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p ro f i l e s e r i e s
This isn’t your average downtown. This isn’t a block or two of renovated ware-houses, pricey bistros, and contemporary art galleries. What Greenville, South Carolina, has done to its downtown makes other cities green with envy — think inventive restaurants, locally owned boutiques, a stellar arts scene, and a 30-acre park with pedestrian bridge and waterfall. (And that’s barely skimming the surface.) Located just two hours from Atlanta and Charlotte, this is one cool city, with forward-thinking leaders and a clear-cut plan that has transformed downtown into the destination it is today.
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• 43 •
KEYS TO THE CITY OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, SC
Expect world-class cul-ture, superb shopping, and a flavorful dining scene on Main Street in
downtown Greenville, South Car-olina. How happenin’ is it? The American Planning Association named it one of the Top 10 Great Streets in America last year — a real coup when you consider that it’s gone from downtrodden to dis-tinguished in just 25 years.
The transformation began with a strategic plan to create anchors and fill in the spaces between. The opening of the Hyatt Regency in 1982 established a northern Main Street anchor, and the 1990 open-ing of The Peace Center for the
44
What’s the difference between Greenville and Atlanta? We’ll give you a couple of hours to think about it.
You have time to ponder many things while
sitting in Atlanta traffi c. Things like, “What
do Michelin North America, Milliken, General
Electric, BMW and the other 120 Fortune 500
companies doing business in Greenville know that
I don’t?” To learn what Greenville, South Carolina
can do for the future of your business, visit
www.ThriveDowntown.com or call 864.239.3735.
thrive.indd 1 2/2/10 3:46 PM
RisingDowntown
Performing Arts brought people farther south. W hen local res-taurateur Carl Sobocinsk i opened Soby’s restaurant on Main in the late ’90s, and the renovated W estin Poinsett opened across the street in 2000, downtown Greenville be-came the place to see and be seen. I n the past decade, locally owned shops, bars, and restaurants have filled in the gaps. D owntown’s diminutive siz e (about 15 block s) mak es it easy to walk to most hot spots, or tak e the free trolley running along Main Street.
The W estin’s arrival (see p. 7 0) spark ed a flurry of development in the city’s W est End district at the southern end of Main Street.
Read this city profile, along with others, at u s a ir w a y s m a g .com.
Greenville’s skyline against the Blue Ridge Mountains; free trolley
on Main Street
Th e tra n s fo rm a tio n c o n tin u e sB Y L Y N N S E L D O N
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come. stay. shop. eat. play.
www.greenvillesc.gov
discover greenville, sc...
47
dent of D owntown GreenvilleD evelopment I nitiative, an orga-niz ation that work s to bring busi-nesses downtown. “ W hen you first set foot in the area, it’s shock ing. Y ou wonder why you haven’t heard of this amaz ing place before. So cosmopolitan and chic.”
Th e A r t s
A variety of cultural attractions add to downtown’s chic vibe.
“ O ne of the major factors in the revitaliz ation of downtown Green-ville is the diversity and depth of the city’s outstanding arts com-munity,” says Alan Ethridge, exec-utive director of the Metropolitan Arts Council, which estimates that the arts have an annual economic impact of nearly $ 200 million.
F alls Park on the Reedy is the cen-terpiece of development here, with two amphitheaters featuring plen-ty of event space (and a full calen-dar) amid some 3 0 acres flank ing the Reedy River. A curved pedes-trian span called L iberty B ridge provides views of the park and wa-terfalls, and a minor league base-ball team, the Greenville D rive (a nod to local automotive companies lik e B MW and Michelin), plays at F luor F ield at the W est End. A few block s away lies RiverPlace, a clus-ter of sleek condos, trendy shops (Plaz a Suite), hip restaurants (The L az y Goat and High Cotton), art-ists’ galleries and studios, and a recently opened Hampton I nn.
“ O ur secret is attention to the pedestrian experience — the scale of the buildings, the mix of resi-dential and retail, and surprising art features,” says Greenville May-or K nox W hite. “ Place a beautiful park with a dramatic waterfall and pedestrian suspension bridge in the middle of it all and you have an urban space lik e none other.”
The downtown transformation continues: Clemson U niversity moved its MB A program down-town last January into a building overlook ing the Reedy, Michelin has a downtown storefront and a development office, and B MW is k nown for its community partici-pation and event sponsorship, such as the B MW Charity Pro-Am (May 13 – 16 ). The celebrity golf tournament brings big names lik e D arius Ruck er and K evin Costner to town and contributes to U pstate charities. I t’s this high level of cor-porate support that allows down-town Greenville to thrive.
“ My family chose to move to Greenville two years ago, and the clincher was downtown,” says K ym Petrie, executive vice presi-
F our museums mak e up the campus at Heritage Green, an arts complex: The Greenville County Museum of Art (home to the South’s most important col-lection of work s by Andrew W y-eth); The Museum and Gallery at Heritage Green (an outpost of B ob Jones U niversity’s renowned collection of I talian paintings); The U pcountry History Mu-seum (check out the impressive oral history program); and the recently opened Children’s Mu-seum of the U pstate, where an innovative multistory climbing structure draws rave reviews from k ids (and parents, too).
Greenville is also home to four of the region’s seven theaters: Greenville L ittle Theatre, Cen-tre Stage, the W arehouse The-atre, and South Carolina Chil-dren’s Theatre. B ig-name acts lik e B rad Paisley and N ick elback fill seats at the B i-L o Center on the northern edge of downtown.
Perhaps the N o. 1 arts venue, the Peace Center hosts first-run
KEYS TO THE CITY OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, SC
L oc al artists op en their studios to the p ub lic during the w eekend-long Greenville O p en Studios ( left) ; outdoor dining on Main Street
“ It n e v e r ce a se s to a ma z e me
h ow d ow n tow n h a s b e come a re a l
d e stin a tion .” T Y L E R F L O R E N C E , Greenville native and Food Network star
Crescent USAir Ad_outlines.indd 1 2/2/10 11:42 AM
BV K r is h n a m u r th y u s a ir w a y s m a g .com
:
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The South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humani-ties. This public residential high school overlook s F alls Park , and attracts artists from across the state to study in one of five disci-plines (including creative writing and vis ual arts).
Th e Sc e n e
An increase in downtown liv-ing in the late ’90s meant an increase in foot traffic — gone are the days when Main Street turned into a ghost town after 5 p.m. Taryn Scher, a local public-
B roadway shows (W icked just left town, and S p ring A wakening plays this month), top musicians (Chris B otti, John L egend, and Y o-Y o Ma have performed here), and other groups including the South Caro-lina Children’s Theatre, two bal-let companies, and the Greenville Symphony O rchestra, whose con-ductor and music director Edvard Tchivz hel first came to Greenville from Russia in 1991. “ This com-munity enthusiastically embraces the arts,” Tchivz hel says. “ There are so many creative people here.”
Emerging artists find a home at
ge.indd 1 1/25/10 5:08 PM
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b e a d e d f r o g .com
lly n s t r o n g .com -
-
m a s t g e n e r a l
s t o r e .com
t h e b a r k e r y b is t r o .com
a r t c r o s s in g
.org
t h e lo llip o p s h o p .net
s h o p p la z a s u it e .com
— M. Linda Lee
T he P eac e C enter for the P erform ing A rts
T he Barkery Bistro
Hyatt Regency Greenville is ideally located in the heart of downtown, where you’re seconds away from over 100 restaurants, shopping, nightlife, and entertainment venues. As Greenville’s largest hotel, we boast 328 guest rooms and over 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting space. And, with wireless high-speed Internet access in all areas of the hotel, Hyatt Regency Greenville is the ideal choice for the business traveler and meetings of all sizes. For more information call 864.235.1234 or visit greenville.hyatt.com.
AS IF GREENVILLE WAS BUILT AROUND US.
220 NORTH MAIN STREET, GREENVILLE, SC
Hyatt name, design, and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt Corporation. ©2010 Hyatt Corporation. All rights reserved.
www.uscupstate.edu
REALTORS®
Realtors
S earc h av ailab leU p state p rop erties at
w w w .M arc h an tC o.com Contact:
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F rom d ow ntow n liv ing tolake & m ou ntain p rop erty
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rants landed on the downtown menu. N otable eateries include L ark in’s on the River (steak and seafood); D evereaux’s (contempo-rary American cuisine); American Grocery Restaurant (using local and organic ingredients); and L ib-erty Tap Room and Grill (adjacent to the baseball stadium).
“ The culinary history of the area is invariably rich, and a few pioneering restaurateurs have turned Greenville into a true culi-nary destination,” says F ood N et-work star and Greenville native Tyler F lorence. “ I t never ceases to amaz e me how downtown has be-come a real destination.”
5 1
KEYS TO THE CITY OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, SC
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relations expert, moved to Green-ville from N ew Y ork three years ago. “ This city has all the won-derful offerings of a major met-ropolitan region and none of the downsides that usually come with a major city,” Scher says.
These offerings include a hip live-music scene. Head to the B rown Street Club for live jaz z and blues nearly every night of the week . At The Handlebar, a variety of musicians tak e the stage from Grammy winners to local favorites. Enjoy dinner and a show at Smiley’s Acoustic Cafe, which hosts live music every night except Sunday.
D owntown is also the setting for about 150 events every year, including the D owntown Alive concert series and the Moon-
T he U SA C yc ling P rofessional C ham p ionship s return to
Greenville this Sep tem b er.
light Movie series. I f you love to eat — and who doesn’t? — there’s an extra helping of food and wine events, such as January’s fine-wine auction An Affair with F lair; Share O ur Strength’s Taste of the N ation (May 2); food/wine/music fest Euphoria (Sept. 24 – 26 ); and St. F rancis F all for Greenville — A Taste of O ur Town (O ct. 8– 10).
The dining scene is more than just impressive foodie fests. D owntown’s culinary options have boomed in recent years, a complete shift from fast-food fixes to a large number of diverse restaurants and chefs that rival those in major cit-ies. This tasty transformation can be traced to the 1997 opening of Soby’s, housed in a century-old building on Main Street. F ollow-ing Soby’s success, other restau-
52
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verdae.indd 1 2/2/10 9:14 AM
TO THE CITY OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, SC
“There’s a synergy with the business owners that
just works … it’s the execution of a dream.”
EDWIN McCAIN, singer/songwriter and Greenville native, on the success of food,
wine, and music fest, Euphoria
THE K EYS
“M usic, v isual arts, theater … are an integral
p art of the downtown exp erience.” AL AN E T H R IDG E , ex ecutive director, M etropolitan A rts C ouncil
“Greenville boasts the
best of European master
planning in mixing urban
uses of office, residential,
cultural, and fine-dining
[space].”CH R IS S T O NE, president, Greenville C onvention and
V isitors B ureau
“FO R O UR
IN T ER N AT IO N AL
C US T O MER S ,
C O LLEAGUES ,
AN D T HE ALMO S T
8 ,0 0 0 MIC HELIN
EMP LO Y EES IN
T HE S TAT E, DO W N -
T O W N GR EEN VILLE
IS A FAVO R ED
DES T IN AT IO N .”DICK WIL KER SO N, chairman and
president, M ichelin N orth A merica
“It is such fun to see the joy of v isitors coming downtown for the fi rst time, as well as the residents that regularly
come to the heart of the city.” J AMES B O U R E Y , Greenville city manager
PH
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Heading to Greenville? Visit peacecenter.org to see w ho’s performing w hile y ou’re in tow n.
“D owntown G reenv ille went from
good to great with F alls
P ark.” KNO X WH I T E , may or
55
When Falls Park opened in 2004, most Greenville residents didn’t know there was a natural waterfall in the middle of downtown. “A concrete bridge was built on top of the falls,” says Greenville Mayor Knox White. “People who lived here all their lives had no idea we had this in the center of town.” Developing the park took about two years and included removing the concrete bridge and building the 355-foot-long, pedestrian-only Liberty Bridge. “The bridge ebbs like the Reedy River, and it doesn’t crowd the falls,” White says. “You always see people down here now. They love it.”
FI
SH
EY
E S
TU
DI
OS
FOCAL POINT
KEYS TO THE CITY OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, SC
B Y M A R T H A - P A G E A L T H A U S
I CAN BE ANYTHING!
Downtown Greenville, SC
300 College Street
(864) 223-7755
www.TCMGreenvilleSC.org
Creating a vibrant busi-ness community, espe-cially during challeng-ing economic times,
takes more than just hard work — it takes international flair. As the center of economic development in the South Carolina Upstate region, Greenville once relied heavily on textiles. But now the city is home to major corporate denizens Michelin, BMW, GE, Mitsubishi Polyester Film, and
KEYS TO THE CITY OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, SC
56
GreenPutting the
in Greenville57
ER
IC P
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KM
AN
High-tech startups grow at the NEXT Innovation Center.
Fluor (engineering, procurement and construction). Add a bustling downtown and major universities ensuring a well-educated work-force, and you’ve got a solid busi-ness community that’s adapting to the new economic landscape.
“ We are doing as well, or bet-ter, than 9 0 percent of the cities around the country,” declares city manager James Bourey. H e points to corporations such as Fluor and GE that have held steady de-spite the downturn. (GE Energy’s Engineering D ivision world head-q uarters is here, and the Green-ville plant is the world’s largest gas turbine manufacturing plant.)
T he support of local govern-ment, public/private partnerships, and a community-wide effort to advance education are behind the business community’s success, according to Ben H askew, president and CEO of the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce. “ I believe this community has a can-do spirit that can tackle any challenge or opportunity,” H askew says.
Forbes recently named Green-ville one of the top fi ve cities to weather the economic downturn, and for good reason. According to the South Carolina D epartment of Commerce, the entire Upstate has more foreign investment per capita than any other region in the coun-try, and more than 2 0 0 interna-tional companies from 2 0 different countries have operations or head-q uarters here, including BMW and its suppliers. Stroll down Main Street and you’ll fi nd 2 0 restau-rants serving international cuisine,
Th e Te x tile Ca p ita l o f th e W o rld fi n d s a n international e d g e .B Y L Y D I A D I S H M A N
58
people. I t’s the right place in the country for growth.”
Bob H ughes, developer of the N EX T I nnovation Center, is fu-eling that growth. “ I t’s all about re-making Greenville,” H ughes says. “ We want to be the place where everyone else wants to be.”
I t’s also the place to fi nd tal-ent. L ocal businesses engage the county school district and higher education to glean a well-educated workforce. Universities such as Furman, Clemson, Bob Jones, and University of South Carolina Up-state offer q uality higher educa-tion. “ I have been able to recruit some great young minds from Furman and Bob Jones Univer-sity,” Wagner says.
While Greenville is histori-
and it’s not uncommon to hear multiple languages, though Ger-man is prevalent thanks to BMW.
Being globally connected is a must in today’s economy, and the city’s white-hot international action attracts small-business entrepreneurs. T ake Steven Wag-ner, one of the newbies. Based in Seattle, the former Ford marketing manager was responsible for the Pa cifi c N orthwest. When he began his own I nternet software company, D ealer Ignition, the Chicago na-tive chose to relocate to Greenville — not Silicon V alley. A competi-tive cyclist, Wagner was encour-aged by his teammates to explore Greenville. “ T hey all talked about the great downtown and mountains nearby,” Wagner says.
After a single visit, he was sold, and set up business in downtown’s historic L iberty Building. “ My no-tion that Greenville was a simple little Southern city was q uickly q uashed by all the Europeans min-gling downtown,” Wagner says. “ T here was an air of momentum and progress.”
Sp ir it a n d Ta le n t
What impressed Wagner most was the collaborative spirit. Citing the support of the N EX T I nnovation Center (a cutting-edge building that’s home to small, high-tech businesses) and the Greenville Spartanburg Anderson (GSA) T echnology Council, Wagner adds, “ H ere you have the oppor-tunity to get in front of so many
furman.indd 1 2/2/10 10:31 AM
K E Y S TO TH E CITY OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, SC
Greenville’s white-hot
international action
attracts small-business
entrepreneurs.
Best in Biz: Check out Greenville’s rankings at th r iv e d o w n to w n .com.
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F urm an U niversity ’s L EED -certifi ed Clif fs Cottage, hom e to the school’s Center
for S ustainab ility ( left) ; Clem son U niversity ’s International Center
for A utom otive R esearch
U N I V E R S I T Y
www.clemson.edu/mba
www.clemson.edu/pace
THIS IS WHAT WE CALL UPWARD MOBILITY.
Propel your career with the Cle m s o n MBA. Our downtown
Greenville, S.C., location offers the expertise of one of the nation’s top
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deciding factor to move here,” says Megan R iegel, Peace Center presi-dent, citing its annual economic impact at $ 1 8 .7 million. T he cen-ter is one of the most successful in the country because of its q uality and variety of programming, from ballet theater to rock concerts.
Craig Brown, president and principal owner of the Greenville D rive minor-league baseball team, compliments the city for having the vision to develop the down-town’s West End for more than just the ballpark. “ I t’s become a place to live, work, and play,” says Brown, who lives in one of the 4 0 condominiums in the adjacent Field H ouse, a mixed-use develop-ment. T he city spent more than $ 6 million on new streetscaping and infrastructure adjacent to the stadium. Since opening in 2 0 0 6 , almost 5 0 new businesses have
students who fi nd inspiration from the city’s cultural offerings, some of which are within walking dis-tance, such as T he Peace Center for the Performing Arts.
“ People often say we are the
cally the “ T extile Capital of the World,” today there’s a shift from manufacturing to automotive and industrial engineering, according to John Warner, founder of I nno- V enture, a Greenville conference connecting global thought leaders, entrepreneurs, and major corpora-tions and universities. “ We need to stop saying our labor is cheap and start understanding that there are areas where we are among the best in the world,” Warner says.
L aid-off textile workers can fi nd a bridge to a brighter future at Greenville T echnical College. When Aaron K necht lost his tex-tile job in 2 0 0 4 , he enrolled in T ech’s H V AC program. “ I t was a great stepping stone; the teach-ers really challenged me,” K necht says. N ow a refrigeration and air-conditioning technician at Bon Secours St. Francis H ospital,
K E Y S TO TH E CITY OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, SC
TOP JOBS
Th e 1 0 la rg e s t e m p lo y e rs in
G re e n v ille :
1 . G re e n v ille Co u n ty Sc h o o ls
2 . G re e n v ille Ho s p ita l Sy s te m
3 . Mic h e lin No rth Am e ric a In c .
4 . G e n e ra l Ele c tric Co .
5 . Flu o r Co rp o ra tio n
6 . S.C. Sta te G o v e rn m e n t
7 . Bo n Se c o u rs St. Fra n c is
He a lth Sy s te m
8 . Bo b Jo n e s Un iv e rs ity
9 . G re e n v ille Co u n ty G o v e rn m e n t
1 0 . G re e n v ille Te c h n ic a l Co lle g e
So u rc e : G re e n v ille Are a D e v e lo p m e n t Co rp o ra tio n
K necht is continuing his course-work to earn a certifi cate in indus-trial electronics.
Clemson’s I nternational Center for Automotive R esearch brings ed-ucation and economic development together through global corporate partnerships. Greenville’s interna-tional diversity and entrepreneurial spirit inspire companies to locate here, according to the center’s executive director Bob Geolas. “ T hat is necessary to be globally competitive,” Geolas says.
Go in g Do w n t o w n
Claude L illy, dean of Clemson’s College of Business and Behavior-al Science, agrees. T he university moved its MBA program down-town to a spacious building in Falls Park last January. T he new loca-tion, Clemson at the Falls, has an enrollment of more than 2 0 0 MBA
ME E TIN G H U B
Bu sin e s s tra v e le rs c o m e in
d ro v e s fo r m e e tin g s a n d e v e n ts
in G re e n v ille . Th e c ity is s tra te -
g ic a lly lo c a te d o n th e In te rs ta te 8 5
c o rrid o r k n o w n a s “ Ch a rla n ta ,” h a lf-
w a y b e tw e e n Ch a rlo tte a n d Atla n ta ,
a n d it h a s its o w n a irp o r t, G re e n v ille -
Sp a r ta n b u rg In te rn a tio n a l Airp o r t.
Th e c ity is w e ll-e q u ip p e d to h o s t
m e e tin g s a n d c o n v e n tio n s fo r m a jo r
c o m p a n ie s . Its 4 0 0 ,0 0 0 -s q u a re -fo o t
Ca ro lin a Firs t Co n v e n tio n Ce n te r
(o n e o f th e la rg e s t in th e U.S.) re c e n t-
ly u n d e r w e n t a $ 2 2 m illio n re n o v a -
tio n , a n d m o s t o f th e c ity ’s 8 ,0 0 0 -p lu s
h o te l ro o m s a re w ith in a 1 5 -m in u te
d riv e o f th e c e n te r.
“ Fo r a d e s tin a tio n o f o u r s iz e , o u r
c o n v e n tio n c e n te r o ffe rs a n a b n o r-
m a l a m o u n t o f c o n v e n tio n a n d m e e t-
in g s p a c e ,” s a y s To d d Be r tk a , v ic e
p re s id e n t o f s a le s fo r th e G re e n v ille
Co n v e n tio n a n d Vis ito rs Bu re a u .
An o th e r b o o s t fo r th e c ity ’s m e e t-
in g s in d u s tr y : Th is s p rin g , a n e w
Co u r ty a rd b y Ma rrio tt o p e n s d o w n -
to w n a t th e c o rn e r o f Ma in a n d Bro a d
s tre e ts , n e x t to Th e Pe a c e Ce n te r fo r
th e Pe r fo rm in g Arts . Th e h o te l c o m -
p le x w ill fe a tu re a h ig h -e n d s e a fo o d
g rill b y lo c a l re s ta u ra te u r Ric k Er w in .
Ju s t o n e m o re o f th e m y ria d re a s o n s
fo r c o rp o ra te p la n n e rs to c h o o s e
G re e n v ille .
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The recently renovated Carolina F irst Conven-tion Center
They also enjoy world-class entertainment from the best of Broadway to B.B. King. For 20 years,
the Peace Center for the Performing Arts has been the cultural heart of Greenville, SC, offering
not just incredible performances, but a rich addition to our community’s quality of life.
peacecenter.org
sprung up around the stadium, generating over $ 1 2 .5 million in sales last year.
L aunched in 2 0 0 8 , D owntown Greenville D evelopment I nitia-tive (D GD I ) attracts businesses to downtown’s offi ce spaces. D GD I is a public/private partnership between the city, chamber, and D owntown O wners’ Group (a group of offi ce property owners) to support the economy in the urban core. It’s one of the only economic development efforts of its kind in the U.S.
As executive vice president of D GD I , K ym Petrie is no stranger to the effects of these visionary developments. Bringing in a steady stream of executives to recruit new businesses, Petrie concludes, “ T hey come here and see good planning, green building, a thriving economy, and great q uality of life. I almost don’t have to sell it.”
The international award-winning Liberty Bridge in downtown Greenville–designed by architect, Miguel Rosales.
Copyright 2010 SYNNEX Corporation. All rights reserved.
presented by SYNNEX CORPORATION
synnex.indd 1 2/2/10 11:03 AM
K E Y S TO TH E CITY OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, SC
F R OM BU R BS TO L IN K S
Wh a t if y o u c o u ld liv e
w h e re y o u p la y ? Th re e
re s id e n tia l a re a s in
G re e n v ille o ffe r ju s t th a t.
Ab o u t 1 ,0 0 0 p e o p le c a ll d o w n -
to w n G re e n v ille h o m e , s a y s Bra d Ha l-
te r, p re s id e n t o f re a l-e s ta te fi rm Co ld -
w e ll Ba n k e r Ca in e . Th e a re a ’s fi rs t
re s id e n tia l u n its c a m e in 2 0 0 2 w ith
1 0 0 E. Co u r t. Pro o f o f d o w n to w n ’s
b ro a d a p p e a l: A n e w e le m e n ta r y
s c h o o l is s e t to o p e n th e re th is fa ll.
If y o u w a n t to liv e o n th e lin k s ,
c h e c k o u t Th e Cliffs . Ra n k e d a m o n g
th e Un ite d Sta te s ’ to p 1 0 g o lf c o m m u -
n itie s b y Travel and Leisure, th is c o l-
le c tio n o f d e v e lo p m e n ts th ro u g h o u t
th e Blu e Rid g e Mo u n ta in s fe a tu re s
c h a m p io n s h ip -le v e l c o u rs e s . Ta k e
o n Be n Wrig h t’s o n ly U.S. c o u rs e
a t Th e Cliffs Va lle y o r e x p e rie n c e a
G a r y Pla y e r c o u rs e a t Th e Cliffs a t
Mo u n ta in Pa rk . Off th e g re e n s , h ik e
th e c o m m u n itie s ’ p riv a te tra ils o r ta k e
a q u ic k d riv e in to to w n — b o th a re
w ith in 3 0 m in u te s o f G re e n v ille .
Pla y c lo s e to h o m e in Ve rd a e , a
p la n n e d c o m m u n ity w ith a g re e n tw is t.
On ly fi v e m in u te s fro m d o w n to w n ,
th is d e v e lo p m e n t o ffe rs s in g le -fa m ily
h o m e s a n d a re tire m e n t v illa g e b u ilt
a ro u n d a to w n c e n te r th a t in c lu d e s
s h o p s , re s ta u ra n ts , a n d m e d ic a l a n d
o ffi c e s p a c e . Th e h ig h lig h t: 2 0 -a c re
Le g a c y Pa rk , w ith tra ils , g re e n s p a c e s ,
a n d p la n s fo r a d o g p a rk a n d s h a d e d
a m p h ith e a te r.
— M arian C o w h ig
Club house at The Clif fs
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800-BJ-AND-ME www.bju.edu Greenville SC 29614
Sta nds uneq uivo c a lly o n th e a bs o lute a uth o rity o f th e Bible.
BJU do es no t dis c rim ina te o n th e ba s is o f ra c e, c o lo r, a g e, sex , na tio na l o rig in, p ro tec ted dis a bility o r vetera n s ta tus . © 2010 Bo b Jo nes U nivers ity . All R ig h ts R eserved. (7 217 ) 01/ 10
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› Nea rly 40 p erc ent o f s tudent bo dy with h o m es c h o o l ba c k g ro und
Bob Jones University . . .Inspiring regenerated students to know, love and serve Jesus Christ
BEST OF GREENVILLEK EY S TO THE C ITY OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, SC
B Y M . L I N D A L E E A N D M A R T H A W I L L I A M S O N
B e s t St r o ll Glowing handrails and footlights make Liberty Bridge ethereal by moonlight — and lush gardens and rushing waterfalls make it refreshing by day. Spanning the Reedy River, Liberty Bridge gives visitors a bird’s-eye view of the nearly 30-acre Falls Park on the Reedy. f a lls p a r k .com
B e s t H id d e n Ge m It’s well
wo rth seek in g o u t th e Bo b
Jo n es Un iv ersity Mu seu m
a n d Ga llery tu c k ed a wa y
o n c a m p u s. Disp la y ed in 2 7
g a lleries, th e c o llec tio n o f sa -
c red Eu ro p ea n a r t sp o tlig h ts
Ita lia n m a sters fro m th e 1 4 th
to th e 1 9 th c en tu ries, in c lu d -
in g Ru b en s a n d Tin to retto .
bjumg.org
B e s t Fe s t A rtisphere showcases local and national artists in a series of juried ex hibitions for a variety of media, such as pho-tography, glass, metalworks, and painting. C oncerts, fi lm screen-ings, and art-related activi-ties for children round out this top-ranked fest, held M ay 7 – 9 . a r t is p h e r e .u s
B e s t K id s T he C hildren’s M u-seum of the U pstate fuses learn-ing and play in the middle of downtown Greenville. K ids can simulate fl ight into space, design their own Formula 1 racecar, or go ex ploring in the K aleido-scope C limber. T his multistory structure is the only one of its kind that makes climbers look as if they’re suspended in midair. t c m g r e e n v ille s c .or g
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K EY S TO THE C ITY OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, SC
B e s t Fa m ily T ake the gang out to Fluor Field at the W est E nd, home to the Greenville D rive. T he C lass A affi liate of the Boston Red Sox runs the bases on a mini replica of Boston’s Fenway Park, complete with its own 30-foot-high Green M onster in left fi eld. g r e e n v ille d r iv e .com
B e s t B r e w e r y Boasting seasonal brews along with eight year-round favorites (try the fl agship River Falls Red A le), the T hom-as C reek Brewery furnishes frothy libations to local restau-rants and pubs like Barley’s T ap-room and the Blockhouse. T he brewery is open for private tours by appointment. Bottoms up! t h o m a s c r e e k b e e r .com
B e s t H o m e t o w n H e r o W ant more baseball? N ear Fluor Field, the Shoeless Joe Jackson M u-seum and Baseball Library pays homage to Greenville native and baseball star Joe Jackson. T he brick home where Jackson lived showcases memorabilia from his career and A merica’s favorite pastime. s h o e le s s jo e
ja c k s o n .or g
B e s t M ic e A s a high-schoolsenior, Greenville resident J im Ryan set out to create a scaven-ger hunt for children downtown. U sing M argaret W ise Brown’s book G ood n ig h t M oon as inspira-tion, Ryan teamed up with local artist Z an W ells to sculpt M ice on M a in . N ine tiny bronz e mice make their homes on a nine-block stretch of M ain Street. T he hunt begins with father mouse M ar-vin perched on the outdoor foun-tain of the H yatt Regency hotel. m ic e o n m a in .com
B e s t Go lf A different famous architect (such as T om Faz io, Pete D ye, Rees Jones, and A rnold Palmer) designed each of the 1 8 holes at C ross-W inds Golf C lub, making it one of the world’s most intriguing links. T he par-3 course can be played in just two hours. c r o s s w in d s -g o lf.com
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historically chic
toes tossed in a citrus dressing. p o m e g r a n a t e o n m a in .com
B e s t B r e a k f a s t Start the day right at M ary Beth’s; try fl uffy lemon ricotta pancakes or lump-crab eggs Benedict with a side of crisp applewood-smoked bacon. m a r y b e t h s a t m c b e e .com
B e s t Co f f e e Sh o p C offee U nder-ground echoes the Beat Genera-tion with acoustic concerts and poetry readings held in its coz y underground digs on — where else? — C offee Street. c o f f e e
u n d e r g r o u n d .b iz
B e s t Win e B a r N orthampton W ines and W ine C afe bustles with oenophiles sampling wines by the glass or bottle from the 2 ,000-plus labels at this popu-lar retail shop and wine bar. n o r t h a m p t o n w in e s .com
W e c a n ’t p ic k ju s t o n e ! He re a re a fe w o f o u r fa v o rite p la c e s to e a t a n d d rin k d o w n to w n .
B e s t Fin e Din in g D owntown’s dining scene went upscale with the addition of H igh C otton, a chic C harleston transplant that impresses with Lowcountry cui-sine and views of the Reedy River (m a v e r i c k s o u t h e r n k i t c h e n s
.com). A lso along the river at T he Laz y Goat, chef V icky M oore fuses fl avors of the M editerranean in her tapas offerings. (E sq u ir e maga-z ine named M oore one of its four Breakout C hefs to W atch in 2 009 .) t h e la z y g o a t.com
B e s t Ou t d o o r Din in g Pomegran-ate on M ain boasts prime people-watching on its patio and authen-tic Persian fare, including juicy kabobs and a refreshing Shiraz i salad with cucumbers and toma-
K EY S TO THE C ITY OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, SC
BEST BITES
T r o ut a t T h e L a z y G o a t; H igh C o tto n in te r io r ( r igh t)
Go in g in to its fi fth y ea r th is Sep -
tem b er, Eu p h o ria b rin g s to p
c h efs ( th in k Th o m a s Keller
a n d Gu y Sa v o y ) , win em a k ers, a n d
n a tio n a lly k n o wn m u sic ia n s to d o wn -
to wn Green v ille. Th is th ree-d a y c eleb ra -
tio n o f fo o d , win e, a n d m u sic sta r ted
a fter lo c a l resta u ra teu r Ca rl So b o c in sk i
a n d Green v ille-b o rn sin g er/ so n g writer
Ed win Mc Ca in h a tc h ed th e id ea to c o m -
b in e th e th ree d isc ip lin es in o n e ev en t.
Eu p h o ria ’s m u sic c o m p o n en t d ifferen -
tia tes it fro m o th er fo o d a n d win e fests.
“In m a k in g fo o d , a s in writin g so n g s,
th e c rea to r’s v a lu es, em o tio n s, a n d ex -
p erien c e b ec o m e in fu sed in th e fi n a l
p ro d u c t — a n d seem in g ly im p o ssib le
c o m b in a tio n s c a n tu rn o u t to b e wo n -
d erfu l a n d c o m p ellin g ,” sa y s Mc Ca in ,
wh o ’s b est-k n o wn fo r h is sm a sh h its “I’ll
Be,” “I Co u ld No t Ask fo r Mo re,” a n d
“So litu d e.”
Best o f a ll, 1 0 0 p erc en t o f Eu p h o ria ’s
p ro fi ts g o to c h a rita b le Up sta te g ro u p s
v ia So b o c in sk i a n d Mc Ca in ’s c h a rity ,
Lo c a l Bo y s Do Go o d . Pa st rec ip ien ts
h a v e in c lu d ed Sp ec ia l Oly m p ic s a n d
Ho sp ic e o f th e Up sta te. Sep tem b er 2 4 –
2 6 , e u p h o r ia g r e e n v ille .c om
— M. Linda Lee
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KEYS TO THE CITY OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, SC
HISTOR YB Y M A R T H A - P A G E A L T H A U S
The Westin Poinsett, Greenville: F a b ric o f th e c o m m u n ity
The handsome brick building on Main Street is more than just a hotel: From its opening in 1925, and with its major renovation in 2000, The Westin Poinsett, Greenville,
has played an important role downtown. Built in 1925 for a cool $1.5 million, the 200-room
hotel opened during the heyday of the textile industry. Named for Greenville statesman Joel R. Poinsett (who brought the poinsettia plant to the U.S. from Mexico), the hotel was one of the South’s grandest. Big names checked in, from Amelia Earhart to Cornelius Vander-bilt III, and the hotel stayed afloat during the Great Depression by charging $3 a day.
After decades of being synonymous with elegance, the property underwent a $25 million makeover in 2000 and reopened as a Westin. Today, it’s the only AAA Four Diamond hotel in the Upstate. Features include signature Heavenly Beds, and some guest-rooms, called Workout Rooms, come with a treadmill and weights — or just head to the fitness center. Then
enjoy a leisurely lunch at Spoonbread Restaurant, and in the evening, the lobby’s Piano Bar and Lounge is a relaxing spot for drinks.
Most notably, you’ll experience all this in the Poinsett’s original 1920s setting. Named one of the Historic Hotels of America, the property glistens with crystal chandeliers, intricate mosaic tile and terrazzo floors, marble stairways, and elaborate crown molding. Even the wooden dance floor in the Gold Ballroom is just as it was in 1925.
“We picked up right where we left off,” says Tim Pau-lus, sales and marketing director, adding that the hotel hosts more than 70 weddings a year. “Everyone’s got a story about this place, from the gas station attend ant to the CEO. It’s such a fabric of our community.”
A concierge since the 2000 reopening, Janice Smith says even locals stay at the Westin during the week-ends of big festivals or events. “They want to stay downtown,” Smith says, “in the middle of everything.” w e s t in p o in s e t t g r e e n v ille .com
Read this city profile, along with others, at usairwaysmag.com.
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Get swept away by the elegance of
The Westin Poinsett’s lobby, fully restored
to its 1920s grandeur.
