Kounter history
The location of our restaurant made history in 1961.
In 1961, young African American students from nearby Friendship Junior College staged a sit-in at the segregated lunch counter of McCrory’s Five and Dime. These young men were immediately arrested after ordering their food and sentenced to pay a $100 fine each or spend 30 days in jail.
They chose jail.
This event and how they were subsequently treated, including hard labor twice that of the white prisoners and solitary confinement, gained national attention. At Kounter we honor the memory of the “Friendship 9”, their courage and applaud Rock Hill’s motto:
“No Room For Racism”
More info about The Friendship 9, their story, as well as Chef Rob Masone’s history, and his revitalization efforts at Kounter can be found in the links below!
Greatness Grown with SC Chef Ambassador Rob Masone - Discover South Carolina
The Jail, No Bail exhibit tells the story of the historic Friendship 9 sit-in in 1961 that changed the course of the sit-in movement. Surviving Friendship 9 members and family and friends gathered in Rock Hill for the ribbon cutting and unveiling of the free exhibit. The exhibit is free and open to the public Tuesday through Sunday. - Visit York County
Rob Masone's new South Carolina restaurant is showcasing a pink formica countertop with a painful history. In 1961, nine Black protesters were denied service and jailed after they sat at the counter to eat. - Mark Strassmann, CBS News' series Unifying America
“It’s like blending the old with the new,” Williamson says of Kounter. “You never want to forget your past, the history of the place, but you also want to move forward and embrace the future.” - Eater Carolinas
An Inside Look Into New Restaurant Coming To McCrory’s Building In Downtown Rock Hill - CN2
McCory’s Civil Rights Sit-Ins – The Friendship Nine - United States Civil Rights Trail
Honoring the Friendship 9 and the history made in Rock Hill - WCNC
How Kounter in Rock Hill Honors the Friendship Nine - Charlotte Magazine
The “Friendship 9” Who Sat At A White-Only Lunch Counter Have Been Cleared - Smithsonian Magazine
Judge tosses out ‘unjust’ Friendship Nine convictions in Rock Hill courtroom - The Herald
New restaurant now open in historic McCrory’s Building in Rock Hill - Axios Charlotte
The historic Friendship Nine site in Rock Hill is up for renovation. - The Herald
As of June 2021, the Five & Dime site became part of the African American Civil Rights Network - National Park Service
Kounter Restaurant – Serving up a Slice of History - Pratesi Living
15 Cool People I Met on My Road Trips in 2021 - Road Trips & Coffee