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A Trip to the Bijou Gallery

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When it comes to downtown shopping and dining, there’s more than meets the eye at the Bijou Gallery. This interior mini-mall (147 East Main St) holds plants and home goods, artisan treats and sandwiches with vegan and gluten-free accommodations, two “treat yourself” salons, and a brand-new boutique! Get out of the chilly weather and Winter rains, to escape for a few hours in Bijou’s small businesses this holiday season.

The Bijou Gallery has a unique history, once operating as a silent movie theatre. Today, it has 10,000 square feet of ground floor retail, with apartments above. Bijou has two separate entrances to the main hallway– one on East Main Street and one on East Broad Street. Parking is convenient for both sides, with parallel parking along both streets, small parking lots across the street from each entrance, and (best of all) the Dunbar Street Garage (178 Dunbar St) a one minute walk away from the East Main Street side!

Follow along: We’ll take you on a full Bijou Gallery walk-through, starting at the Broad Street entrance and Downtown Deli & Donuts….

Whether you’re looking for breakfast, lunch, brunch, or just a sweet to fill a craving, there’s hundreds of delicious items to choose from at Downtown Deli & Donuts. In addition to classic items like reubens and benedicts, Downtown Deli offers daily meal specials, including a different grilled cheese, soup, and quiche each day. Some cozy favorites include the Tuscan Chicken Skillet Mac & Cheese, Mediterranean hummus and quinoa tabbouleh plate, and 20+ sandwiches on their regular lunch menu.

And of course, as their name implies, you need to finish your meal with a treat. Choose from small batch artisan donuts, such as chocolate peanut butter, samoa cookie, and blackberry cream cheese, or perhaps a chocolate croissant or slice of fresh-baked cake.

Best of all, Downtown Deli & Donuts is one of Spartanburg’s most diet-accommodating restaurants! In addition to numerous vegetarian and vegan plates, most every lunch/ brunch sandwich can be made with your bread of choice, including keto “waffles” and gluten-free wraps. You can’t forget the sweets! Daily pastry case selections include a minimum offering of gluten-free cakes, vegan doughnuts, and more.

Next up: a full spa experience….

Vanity- A Facial Bar is one of Bijou’s newest retail tenants. Vanity offers everything from facial masks and skincare advice, to custom nail designs. You can even order “The Mini,” a facial for kids that’s perfect for mommy-daughter dates. Popular treatments go beyond your face too, with hot stone back facials and spray tans.

Or, try a high-tech facial! Vanity offers LED Light Therapy, by mask or LED wand. Each different wavelength color targets a different skin factor: blue for fighting acne, green for pigmentation and overall skin tone, red for collagen production, and yellow for skin texture and reducing wrinkles.

The multi-offering spa is in the space formerly filled by Black Derby Barber Co., a traditional straight razor barbershop now located at 169 East Main Street.

And while you’re treating your skin to facials and massages, pop next door to The Lash Studio! The Lash Studio specializes in both eyelash extensions and brow shaping, including lash lifts, lash tints, and henna brows. Want your eyes to *pop* above your face mask? These stylists have got you covered; throw out your mascara now!

Okay, you’ve eaten your fill of doughnuts and brunch, treated yourself to a facial, and touched up your bold lashes. How about a new outfit?

Who knows trendy high school and college fashion better than a small business owner still in school herself? Gracie of Gracie’s Boutique is just 18 years old, with not one but two boutique locations. Now don’t get us wrong; these clothes are for style-lovers of all ages! Find cozy sweaters, holiday dresses, fashion boots, jewelry, bags, gifts, and more in the boutique.

Shop Gracie’s fashions in the Bijou Gallery, at the original Inman location (22 Mill St,) or online.

Speaking of gifts, plants make wonderful holiday and house-warming presents!

The Urban Planter offers far more than just green goods, although there are plenty of succulents, ferns, fiddle leaf figs, and air plants to choose from. This unique gift shop also holds terrarium and fairy garden creations, witty kitchen goods, greeting cards, wall art, jewelry, crystals, and ceramic planters.

Love plants, but don’t have a green thumb? The Urban Planter also offers pre-planted custom arrangements, training workshops, and even design consultation and maintenance services, with weekly watering and pruning on-location at your home or business.

The Bijou Gallery has just one open retail space left, fronting East Main Street. Formerly, Hub City Scoops was located here, before their move across the street to 158 East Main Street.

Please contact the Bijou leasing office at (864)590-9098 if interested in more details on this available retail or office space.

The Upstate Coffee: New Community Hub in Downtown Inman

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There’s a brand-new coffeeshop in Downtown Inman, and InTheBurg is bringing you the espresso scoop. Meet The Upstate Coffee, their cozy menu, baristas, and their newly-renovated shop space:

The Upstate Coffee’s location in historic downtown is convenient to City of Inman’s Main Street, at 14 Mill Street, and is surrounded by plentiful, free street parking. The 100-year-old building was in rough shape pre-renovation, but now features a fresh look inside and outside, as well as a large, paved patio with outdoor seating.

Owners Mariia “Mary” Kolpakova, Lana Divinets, and their husbands are originally from the West Coast, and moved to Inman in search of warmer and dryer weather roughly two years ago. Both Mary and Lana are new to the coffee and service industry business, but wanted to bring a glimpse of their traveling experience to Inman. “We wanted to create a cozy space with good vibes for people to hang out. Plus, living in Europe gave us ideas of how we can introduce coffee to this area,” Kolpakova said.

The faces you see behind the bar joined the TUC crew from all levels of experience, but all have a passion for coffee and serving the community.

The open, airy shop is both cozy and industrial, featuring original brick walls, wooden tables and bar-tops, metal detailing, and a large garage door in the center of the main cafe wall. For seating, choose from barstools lining the windows, two-top tables and bench seating, a tall community table for groups, and two couches and armchairs in the upper mezzanine-level nook.

One of the coziest spaces in the shop is family-friendly, with two armchairs, a children’s table, and multiple books and games, surrounding a stone electric fireplace.

Okay, so now that you’ve seen the space, we know you’re really reading to hear about the drinks. And boy, does The Upstate Coffee have some delicious ones to choose from!

The large menu has a multitude of hot and cold drinks, with both your traditional coffeeshop menu items such as lattes, americanos, and iced coffee, and unique non-coffee offerings such as “Italian Lemonade” and “The Peach Panther,” a fruity energy drink with Red Bull. Drinks are available in 8oz, 12oz, and 16oz varieties, with customizable flavor options.

We tried a variety of delicious offerings while “chilling” at The Upstate Coffee writing this here article, including an 8oz latte, 12oz house drip, two macaroons, butter croissant, and 12oz caramel iced latte, (not pictured.)

Autumnal drink specials include the Cinnamon Caramel Latte, and a Halloween drink inspired by The Inman Theatre Inc.’s production of “Inman Shop of Horrors,” “The Audrey 2,” an iced matcha latte with green apple and strawberry drizzle.

TUC brews Coava Coffee, a Portland-based roasting company. You can order a variety of single-origin roasts or coffee blends on The Upstate Coffee’s menu, including 12oz pourover coffees. For the house drip, you can sip the S.O. Blend, a rich and chocolatey medium roast of East African origins, with notes of honeycrisp apple, dark caramel, and chocolate-covered fruits. Like what you taste? Take a bag of Coava Coffee beans home to brew.

As the only coffeeshop in the area, The Upstate Coffee both fills a community need and provides an example to other potential small business owners. “We are hoping that after our experience more people will see that small towns have a lot of potential for opening a new business,” Kolpakova said. “We hope to be a good example to others to not be afraid to start something new.”

The community enthusiasm so far as been wonderful to see. The Upstate Coffee held their official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, October 30th, with live music and drink specials. Prior to opening, the business’ doors were open to community members to familiarize themselves with the new shop, with complementary drinks while baristas practiced preparing the new menu items, until roughly a week before the official opening.

When InTheBurg visited the cozy spot, a steady line of customers streamed in for their afternoon caffeination. College students on laptops, mom groups meeting after school pickup, young families, and teens doing homework all gathered in the shop– both sipping from counters and couches, and ordering multiple drinks to-go for friends.

Visit The Upstate Coffee at 14 Mill Street, and let us know what you think! The shop is open seven days a week:

Monday – Friday: 6am – 8pm

Saturday: 7am – 8pm

Sunday: 12pm – 8pm

Follow The Upstate Coffee on Facebook and on Instagram (@theupstatecoffee) for upcoming featured drinks, events, barista bios, and behind-the-scenes looks at daily business.

Cheers!

Creating A New Life For Mayfair Mill

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Mayfair Mill No. 1 is the latest former-textile mill to be revitalized in Spartanburg County.

Before it’s closure in 2001, the mill ran three shifts, employed 600 people, made cotton cloth, and later produced blended polyesters. Now known as Mayfair Art Studios, the industrial space was converted into two floors of studios and creative workspaces– for both resident artists and shared spaces for rent.

The 20,000–square–foot facility opened in March of 2020, located at 1885 Hayne St. in Spartanburg. The space features an upper floor of twelve private studios for resident artists that were completely rented out, with a waitlist, upon opening. On the main floor, find a ceramics studio with hourly wheel rentals, two dance and movement studios, multi-media 2-D and 3-D studios for glass and metalworking, photo/video and co-create studios, and more.

Meet Mayfair’s twelve resident creatives. Resident creatives are required to work a minimum of 10 hours a week in their studios with their doors open and to participate in the majority of Mayfair’s public events.

In addition to the daily studio use, Mayfair Art Studios presents First Fridays at the mill— a drop-in event every first friday of the month to meet the resident artists, see their current work projects, and tour the studio spaces. The next First Friday event is November 6th, from 5pm-7pm.

Want to try your hand at the pottery wheel? Try an Intro to Wheel-Throwing class with professional artist Haley Swanson. (View upcoming class dates.) Learn all the basics of shaping, throwing, and sculpting clay while you create a unique ceramic vessel, then use your new skills for solo wheel-throwing whenever you’d like at Mayfair.

“The hard work of mill workers is the bedrock of Spartanburg’s rich manufacturing heritage,” said Jennifer Evins, CEO and president of the Chapman Cultural Center. “It is always people that make a place special and now filling it with artists and creative enterprises that are working to create a future for themselves and their families is critical to the economic viability of our county, just like the textile workers of 100 years.”

Georgia developer Pace Burt partnered with the Chapman Cultural Center to receive tax credits to convert the former mill into art studios. The $1.2 million project included a naming gift of $500,000 to dedicate the space to the mill workers.

Want to live nearby? Arcadia Mills No.1 and No.2 are both loft apartments now– as Arcadia Station Lofts (1875 Hayne St. next to Mayfair Art Studios,) and Mayfair lofts (100 West Cleveland St. across the train tracks,) respectively.

Read more at GoUpstate.com; Article published October 8th, by Samantha Swann

Photos via GoUpstate.com, by Tim Kimzey

Resident Artists pictured above, in order of appearance: Ceramicist Leanne Flowers, Jocelyn Jones of Ladibugg Photography, Chris Kelly of KB Photography, Ryan Ridgeway of Ridgeway Studios

RJ Rockers Is Brewing Up Sustainability

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Guest column for Spartanburg Herald-Journal, written by RJ Rockers’ founder, Mark Johnsen
Originally published on GoUpstate.com, September 19th, 2020

At RJ Rockers, beer is an art.

When I decided to bring craft brewing to South Carolina after serving active military duty in Germany, it took twelve long months of craftsmanship and ingenuity to open our doors and become Spartanburg’s first original brewery in 1997.

For the next five and a half years, our brewpub became the soul of downtown nightlife and served as a catalyst for the revitalization of Morgan Square.

Like with any up-and-coming business, we made the decision in 2002 to expand to a production brewery where over the next six years, and with a lot of help from the Sons of The Fermentation, we were able to supply RJ Rockers’ brews throughout South Carolina, and eventually at favorite watering holes and stores everywhere.

But we couldn’t stay away from downtown Spartanburg forever. With the opening of RJ Rockers’ restaurant in 2017, we are happy to now be an anchor in the Grain District, as it is aptly called today.

With the brewery’s long history in the Upstate, it might be obvious that we take pride in being engrained in South Carolina and are grateful to call this state home for the last 23 years. We rely on local resources, and of course, the people, to operate at capacity with over 12,000 barrels. That is why we haven’t stopped bringing innovation to our craft — to not only brew better handcrafted beer, but to support the future of the industry and the environment that provides us with the ingredients to succeed.

Some might have noticed that there are solar panels at the top of our brewery. The system produces enough output to heat 600-gallons of water from about 56 degrees to between 120 and 140 degrees. This water makes up 60 percent of what we use in production, as well as flows to the restaurants’ restrooms. In total, it provides the equivalent of 400,000 BTUs – the unit used to measure heat energy per day – and is estimated to save 300 tons of greenhouse gas emissions over its 30-year life span. We’re sustaining delicious beer and our environment at the same time.

From an economic perspective, solar energy systems like ours are supposed to pay for themselves in about five years. But it is not about our brewery alone. By using solar power, we are supporting the clean energy industry that brings more than 46,000 jobs to South Carolina.

Since the coronavirus caused financial hardships across the state, it is crucial that our communities, businesses and leaders support clean energy workers so we can rebuild our economy post-pandemic without sacrificing our commitment to drive down carbon emissions for a sustainable future.

But we don’t stop at solar power. During our peak season, we generate about 10 tons of spent grain per week, which is hauled away by an Upstate cattle farmer and used as feed. Light sensors are installed throughout the brewery and the tap room lighting is on motion sensors. We actively participate in cardboard recycling, with all corrugated waste from Cribbs Kitchen and our facility baled up and hauled away by a recycling company. In 2019, we switched entirely from glass to aluminum since the community cancelled the recycling of glass.

Today, our efforts to implement eco-friendly practices not only drive down operations costs but help support the surrounding environment that our business feeds on.

We are deeply appreciative of elected officials in South Carolina who support clean energy policies at the local, state and federal level. Gov. Henry McMaster has even issued a proclamation in observation of National Clean Energy Week (Sept. 21–25) offering a sign of support for an industry that millions rely on, even if they don’t know it.

It is our hope that more leaders will open their mind to the good that clean energy eco-friendly practices brings to small businesses and the revenues that the industry provides to the state, helping support infrastructure, schools, emergency services and more.

We don’t just brew beer at RJ Rockers, we provide people with an experience. When they take a sip, they are home. And we look forward towards many more opportunities to protect and sustain our home.

Mark Johnsen is the founder of Spartanburg’s RJ Rockers Brewing Company.

Something New Is Brewing In Lyman, SC

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Something’s growing in Lyman, and it’s not just the small business community! Botanical Brew is a brand-new plant store and coffeeshop combo that opened at 40B Groce Rd, Lyman on October 1st, 2020, and you’re getting the [coffee] scoop here first!

Botanical Brew features a full menu of caffeinated drinks available by curbside or in-shop pick-up; plants of all sizes, styles, and environments; and the coziest vintage seating nestled in a photogenic setting.

Picture: Velvet sofas, mismatched armchairs, rattan and wicker chairs, and local art– all nestled between a jungle of plants that you can take home. (Very inspiring for planning your personal home decor.)

Botanical Brew offers a traditional coffeeshop menu of drip coffee, iced coffee, hot and iced espresso drinks (think lattes, cappuccinos, and americanos,) as well as a few unique specials. The shop brews locally-roasted beans from Junto Coffee, (232 Mill St, Taylors.)

Customize your drink order with milk alternatives (oat or almond,) or a variety of flavor syrups, such as lavender, white mocha, butterscotch, vanilla, and pumpkin spice. Seasonal drinks include Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Spiced Caramel Apple Lattes.

Maybe you’re not the biggest fan of coffee… Try a Botanical Soda, which are like bubbly “mocktails.” Caffeine-free varieties include Monstera Mint Mojito, Palm Tree Colada, and Blood Orange Spritz. The Blue Lagoon (pictured above) is both pretty and packs an energy punch, made with a berry medley and natural caffeine from green coffee. Even more flavor specials are coming to the menu soon…

Order your coffee in-person at Botanical Brew, or mobile-order and pick-up curbside with Odeko App.

After your coffee, search for a new plant– or two, or three. Botanical Brew has large, statement plants such as Monsteras and ferns, hanging vines such as Pothos, cacti of all sizes and varieties, whimsical plants such as “String of Dolphins,” and more. Are there any Fiddle Leaf Fig fans reading? Find figs of all heights and fullness, including both tree and bush varieties of FLF.

In addition, local art and stationary lines the walls and shelves. Make a friend’s day with the perfect housewarming card and plant!

After their first week of customers, the coffee and plant store expanded their hours. Sip and shop 12PM-6PM Mondays, 6AM-6PM Tuesdays through Fridays, and 8AM-12PM Saturdays. Find Botanical Brew on Facebook and Instagram, (@botanicalbrewsc.)

Botanical Brew is right on the edge of the Town of Lyman’s downtown, comfortably between a local artist’s studio and Trading Pages Bookstore (new and used books.) So, find a new book and plant baby, then snuggle up in your statement chair of choice with a latte. Cheers!

Keg & Cellar, Vino & Hops

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A new tasting room and store is now open in Moore, with a diverse craft pour line-up, wine lists from around the globe, and leadership from Spartanburg business veterans.

Keg & Cellar (5844 Reidville Rd, STE 4, Moore) opened Saturday, September 19th, with 40 beers on tap, wine by the glass, and hundreds of bottles and cans to take home when you’re done.

They plan to offer meat and cheese boards and desserts for customers enjoying a pour in-house. The retail counter includes pastas, olives, crackers, tonics, and serving equipment, for the full dining experience from home.

Pull up a seat at their bar, one of the long community tables, or outside at a picnic bench patio.

Draft pours range from $5-$7. Don’t forget to give them a shoutout on Untappd!

Keg & Cellar is open seven days a week, for both drinking and stocking your personal pantry:

Monday – Thursday: 9AM – 9PM , Friday – Saturday: 9AM – 11PM , Sunday: 12PM – 9PM

(Photo: General Manager Jon Richards, Owner Raj Patel, and Wine Buyer/ Consultant Jeff House; via GoUpstate.)

Owner Raj Patel is no stranger to the bar business, as owner of Main Street Pub and co-owner of Cribbs Kitchen, both in Downtown Spartanburg. [On Moore] “We feel like this is an under-served market of Spartanburg and it’s been overlooked for years,” Patel said. “People have been clamoring for a place where they can go and drink and have a beer on the premises and be able to just hang out and watch football.”

Patel is joined by Jeff House, owner of Bond Street Wines, as a wine buyer and consultant for Keg & Cellar, periodically on-hand to assist with buying and events.

In addition to their draft pours and wine by the glass, Keg & Cellar plans to offer tasting events, such as curated wine tastings for $10. Walk-in participation is welcome, although event reservations are preferred. Follow Keg & Cellar (Vino & Hops) on Facebook to see upcoming event announcements.

Read the full story from GoUpstate here. Originally published September 22, 2020.

View additional photo gallery of Keg & Cellar’s opening weekend from GoUpstate here.