An international ranking

Greenville, SC’s “adventurous” food scene lands it on New York Times’ list, “52 Places to Go in 2023"

Who else stood in Lewis Barbecue’s long lines in 2022? | Photo by GVLtoday

No. 14. That’s where Greenville landed on the New York Times’ list “52 Places for Travelers to Go in 2023.” It was the second-highest ranked US destination on the list behind AZ’s Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park.

The publication lauds the “real heartbeat of Greenville” as our “creative and diverse food community that keeps reinventing itself,” noting our city’s 200+ restaurants — 85% which are local — with many accessible from our strollable downtown.

There was no shortage of shoutouts to familiar eateries, saying travelers will “leave having been introduced to flavors from around the world:”

Soby’s celebrating 25 years
Lewis Barbecue opening to long lines in 2022
Mr. Crisp and Executive Chef Greg McPhee highlighting seafood
Keipi celebrating Georgian khachapuri and the country’s ancient wines
Aryana delivering a taste of Afghanistan
Califas bringing Mexican birria tacos to the scene

Also highlighted: Greenville’s food festivals — euphoria and Bank of America Fall for Greenville — where tens of thousands gather over local cuisine.

“The food here is adventurous, and the chefs have embraced the global influences shaping the modern South,” the feature concludes.

Click the button below for all 52 destinations, including suggestions for your next Lowcountry road trip with Charleston landing at No.32. (Hey, CHStoday. 👋)

WANDERLUST WARNING

Click here to have your event featured.

Friday, Jan. 13

Opening Reception: “Death of a Normal Man” by Jim Harris | Fri., Jan. 13 | 6-8 p.m. | Centre Stage Gallery, 501 River St., Greenville | Free | An exploration of artist Jim Harris’ search for his father through memories, dreams + grief, this exhibition is sure to provoke deeper conversation and insight.
Restaurant Week | Friday, Jan. 13-Sunday, Jan. 22 | Times vary | Participating restaurants | Prices vary | From fine to casual dining, participating restaurants will feature new menu items, fan favorites, and multi-course menus during Restaurant Week South Carolina.
Steve Rannazzisi | Friday, Jan. 13-Sunday, Jan. 15 | 7 p.m. | Comedy Zone Greenville, 221 N. Main St., Greenville | $22-$27 | “The League” star brings his comedy routine for five weekend shows.

Saturday, Jan. 14

The Toasty Farmer | Saturday, Jan. 14 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Brewery 85, 6 Whitlee Ct., Greenville | Free | Shop local goods, sip on craft beer, listen to live music, and munch on food truck bites at this weekly winter market.
Dogs of Lowe’s Pet Party | Saturday, Jan. 14 | 10 a.m.-1 p.m. | Lowe’s Home Improvement, 3958 Grandview Dr., Simpsonville | Free | Bring your pet for some fun with photos, treats, and giveaways.
Cravin’ Melon and Sister Hazel | Saturday, Jan. 14 | 7:30 p.m. | Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium, 385 North Church St., Spartanburg | $25 | Celebrate the unveiling of Spartanburg Memorial Auditorium’s newly renovated and rebranded second concert and event venue with a concert.

Sunday, Jan. 15

Fitness Center Grand Reopening | Sunday, Jan. 15 | 2-5 p.m. | Kroc Center, 424 Westfield St., Greenville | Free | Work out on the new fitness equipment, take a swim in the pool, and enjoy refreshments — non-members welcome.

We have a calendar filled with events and activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

New fund to grow Greenville-based startups

NEXT establishes a fund to grow Greenville-based startups

The fund expects to make 8-10 investments over the next 18 months. | Photo by GVLtoday

$6 million. That’s how much capital local entrepreneurs want to pour into the next generation of startups in Greenville.

It’s called the NEXT Founders Fund, announced yesterday by NEXT — an entrepreneur support organization working with local investors and their ventures as they develop their ideas.

The fund will be run by Scott Millwood and Shay Houser, co-founders of Deal Strategies, who have each successfully founded and exited high-growth companies in Greenville.

If you’re interested in earning an investment from the NEXT Founders Fund, the first step is to make a connection with the organization and its members.

“We want to invest in lines, not dots,” Scott explains. “NEXT gives us a way as investors and limited partners in that fund to get to know the founder before we make that investment decision.”

Click the button below to learn about the first local startup receiving capital from the fund.

FOUNDERS HELPING FOUNDERS

Weather

50º | Partly cloudy | 20% chance of rain

Travel

Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport will begin construction on a project to improve road access to the airport’s terminal on Monday, Jan. 16. Construction will be done in three phases with the entire project expected to wrap up in November 2024. Take a closer look at the changes. ✈️ (WSPA)

Eat

Breaking burrito news. Daylight Burrito is relocating its pop up to Jack Foster Leather Goods (4913 White Horse Rd.) tomorrow, Saturday, Jan. 14, at 8:30 a.m. Pro tip: Arrive early and hungry.
Food trailers are one vote away from being allowed to serve you in Greenville. The new ordinance will allow businesses like Chef on the Run — a Mediterranean food concept — to serve residents and businesses within the city limits. City Council is expected to take a second and final vote on the change soon. 🌯 (WYFF 4)

Biz

Sun and Soil Plant Parlor is moving to 403 Augusta St. The houseplant boutique will remain open at its current location — 512 Augusta St., Ste. A — until Wednesday, March 1. Stay tuned for its move-out date, but until then you can shop Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday 12-4 p.m. 🪴

Open

LiLi + KoKo — a women’s clothing boutique — has a new brick and mortar location in Hampton Station (1320 Hampton Ave. Ext., Ste. 609). Located next to Hollowed Earth Pottery, you can pop in to shop Saturdays 11 a.m.-6 p.m. 🛍️

Closed

Pretty Place Chapel (100 YMCA Camp Rd.) will be temporarily closed beginning Monday, Jan. 23 for a parking lot expansion. YMCA Camp Greenville says it’s still raising funds for other improvements including new bathrooms, a wheelchair ramp, and new benches. The chapel is expected to reopen Monday, Feb. 6. (WYFF 4)

Development

Spartanburg’s historic Coca-Cola plant (500 W. Main St., Spartanburg) will be restored and transformed into multi-use space. This week, Spartanburg City Council approved plans for restaurant, retail, and gathering space at the property. Developers plan to break ground this spring. (WSPA)

Fact or Fiction

Restrictive diets are the most effective way to get results — fact or fiction? This is fiction, of course. Instead, try realistic goals + gradual implementation of positive health habits. Want more tips? Hear from MUSC Health’s Dr. Elizabeth Wallis about goal setting, lifestyle changes, and more. 🍊*

Feel Good

To help reduce hunger and food insecurity in our community during the holidays, Student Specialists at The Branch at Greenville High School organized a food drive for Loaves & Fishes, collecting 140 items to donate. 🥫*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

And the winners are...

Challenge: Stop by one of these spots per month in 2023. | Post by @offthegridgreenville

It’s no secret: We’re big fans of Off The Grid Greenville and the hard work its team puts in to showcase small business owners of the Upstate, giving us all inspiration for our next meal on Greenville’s food scene.

We’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of OTGG’s annual Best "Off The Grid-Worthy” Restaurants in Greenville, SC, and this week we finally got our eyes on the full list. Warning: It will make you hungry.

What makes a place “Off The Grid-Worthy?”

It’s locally-owned and has been open 6+ months, serving creative signature dishes with memorable standout flavors and culturally-diverse recipes steeped in tradition. It’s a spot where everyone always feels welcomed, and it’s good no matter when you go.

The OTGG team says there was some “intense debate” to pick these winners. Click the button below for all 10 “Off The Grid-Worthy” eateries, plus two honorable mentions.

PLAN YOUR NEXT MEAL

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Danielle.

Editor’s pick: I don’t know about you, but the other spots on that New York Times list have me ready to grab my passport and travel the world. How lucky are we to be in such great company?

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? We previewed everything coming to Mauldin’s new BridgeWay station.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Kyle Steadings, Danielle Johnson, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Anne Hazard | Advertise with us.

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ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

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