first by Walt Holmes, who later passed the secret to his daughter and her husband, Treva and Robb Webb. When Childers, a loyal customer of 25 years, bought the Spartanburg business in July 2022, the recipe landed in his hands.
While it’s not rocket science, bestowing the recipe to a person with a degree in aerospace engineering seems to be a safe choice. Childers is all too aware of the privilege and responsibility.
Around 8 am, Monday through Friday, Childers starts the chili from scratch. The amount might vary slightly, but by 9:30 am, about three gallons of the secret sauce will be ready for the daily lunch rush.
Though this is his first official press interview since taking ownership, Childers maintains the necessary discretion when asked about the ingredients. He thinks for a moment, choosing his words carefully. “There’s no ketchup in the chili,” he offers as a consolation before the tease. “It doesn’t have your typical ingredients. There’s one secret ingredient.”
He assures that the mystery element isn’t off-putting but provides the signature flavor that has earned Holmes Hotdogs steady business and loyal regulars, who account for about 50 percent of their business, he estimates. “It’s the consistency,” Childers says. “You know what you’re getting when you come in. It’s always hot.”
In the name of full disclosure, Childers says he’s taught two long-time staff members the method in case of emergency. He’s changed a few things in the last year: chili cheese fries are now a menu item. Toppings previously exclusive to hot dogs are now available for other plates, and lettuce and tomato are an option for sandwiches. But aside from those minimal menu additions, Holmes Hotdogs is the same as it’s been for 70 years.
“I didn’t want to mess it up. I wanted to keep things exactly the same,” he says about his ownership philosophy.
Childers, a Boiling Springs native, became a customer at 15 years old, about the same age as many students who make a beeline from the nearby school bus stop to squeeze in their orders before the closing time at 4 pm. He recalls his former order that didn’t change for years. From behind the counter, Janice rattles off the old order—plain hot dog, pickles, and Cheerwine in a glass bottle, of course.
His palate has since evolved, and every Friday, he orders two dogs all the way (chili, mustard, onions), a little heavy on the onions, with ketchup and slaw on the dog. He adds chili cheese fries, topped with jalapenos, to “feel like you’re at a football game.”
With a collective 60 years of experience among the handful of Holmes Hotdogs employees, it’s not a stretch to conclude the integrity of the restaurant will remain intact even as Childers contemplates expanding catering options and additional regional locations.
“I really love this place,” Childers says. “I want people to have the experience I had coming here. It’s a place that people’s grandparents took them, and now they take their grandkids. I wanted to carry on the legacy.”
Holmes Hotdogs & Catering, 925 W. Blackstock Rd., Arcadia, 864.576.0601, holmeshotdogs.com
Latin-American Hot Dogs
You can find a hot dog joint in just about any corner of the Upstate. Thanks to their names, many are easy to locate, but don’t miss these Latin-American restaurants with these under-the-radar specialty hot dogs.
Sacha’s Cafe offers two nearly foot-long offerings: Sacha’s Hot Dog (bacon, coleslaw with pineapple sweet relish, crushed potato chips, Swiss cheese) and the Traditional Hot Dog (coleslaw with pineapple sweet relish, crushed potato chips, bacon bits, and cheese).
598 Pendleton St., 864.243.8652; 1001 N. Pleasantburg Dr., 864.232.3232, sachascafe.com
Califa’s has the L.A.X. Hotdog, which is bacon-wrapped and topped with grilled veggies and salsa rosada.
30 Orchard Park Dr., Ste. 4, 864.631.1565, eatcalifas.com
Mercado Cantina in Gather GVL serves a bacon-wrapped, all-beef frank accented with griddled onions, mayo, mustard, ketchup, and jalapeños.
126 Augusta St., Ste. 1, 864.373.9343, gathergreenville.com/partners/mercado-cantina
Golden Llama takes the “is a hot dog a sandwich?” debate to a whole new level with their Sandwich Chorizo, a grilled pork bratwurst nestled in your choice of French or honey wheat hoagie roll, topped with lettuce and tomato, and drizzled with a generous portion of fresh chimichurri.
2607 Woodruff Rd., Ste. C, 864.297.0054, goldenllama.net
