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By: Miriam Champlin, a Greenville transplant and a freelance writer/editor with a passion for local living, community building, and authentic relationships.
Why is the Swamp Rabbit Cafe my go-to spot?
I think it’s because the SRC is a microcosm of the Greenville that we all love.
Let’s start with family.
As I sit in here and work, I glance up and watch moms with small kiddos shopping in the grocery. These moms are heroes. They are doing the everyday hard things. Life with littles is exhausting and exciting all at the same time, and I watch these moms toting baby carriers and pushing strollers right along with shopping carts, preparing for the next meal and strategizing for their family’s health and success. Most of the time, from where I sit, they look strong and on top of things, but I know that many of them are tired and just making it through each day. This is a good place for them to come, though. SRC cares about families and gives them a welcoming place to come. In fact, there’s a green space just for the kids. It tells parents: “You’re not alone in your journey, and you’re not the only ones who think your kids are worth it. We’re with you in this. Go, moms, go. You can do this. We will help.” The SRC loves families. And so does Greenville.
Connection.
I look around at the tables next to me, and I see networking meetings, old friends catching up, and random conversations with strangers. SRC is a great place for connection. Grab some great coffee or tea and a fresh pastry (BTW, their iced coffee is some of my favorite in Greenville!) and invest in those relationships. Here’s the thing: we know that in the business world, money drives the bus, but it’s people and relationships that bring satisfaction along the way. And SRC creates an open, welcoming environment. You get the sense that the people who work here want to be here, and they want you to be here too. So slow down. Talk. Take time to notice. Notice yourself. Notice the people around you. Notice nature, kindness, the environment, the food you’re eating. Notice and connect. Greenville invites you to do that, and so does the SRC.
Creativity and Enterprise.
Then there’s the people like me. The freelancers, the entrepreneurs, the creatives, the students writing papers, the teachers grading papers, the community junkies, the regulars who come here to work. This is our office away from office, our 3rd space, our happy place for that essential mix of distraction and anonymity that aids productivity. We come here for our own sanity. We schedule lunch appointments here, because we want to share the goodness. We have our preferred tables and seats (and menu items). And we promise ourselves that if we finish our work early, we’ll take a walk on the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail (but we never do). SRC offers us the same kind of welcome that Greenville does: a place to express ourselves, to work hard, to grow.
Health and Wholeness.
And one other thing. Most of us are trying to be our healthiest self, right? That looks different for everyone, and sometimes we agree to disagree about what health and wholeness looks like in the everyday details, but honestly, most of are trying pretty stinking hard to be our best selves. The SRC supports us in this. It contributes to local economic health by sourcing products from local vendors. It respects allergies, fair trade, quality, tradition, specialization, and comfort - something for everyone. Stopping in here is like a mental health break. You’ll see something that makes you smile or maybe find the perfect gift or gift idea for that friend with an upcoming birthday, or you’ll buy some fresh fruit to enjoy and remember that even the hard days have little pockets of goodness when you look closely enough. And of course, since it’s located right off the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail, the SRC promotes kindness and gives encouragement to bikers and trail users by providing water and restrooms. I call that good community. The SRC is for holistic well-being for the individual and the community. And that’s a Greenville core value as well.
So what’s not to love?
If you haven’t been to the Swamp Rabbit Cafe recently (or ever), do yourself a favor and stop by this Greenville treasure. You’ll be glad you did.
