downtown
dining
w ritten by SHERIL BE NNE T T TURNER photo g raphed by BRIAN ERKE NS
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’ve got to admit, I love eating out. From steaks to grilled cheese and everything in between, I like to try it all. And I found it all, right here in downtown Greer. Can you believe that there are nine eating establishments, all within walking distance of each other, in the nostalgic and re-energized streets of historic downtown Greer? Since food is in the taste buds of the diner just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, this will not be a critique. Rather, I wanted to discover why these unique restaurants chose downtown Greer as their home and the people of Greer as their community. So take a tour with me, from oldest to newest, of the restaurants that make up the Downtown Greer Dining Experience.
Cannon’s Drive-In If you really want the taste and feel of old Greer, pull into Cannon’s Drive-In where they still offer curb-side service as well as dine-in. Virgil Cannon, celebrating his 35th year of ownership of this historical landmark, might even be the one cooking your meal. With roots that run deep into the heart of Greer, Virgil tells the story behind the old photograph of downtown Greer which hangs on the wall. “A friend had given me this picture,” Virgil explains, “and I really
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Cannon’s Drive-In
Lunch & Such
couldn’t tell what year the photograph was taken. My dad was alive then and I was showing him the picture one day. I said to him ‘I wish I knew the time frame on this picture.’ He looked at the photograph and said, ‘Well, that’s me right in there (pointing to an automobile in the picture) and I can even tell you the exact year. It was 1939.’ ” Filled with regular customers who banter back and forth easily with Virgil and the servers, it’s not hard to imagine why Cannon’s Drive-In has remained a local favorite, not only for their good, simple food at great prices, but for that “every one is a regular” feeling that reminds you of the good old days.
the couple. With Chef Gibson’s background in hotel restaurants and country clubs, Lunch & Such also has a strong evening and weekend catering business where they do anything from a five course formal dinner, a classic southern buffet, to even dinner in your home. Heavily involved with the Greer Chamber of Commerce, Mandy remarks, “The Chamber has done so much to promote the downtown area with great events like the Downtown Chili Cook-off, Christmas at Greer Station and the Halloween Hoopla. We just love being a part of the whole Greer community.”
Gerard’s When asked how his late partner, Bob Conway, managed to entice him from his celebrity chef status in Puerto Rico, Chef Gerard Cribbin relates the story of his first peek at his building in downtown Greer. “It was March of 2002, and Bob flew me in for one day,” he remembers. “I’m wearing a golf shirt and shorts, it’s 33 degrees and
Lunch & Such One of Greer’s best kept secrets is a little lunch place hidden away in downtown. Located in the same building on Trade Street that houses Chelsea’s boutique, walking into Lunch & Such is a little like stepping through your closet (a very neat, inviting one) and into your kitchen (complete with chef and lunch already prepared). Owners Chef Todd Gibson and his wife Mandy purchased this turn-key operation five years ago when Nancy Welch, a friend of the family, called out of the blue and told them of a little café that had come available. They decided to go for it. With simple, fresh offerings of sandwiches, soups, salads, and desserts, Lunch & Such has built up a loyal clientele who stream in and out to enjoy such favorites as the Pepperjack Philly Cheese Sub, Almond Crunch Salad, and the homemade soup of the day while they chat with Gerard’s
Hot Java Coffee House You could be in any cosmopolitan city in the world when you walk through the doors of Hot Java Coffee House, open for two and a half years. The spicy aroma of coffee, the comfortable exotic feeling of the interior, and the weekend night live entertainment all combine to put you in a “worldly” state of mind. Ruthie Henkin, owner and life-long lover of coffee and coffee houses, was searching for a building to house a business venture when she Hot Java Coffee House stumbled across the old Poinsett Restaurant location in downtown Greer. “The charm of this area just really I’m standing here freezing to death. I say, ‘You lied to me. struck me,” she explains. “I pass by this building everyday I thought it didn’t get cold here!’ Then at six o’clock the and when I finally looked inside it I knew, this should be next the morning we were going down Highway 14 on a coffee shop.” From business people who enjoy the free our way to the airport when we got stuck at the red light. wireless computer connection, to ladies who enjoy lunch I looked across and could finally see the restaurant. I had and English tea service, to hip teenagers, Ruthie has made the epiphany. I went back to Puerto Rico and resigned.” Hot Java what coffee shops have been throughout time, Puerto Rico’s loss was certainly Greer’s gain when a place for diverse minds to gather to discuss the day’s Gerard’s opened in June of 2003 and became one of the events, relax and enjoy good food and, of course, a hot cornerstones of the new downtown Greer experience. cup o’ joe. Lunch fare includes the Brie and Bacon CroisChef Cribbin once trained at the famed Filomena restausant, Cream Cheese and Cucumber on Wheatberry Bread, rant in Washington DC, and new General Manager/Somand Stuffed Cantaloupe with Tuna, Egg, or Chicken Salad. melier Jesse Koeth managed four restaurants in Naples, After dining downtown, enjoy a decadent dessert with Florida. Together they wow locals and tourists alike with your evening’s choice of international coffee and tea. vibrant, fresh, contemporary Italian cuisine, amazing wine selections, and five-star service — all wrapped up in a luxurious old-world-meetsnew atmosphere. Favorites include Fresh Mozzarella with Slow Roasted Tomatoes and Basil, South African Lobster and Veal Francese with Fettuccine Carbonara and Asparagus, as well as Chef Cribbin’s fresh fish dishes of the day. From cocktails at the elegant bar to a romantic dinner in the courtyard, Gerard’s will make you want to say “Viva!”
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The Great Bay Oyster House
Southern Thymes Cafe
The Great Bay Oyster House “My Dad and I always talked of opening a place together. He saw this building and the potential for Greer, bought it and made us, pretty much, open up a restaurant,” jokes The Great Bay Oyster House’s Alex Christofferson, known casually as Greer’s most eligible bachelor. And open they did on December 31, 2004, becoming one of Greer’s favorite places for lunch, dinner, and a very happening bar scene with not one but two happy hours nightly. The family Christofferson, consisting of father and mother, Stan and Diane, and children Alex and Katie, all contribute to the success of this neighborhood hot spot where Chef Daniel Dobbs prepares such favorites as the Grouper Sandwich, the 10-ounce Kobe Burger, Herb Encrusted Rainbow Trout and, of course, a raw bar offering oysters, steamed clams, mussels, and shrimp. This sophisticated, electric, fun establishment will soon include a private dining area for cocktails or sit-down events, as well as all the comforts and amenities for business meetings and all-day conferences. Pleased with the growth of the Greer’s downtown area, Alex remarks, “All of the restaurants here are different; they each take a different genre but they compliment each other.”
Southern Thymes Cafe If you’ve ever experienced an oldfashioned diner then you’re in for a real treat at Southern Thymes Cafe where dining at a table or the counter is your choice. Open for just a year and a half, this bustling, popular breakfast and lunch hangout features down-home meals served and prepared by Tony Mesa, Toni Penfield, and Janice Croker. Owner Wendy Mitchell explains her philosophy. “We’re not a health food restaurant but we do cook healthy with canola oil, and no preservatives or MSG products. We try to not only make the food taste good, but be good for you.” Serving country food at its best with such favorites as Buttermilk Hotcakes, Country Fried Steak, and specials of meat and three vegetables, Southern Thymes retains the feel of old Greer. “I like the idea of being in downtown Greer,” Wendy says. “When you look at Greer’s past, how busy it used to be, you can’t go back but it can be something different and new.” Along with her husband, James, Wendy also owns Lakeview Steakhouse and is opening a third restaurant in Landrum that will be called The Cedars.
Bistro 107 What do you get when you take a chef who hails from Mexico, a wife who is half Italian, bistro fare with influences of Asian, French, American, Caribbean, Southwest, and Moroccan flavors and place them in a beautiful old renovated building in downtown Greer? Why Bistro 107, of course. “People ask me, why Palm Beach to Greer,” laughs Chef Apolonia (Polo) Mojarro, owner of Bistro 107. “I have kids, this is my goal, my life, to be with my children. I worked in a place that was rated one of the ten best bistros in the United States, Taboo in Florida. From there you have to have your own restaurant,” he says. “But I like a simple life and I was looking for an area that
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Bistro 107
I could be with my family. Greer is a good place to raise kids with its smalltown feel and friendly atmosphere.” Working with his wife Debra, daughter Alexa, and son Sebastian, Chef Mojarro has strived to create a warm, welcome “home away from home” atmosphere to introduce his eclectic, exotic bistro fare to the Greer community. Customer favorites include Tropical Crab Cakes, Crispy Duck Spring Rolls, BBQ Chicken Pizza, and Rack of Lamb. A varied wine list, full bar, smoke-free environment, and the grand piano played by Rebecca Smith all combine with the interesting cuisine to create what the Mojarro family was hoping for — a place for guests to feel at home while enjoying fine dining at reasonable prices.
Casey’s Ice Cream and More
Casey’s Ice Cream and More Going to get an ice cream has been a family tradition for generations. Finally, with the July opening of Casey’s Ice Cream and More located in the old Price’s Feed & Seed, downtown Greer has a place for kids of all ages to hang out and enjoy this classic treat. The old-fashioned ice cream parlor is named for owner Jerry Davis’ late daughter Casey, who died from a rare muscle disease when she was only 17. It’s his way of celebrating Casey’s life with her Greer community. Selling the parlor’s custom T-shirts to profit the Make-A-Wish Foundation, he hopes to give back to the organization that made Casey happy. Casey’s Ice Cream and More, a family affair with Jerry, wife Ana, and son Chase, offers Hershey’s ice cream in 24 different flavors, ice cream treats, hot dogs, nachos and well... more! Stroll down Trade Street to enjoy all the parlor has to offer in a fun, friendly atmosphere with hand-painted walls and rocking chairs galore.
Justin’s Steakhouse As Bernie and Candace Kavo’s second Justin’s Steakhouse nears it’s completion date, curious locals pop in and out of the construction space beside the Greer Chamber to check on the progress and to meet their new neighbors.
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“I just love Greer!” Bernie exclaims. “The people, I can’t tell you how enthralled I am with the people here. They’re genuinely nice people.” Named after their first born son, the original Justin’s Steakhouse opened in Greenville last year and soon became a favorite of Greer business owner Anne Hendley and her daughter Heather Welch. Sharing their vision of a new, revitalized downtown Greer, they encouraged the Kavos to open this newest venture. Along with Chef Josh Walker and General Manager Hugh Kimbel, Justin’s Steakhouse in Greer will offer the same warm, inviting atmosphere and menu as the original with such customer favorites as Allison’s Petite Filet (named after their daughter) and Brandon’s Burger (named after their son) as well as other 100% certified Angus Beef Steaks, fresh seafood, and a wine list heavy on their favorite California wines.
Downtown Greer Restaurants Bistro 107
107 South Main Street, Greer, SC 29650 — (864) 879-1107 Lunch Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dinner Monday-Thursday 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Dinner Friday and Saturday 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Piano Entertainment Thursday-Saturday 6:00-closing; Restaurant Available for Private Functions Saturday Lunch and Sunday All Day; Wine Dinners Offered
Cannon’s Drive-In
409 Trade Street, Greer, SC 29651 — (864) 877-9988 Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Monday-Saturday 7:00 a.m-10:00 p.m. Table, Counter, and Curb Side Service Available
Casey’s Ice Cream and More
304 Trade Street, Greer, SC 29651 — (864) 848-3770 Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 2:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Cash and Checks Only
Gerard’s
102 East Poinsett Street, Greer, SC 29650 — (864) 879-0070 Lunch Tuesday-Friday 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dinner Monday-Thursday 5:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Dinner Friday and Saturday 5:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Private Room, Courtyard Dining Available; Wine Dinners Offered
Great Bay Oyster House
109 East Poinsett Street, Greer, SC 29651 — (864) 879-1030 Lunch Monday-Saturday 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Dinner Monday-Thursday 5:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Dinner Friday and Saturday 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Private Dining/Meeting Room, Catering Available
Hot Java Coffee House
117 East Poinsett Street, Greer, SC 29651 — (864) 334-0115 Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday 7:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Lunch served until 2:00 p.m., dessert service thereafter Private Room, Weekend Entertainment, and Delivery Available in Greer Station
Justin’s Steakhouse
Justin’s Steakhouse
109 Trade Street, Greer, SC 29651 — (864) 801-8884 Dinner Monday-Saturday 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Private Room, Patio Dining Available, Wine Dinners Offered
Lunch & Such So, now you know why these restaurant owners, some local, some not, decided that their restaurants belonged in Greer. With an eye on the past and a vision of tomorrow, they embody the spirit of Greer. I wonder what interesting, fun, delicious restaurant might make it as number 10 in the Downtown Greer Dining Experience... d
224 Trade Street, Greer, SC 29651 — (864) 879-8868 Lunch Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Private Room, Catering, and Dinner in the Home Available
Southern Thymes Cafe
219 Trade Street, Greer, SC 29651 — (864) 804-9511 Breakfast/Lunch Tuesday-Saturday 7:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Breakfast/Lunch Sunday 8:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Private Room Available GreerNow AUGUST 2006
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