- Our final story takes us to Elizabethtown, where a small restaurant has won some big awards lately, like best hamburger in the southeast, according to "Southern Living."

It's called Melvins'.

It's been around since 1938, and Bob Garner simply had to pay it a visit to learn the secrets of its success.

- [Bob] The oldest Melvin's customers have been around for over 80 years now, and it's been almost entirely a family operation since 1938.

It began as a pool hall serving hamburgers and hot dogs and remained that way until the pool tables were finally removed 38 years later to be replaced by booths.

Pat Melvin's father Wilson bought out three partnering brothers over a period of years before handing it over to his son.

- I graduated from college from East Carolina, May the 30th of '71.

He retired May 31st, '71.

So I took every the business, I was 21 years old.

- [Bob] Pat and high school sweetheart Anne married that same year, and she joined him in the restaurant in 1974.

They both retired at age 55, 21 years ago.

No french fries have ever been served at Melvins'.

Too time consuming, they say.

They didn't even do cheeseburgers for a long time for the same reason.

And during Pat and Anne's tenure, it was cash only, although cards are now accepted.

A bedrock principle, don't complicate things.

- If you keep it simple and give good service, you'll succeed.

I mean, it's just the key to success.

- [Bob] Anne's role was assembling the burgers and dogs, which she did in about seven seconds or even less.

- We were very fortunate with our customers.

We had the same customers daily.

We knew what they wanted and when they came in, we knew their order, and we just waited on 'em and they were devoted to us, and we got a lot of support from the community and from outsiders too.

- [Bob] Pat Melvin hired manager Randy Harris to succeed him, and I couldn't wait to ask Harris about the legendary quality and source of Melvins' beef.

- We only have two foods we sell, so yes, it's important.

People don't realize the effort that goes into it.

They think you just buy meat and cook it, and that's just not what happens.

This is out of the Midwest, but we guarantee now we have the same meat every day.

- [Bob] Of course, that includes the top-notch, all beef hot dogs you would expect, carefully steamed before going into the buns and getting toppings.

- If somebody needs something, there's a hand going out to give it to 'em.

Whether it's the meat, the slaw, whatever.

- [Bob] Harris says Melvins' became sort of famous around the world because of soldiers from nearby Fort Bragg, who spread the word in many parts of the globe during deployments.

There's even the anecdote of foreign born Learjet pilots training in the Washington, DC area who mentioned wanting a great American burger, and were flown down to Elizabethtown to experience Melvins'.

Terri Dennison is involved in the area's tourism.

Melvins' has got to be just a wonderful brand and a wonderful stimulus to the whole area.

- Oh, it absolutely is.

Everybody who comes to Elizabethtown, most of 'em are coming to visit Melvins'.

They've heard about Melvins', they've seen it's one of the top 100 hamburgers.

They want to come here and then they get to explore the rest of the town.

So it works wonderful for us.

- Dennison pointed out that Elizabethtown recently celebrated its 250th anniversary, which leads almost into the beginning of the nation's 250th anniversary celebration.

Just keep it simple.

Hot dogs, hamburgers, cookies, chips, drink.

I'm gonna try the hot dog first.

Oh man, that all beef hot dog.

Everything that sets it off, wonderful.

By the way, the slaw is a pretty tightly held secret around here.

Now, for many years they didn't even do cheeseburgers here because it slowed everything down, so in the spirit of the original deal, I've got a hamburger, mustard, chili, onions, and slaw.

[crowd murmuring] All that talk about the quality of that Midwestern ground beef, I see what they're talking about.

That is spectacular.

So since they don't have fries, because it slows things down.

The chips fill the bill and also give you something to scoop up your slaw and chili with.

They have four varieties of house-made cookies.

This one happens to be a macadamia nut.

[upbeat music] You can really see why Melvins' has been such an iconic institution since 1938, I'm only sorry it took me this long to get here.

"Southern Living's" top 20 burger joints and our state magazine's Top 100 things to eat in 100 North Carolina counties.

Don't let it take too long for you to get to Melvin's.

[upbeat music] - Melvins' Hamburgers and Hot Dogs is at 133 West Broad Street in Elizabethtown, and they're open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m.

to 5:30 p.m.

To find out more, give them a call at [910] 862-2763, or check them out on Facebook.