TRAVELERS REST, S.C. — A group of firefighters said they were turned away from a food challenge as they tried to honor a fallen firefighter Saturday.
FOX Carolina reported that firefighters wanted to partake in a burger challenge called the “Quadruple Coronary Challenge” at the restaurant Mojo’s Famous Burgers and More. They wanted to honor North Greenville (S.C.) Fire Department lieutenant Jordan Howard, an innocent bystander who was killed in a police chase last week.
To win the challenge, a guest must eat a quadruple-stacked burger topped with cheese, chili, bacon and fried eggs between four grilled cheese sandwiches in an hour. It also comes with a side of coleslaw and fries. The whole plate weighs 4.5 pounds.
Crews said Lt. Howard planned to do the challenge and they wanted to complete it in his memory.
“As the burger came out to the table, the owner came to bring it to us and asked who was doing it so we told him the four of us were splitting it,” firefighter Chuck Pritchett said. “He then advised us that the meal was intended for one person and he did not care why we were doing it, that we were not allowed back in his restaurant again. We tried to explain everything again and he once again told us he did not care why, just don’t come back.”
The owner of Mojo’s, Preston Reeder, said the whole thing is a misunderstanding. Reeder said the group asked if they could split the burger but did not explain why.
The firefighters asked for their money back and Mojo’s staff said they didn’t need that type of business. Reeder said “that type of business” is the business of giving away food, according to the report. He said every time they make the Quadruple Coronary, they have to shut down the kitchen and it costs them money.
Reeder said it wasn’t until the firefighters were about to leave that they shared why they wanted to split the burger. He said if they had told Mojo’s their reason from the very beginning, there would have been no problem with them taking part in the challenge.
Reeder reached out to the firefighters to apologize and explain the misunderstanding. He said he would buy them a meal if they came back, but he said they have not responded, according to the report.
North Greenville Fire Chief Lee Kelly said the incident was not a misunderstanding and he feels Mojo’s doesn’t care about the department’s loss. Kelly said there is nothing the restaurant can do to make it right.
Pritchett’s post on Facebook about the incident has been shared more than 2,000 times.