Breakfast plates and sandwiches containing some combination of bacon, eggs and cheese have existed for a long time, but were never given a formal name. The one-food restaurant bec (bacon-eggs-cheese) opened in Chelsea in 2015 and helped to change this. The Big New York Sandwich Book (2011), for example, did not contain “BEC” or a sandwich with these ingredients, although a few sandwiches came close.
   
“Egg, cheese and bacon sandwich” was cited in print in 1942 and “bacon, egg and cheese sandwich” was cited in 1981. A 1984 news story mentioned the “egg, bacon and cheese sandwiches” served in Trenton (NJ) jails.  McDonald’s sold a “bacon, egg and cheese biscuit” on its breakfast menu, and this was called “BEC” in 1985. “BEC rule! Bacon Egg and Cheese sandwiches rule” was cited in a Waffle House newsgroup in 1996.
 
The New York (NY) Times finally wrote about the sandwich in “Don’t Mess With My Bacon, Egg and Cheese” by Pete Wells on April 13, 2015:
   
“This last version at least has an abbreviation, the BEC, which is shorthand like BLT, a sandwich much more famous than the BEC. Still, the three letters together apparently have enough recognition that they are about to become the name of a breakfast-sandwich restaurant to open soon in Chelsea.”
 
 
3 February 1942, The Globe and Mail (Toronto, ON), pg. 9, col. 1:
A SUBSTANTIAL SANDWICH
A toasted muffin is the basis for this appetizing egg, cheese and bacon sandwich. Cover the toasted muffin with sliced hard-cooked eggs. Cover these with cheese and melt under the broiler. Top with crisp bacon.
   
27 February 1981, Morning Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA), “Eating Out” by Steve Delacroix, FUN sec., pg. 14, col. 3:
Mother’s Mantle, 114 McKinley St. A good spot for lunch. Try the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich.
   
12 January 1984, Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer, “Bologna—still the same old thing on Trenton jail menu” (AP), pg. B12:
Nick Montis, who owns the Majestic Restaurant, was the sole bidder to supply egg, bacon and cheese sandwiches for breakfasts and hamburgers for lunch and dinner.
 
3 June 1985, Register Star (Rockford, IL), pg. ? ad:
Choose any one of our Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit, Sausage and Egg Biscuit, pr Sausage Biscuit FREE when you purchase a juice and a regular size cup of coffee.
(McDonald’s restaurants. “BEC” and “SEB” and “SB” appear at the bottom.—ed.)
 
Google Groups: alt.mcdonalds
BURGER OF THE MONTH
Jack Yates
4/11/93
Here in Tampa, Florida the current BOTM is thhe Bacon Double CHeeseburger (2 for $3). We are also running the Double Cheeseburger 2 for $2. For breakfast, the Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit is 2 for $2.
 
For the stores that have the BEC biscuit special, how is that affecting your biscuit usage?
 
Google Groups: alt.food.waffle-house
BEC rule!
Christopher Choi Chung
2/22/96
Bacon Egg and Cheese sandwiches rule… I haven’t found a place that makes a better breakfast sandwich….
 
Google Groups: alt.slack
SPECIAL MESSAGE—HOW TO CELEBRATE BECTOBER! =)
QUEEN OF BECTOBER
10/2/08
SPECIAL MESSAGE—HOW TO CELEBRATE BECTOBER!  =)
Many of you may be asking, just how do you celebrate Bectober?
 
Of course, one of the most important parts of any holiday is the food you choose to eat. In Bectober, a person should look for foods containing the items Bacon, Egg and Cheese (BEC) or just purchase the items separately if that’s what floats your boat.
 
Twitter
Amanda Rivers
‏@ARivs86
i’ll take a bacon egg and cheese (BEC, fondly) w/ the eggs over easy and some hot sauce…thanks
8:46 AM - 6 Apr 2009
 
Twitter
John Park
‏@realjohnpark
When you work at McDonalds you learn that “BEC” is short for Bacon Egg and Cheese
8:31 AM - 10 Apr 2009
   
StarNews (Wilmington, NC)
BUDGET BITES: Where to go when a hangover’s got you feeling low
Monday, September 27, 2010 at 10:00 by Judy Royal
(...)
COMMENTS
r wells
Long Island Eatery has by far the best breakfast in Wilmington….As a northerner I have grown up on BEC w/ SPK (bacon egg cheese salt pepper ketchup) and this place has it nailed….best part about it is for $3.77 (tax included) you get a slammin egger on a delicious apple annie’s kaiser roll PLUS an OJ….YOU JUST CANT BEAT IT…check it out all you Yankees (and any rebel who is sick of eating breakfast on a biscuit)
September 27th, 2010 7:52 pm
 
Twitter
Brookes von K
‏@bbvonk
Nothing better than delis…Bacon Egg and Cheese…the south doesn’t understand. #bec
7:53 AM - 29 Dec 2014
     
New York (NY) Times
Don’t Mess With My Bacon, Egg and Cheese
Critic’s Notebook
By PETE WELLS APRIL 13, 2015
(...)
Or, in the classic and possibly highest formulation: bacon, scrambled eggs and cheese on a roll.
 
This last version at least has an abbreviation, the BEC, which is shorthand like BLT, a sandwich much more famous than the BEC. Still, the three letters together apparently have enough recognition that they are about to become the name of a breakfast-sandwich restaurant to open soon in Chelsea.
 
Thrillist
NYC’S NEW ALL-BREAKFAST-SANDWICH RESTAURANT OPENS TUESDAY MORNING
BY TONY MEREVICK @tonymerevick
PUBLISHED ON 5/18/2015
A new restaurant dedicated to the most glorious food in the world, breakfast sandwiches, will finally open its doors on Tuesday morning in Chelsea—just a few months after we first learned of its plans for delicious bacon, egg, and cheese domination. Fittingly named BEC, the restaurant will unleash all kinds of breakfast sandwiches on the hungry masses at 148 Eighth Ave. (at 17th St) starting at 7am, which is exactly where and when you’ll find us.
 
Google Books
New York’s One-Food Wonders:
A Guide to the Big Apple’s Unique Single-Food Spots
By Mitch Broder
Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot
2015
Pg. 36:
The bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich wears even more camouflage, even if it wears the name Eggshop B.E.C. It comprises “Broke Yolk, Shelburne Cheddar, Blackforest Bacon, Tomato Jam, Fresh Pickled Jalapeno, Panini Roll.” Not even a .mention of “egg” or “cheese.”
 
(Trademark)
Word Mark BEC BACON · EGG ·CHEESE
Goods and Services IC 043. US 100 101. G & S: Restaurant services. FIRST USE: 20150519. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20150519
Mark Drawing Code (5) WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS IN STYLIZED FORM
Serial Number 86700823
Filing Date July 22, 2015
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Published for Opposition February 2, 2016
Owner (APPLICANT) BEC FOODS, LLC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY DELAWARE 500 West 30th Street #8M New York NEW YORK 10001
Attorney of Record Jessica L. Lipson
Disclaimer NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “BACON EGG CHEESE” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN
Description of Mark Color is not claimed as a feature of the mark. The mark consists of lower case cursive stylized letters “bec” with the words “BACON” “EGG” “CHEESE”, each in upper case letters and separated by a dot, directly below the “bec”.
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE