For alumni and friends
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The Comeback: Cuisine Around the Corner
A patty melt and a house salad from Other Lands in Greenville, which is owned and operated by Mel Wilcox ’15. Photo by Nathan Gray, Furman University.
A sweet treat, a caffeinated pick-me-up, a frothy brew to wind down after a long day, a working lunch. Whether reuniting with old friends or for a break in the middle of the workweek, Greenville, Travelers Rest, Simpsonville and points all around Furman have some of the most unique spots to stop. Not only that, but those spots are owned and operated by Furman alumni.
Here is a look at what these Paladins are doing and the creative directions they are taking food, drink and dessert.
Grateful Brew
501 S. Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, S.C.
Co-owned and operated by Deb York ’14, Grateful Brew was one of the first in Greenville to focus equally on two brews that make the world go round — coffee and beer. Open since 2016, Grateful Brew offers artisan coffee, craft beers and a nitro coffee program that is as unique as it is delicious.
But it’s the atmosphere that makes the owners so happy. They pride themselves on a welcoming atmosphere that brings the community together and provides a hub of entertainment where friends and neighbors can gather. And if you make it for trivia night each month, a Furman alumnus will be your host.
Upcountry Provisions
6809 State Park Road, Travelers Rest, S.C.
There aren’t many restaurants that are ready to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to diners six days a week (closed on Sunday). And there are even fewer that make their dishes from scratch or using as many local ingredients as possible. But in the South Carolina hamlet known as Travelers Rest, there is one of the best and most popular.
Upcountry Provisions is owned and operated by Cheryl Kraus ’09 and its bread and butter for business is, well, bread and butter — at least in the morning. From-scratch biscuits and biscotti stand out on the breakfast menu alongside frittatas, sandwiches and awesome flavor combinations. The same goes for lunch and dinner, where gourmet sandwiches bring as much comfort as the casual seating and the rustic picnic tables in the outdoor area. Each trip to Upcountry Provisions can offer something different and that’s just the vibe Kraus and company are looking for.
Houni’s Italian Ice
1848 Woodruff Road, Greenville, S.C.
107 N. Main St., Simpsonville, S.C.
Morgan Calhoun ’13 is a Florida native who loved getting an Italian ice treat with her family any time the opportunity arose. But that was in Florida where Italian ice was plentiful. When she came to Furman University and ended up staying in South Carolina, those opportunities dried up.
Calhoun figured that when life makes you crave a sweet treat and no one sells it, you might as well make that sweet treat yourself. And if you can make that treat for the whole community, all the better. Enter Houni’s Italian Ice, a business Calhoun and her sister started in 2019 that has grown to include two locations and loyal customers seeking out their most famous flavors. From mango and pina colada to orange cream, salted caramel and birthday cake, Calhoun taught herself the ins and outs of the Italian ice game to the delight of everyone who has tried it.
Both locations are walk-ups and during the summer months the lines can wrap her building. But even winter brings those in need of their Italian ice fix, so don’t hesitate to stop by whenever the mood strikes.
Other Lands Brewery
731 Rutherford Road, Greenville, S.C.
Some will say you should do one thing and do it well. Those people haven’t met Mel Wilcox ’15, owner of Other Lands Brewery in Greenville. You see, Wilcox has the passion and the know-how to do a whole lot of things from his brewery/bar/coffee shop/café/restaurant. He brews his own beer, roasts his own coffee beans, makes from-scratch meals and creates a full menu of treats for every taste.
Other Lands opens seven days a week at 8 a.m. for the breakfast crowd looking for a coffee, a pastry or a hearty breakfast for the day ahead. They stay open until 9 p.m. most evenings thanks to a menu that includes eclectic sandwiches, small bites, draft beer and cocktails. Add in trivia nights, happy hour specials and even a small farmers market on occasion and Other Lands is a spot with a little of everything.
