Co-Owner

“I think the keys to success are hard work, teamwork, harmony, listening, commitment, and serving customers with a passion.”

— H. Stephen McManus

In 1970, after serving six years in the US Air Force, Stephen McManus joined Flagstar as a restaurant manager at Hardee’s in Alcoa, TN. There, he held a variety of positions until his promotion to vice president of Hardee’s operations in 1984.

In 1989, Stephen was promoted to senior vice president and chief operating officer—a position he held until his appointment as executive vice president of restaurant operations in September 1991. With this new position came responsibility for the operation of Hardee’s, Denny’s, Quincy’s, and El Pollo Loco.

Stephen joined Hardee’s Food Systems in Rocky Mount, NC, as president and chief operating officer in August 1995 and became chief executive officer January 1, 1996. He resigned this position in June 1997 when Hardee’s Food Systems was acquired by CKE Restaurants from Imasco Limited.

Since leaving Hardee’s Food Systems, Stephen has established the following LLCs:

McManus Development, LLC—the owner of Henry’s Restaurant trademark and real estate holdings.

Moon-McManus, LLC—residential development and property management.

Maw-McManus, LLC—owner of Beacon Drive-In in Spartanburg, SC

Beacon Food Services, Inc.—operator of Beacon Drive-In.

On May 1, 1998, Stephen became co-owner of the landmark Beacon Drive-In Restaurant. The Beacon has been serving the Carolinas and the nation with large helpings of burgers, fries, onion rings, and colorful personalities for 60 years.

Stephen is currently on the Citadel Foundation Board. He is a founding member of Mountain First Bank & Trust and currently serves as chairman of the board. Stephen is also managing partner for Southeastern Development of NC—a real estate holding company in NC.

In addition to these, he has previously served on the following boards: various boards at Flagstar Corporation; Imasco Limited in Montreal, Canada; North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount, NC; and Eastern NC Boy Scouts of America in Kinston, NC.

A native of Greer, SC, Stephen graduated in 1964 from the Citadel in Charleston with a Bachelor of Science degree. He and his wife Rita have a daughter, Stephanie; a son, Mark; one granddaughter; and four grandsons. He and Rita currently reside in Charleston in the winter and in Hendersonville, NC, in the summer.