David Bessinger
David Bessinger is a third-generation barbecue owner who runs Melvin's BBQ, with locations in Mount Pleasant and on James Island. His wife, Debbie, manages the office side of the family business. His grandfather, Joseph "Big Joe" Bessinger, opened the Holly Hill Cafe in 1939 and created the mustard-based "Golden Secret" barbecue sauce. His father, Melvin Bessinger, came home from World War II a decorated veteran and opened Melvin's Barbecue in Mount Pleasant in 1982 and on James Island in 1984. Melvin's cooks pork shoulders, not whole hogs, and serves them with the family's mustard sauce.
Technique
In 2015 Bessinger replaced the gas-assisted smokers at his two restaurants with offset wood-burning smokers from Lang BBQ Smokers. He has said Melvin's cooks only with hickory wood. The pork is shoulders, not whole hogs, served with the family's mustard-based Golden Secret sauce.