Greenville attracts national + regional chains

Open Sign

Open for Business | Photo by Artem Beliaikin

Table of Contents

Today, we’re doing some “offroading,” if you will, to talk about a few big (chain) restaurants + shops that have recently opened or are #ComingSoon. Now before you can gasp, let us say, we love our small businesses, but it’s only natural that national and regional chains will take notice of our growing city too.

Just yesterday, it was announced that Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream is coming to the Camperdown Development. See, we told you so. With less than 20 locations nationwide, this will be the first Jeni’s in Greenville and only the second in SC.

Person holding an ice cream cone outside on a sunny day

Jeni’s Ice Cream | Photo by @carolinafoodjunkies

And a little less than a week ago, Beard Papa’s announced they will be opening their first SC store on Woodruff Road. (tentatively) on July 3. The popular chain opened in Japan in 1999 and has expanded to sell their fresh + natural cream puffs at 400+ stores in 15 countries and territories.

In more *savory* news, the Upstate is about to get its first QDOBA inside the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport later this summer, and Viva Chicken is opening not 1 but 2 locations locally in the coming months.

Additionally, Barberitos, Byrd’s Famous Cookies, Insomnia Cookies, and Savannah Bee Company have all opened up shop recently.

Many of these new offerings have a cult following — in fact, @emily.d.lordo says about Jeni’s on Instagram, “This is honestly GVL’s biggest and best accomplishment to date.”

Editor Ana would probably do a cartwheel if Trader Joe’s happened to open another Greenville location at the old BI-LO location off East North Street. Just saying. And Editor Grace’s life would be a million times better if Greenville had an Urban Outfitters.

But what would you love to see closer to home? IKEA? In N Out? Let us know.

Question

More from GVLtoday
We spoke with Andrea Ciavardini-Royko minutes after she found out she was a James Beard Award semifinalist.
Ice storms in SC have caused widespread damage in the past, and as we brace for winter weather, we spoke to a meteorologist to find out why.
The updated plans were presented to Greenville County Council as the arena requests funding to make the renovations possible.
We compiled all of the feedback from our Giving Campaign to learn what readers love most and want to see more of in our newsletters. Here’s a peek at what they said.
We’re hopping on the latest social trend and reminiscing on some of 2016’s biggest moments, including our very own launch.
Spoiler alert: Traffic isn’t great. We dove into the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s congestion data so you don’t have to.
Help us create a growing guide to small businesses by submitting your favorite local makers, restaurants, and professionals, and sharing this page with a friend.
“WHEN I think about Greenville, South Carolina architecture this is exactly what comes to mind,” the post said.
The new Meals on Wheels building features a 15,000-sqft kitchen with 5,000 sqft of storage for food.
The event, which also took place in cities like Charlotte, Raleigh, and Nashville in January, urges participants to explore new coffee shops in their city.