Is South 21 Drive-In Still Open? Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Update

Part 1 — Season 21, Episode 17 Aired December 25, 2014

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives' 'Hometown Heroes' episode, aired 2014-12-25, featured South 21 Drive-In on East Independence Boulevard in Charlotte, North Carolina, known for classic burgers and drive-in service. According to Charlottesgotalot.com, the drive-in has served the Charlotte area since 1955. Yelp's listing for South 21 Drive-In at 3101 E Independence Blvd, updated in August 2026 with 158 reviews, lists current hours and a phone number of (704) 377-4509. A separate Yelp page for a South 21 Drive In at a different address, 3631 South Blvd, is marked permanently closed as of a July 2026 update; that listing appears to cover a distinct, earlier South 21 location rather than the East Independence Boulevard restaurant filmed for the show.

Part 2 — Season 8, Episode 6 Aired February 8, 2010

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives visited South 21 Drive-In in the episode titled By Request (aired 2010-02-08), spotlighting the drive-in's classic burger and shake cooking. South 21 Drive-In is a carhop-style drive-in at 3101 East Independence Boulevard in Charlotte, North Carolina, that has served the area since 1955, taking orders through curbside speakers and delivering food to parked cars. According to Yelp, a listing updated in August 2026 shows South 21 open, with over 150 photos and reviews and no closure marking, and current posted hours that include Tuesday through Saturday service with a Monday closure. The drive-in is known for its Super Boy double burger with scratch-made chili and slaw. No name change, relocation, or new-ownership indicator was found in the material reviewed for this record.