18 Apr Community Compass: Downtown Spartanburg

 

Exploring Downtown Spartanburg:

Historic sites that date back to the 1700s, well-known colleges such as Wofford and Converse, and an emerging cultural scene give you Downtown Spartanburg. The city is deemed the “Hub City” due to the wheel hub shape formed by the many railroad lines that ran through the area. Named one of the top cities for music and meetings by ConventionSouth Magazine, Spartanburg has become a destination of diversity, attracting a range of people from college students to families, to international businesses.

Downtown Spartanburg has reemerged as a destination for business, entertainment, and living.  The commitment to make our downtown a desirable place from the young and the more experienced leadership is growing every year.- Andrew Little, CB Caine Agent

 Downtown Spartanburg contains beautiful historic districts known for 100 year- old Oaks that cascade over the mix of bungalows, gate-house style cottages and grand estates. The varying styles of architecture are unique to this area and upscale condos are also on the rise in the urban center.

Converse Heights Historic District : One of Spartanburg’s first suburbs, this district contains a mix of modest bungalows and grand mansions. The area includes Colonial Revival, Queen Anne, and Craftsman architecture. Happy Hollow Park provides residents with a tranquil recreational setting.

Hampton Heights Neighborhood : This revitalized district is central to the city and was home to two South Carolina governors. Architectural styles represented in the neighborhood include Queen Anne, Bungalow, Craftsman, Four-Square and Neo-Classical. It is in walking/biking distance to downtown destinations.

The real estate market is improving here.  Prices are steadily increasing, buyers are more positive about purchasing homes, and lenders are anxious to make new loans.  Overall, we are hopeful that 2014 will be our best year for home sales since 2009. – Francie Little, CB Caine Agent

Things To Do, Places to Be:

 

 Drinks & Eats

Little River Roasting Coffee Bar – Local coffee, local pastries, local artists. The Coffee Bar is all about promoting the local Spartanburg scene. Providing a relaxed atmosphere, the baristas serve coffee from Spartanburg-based Little River Roasting Company, espresso drinks, as well an assortment of delicious made-from-scratch baked goods from the Cakehead Bakeshop. The Coffee Bar regularly hosts music events on Friday and Saturday nights, including Open Mic Nights. They also have monthly art rotations featuring different Spartanburg artists.

RJ Rockers Brewery – It’s pretty simple. If you love quality beer go to RJ Rockers Brewery. Handcrafted with care by passionate brewers, this is Spartanburg’s first microbrewery, founded in 1997. Owner and brewer, Mark Johnsen, brings to the table expert knowledge from Germany that he infuses into the art of brewing beer. Try the signature Son of a Peach brew, which is a favorite sweet southern classic. They hold tasting tours, happy hours and monthly live musical performances.

Cribb’s Kitchen- Owned and operated by Spartanburg locals, Cribb’s Kitchen offers a modern ambiance with a diverse menu of American cuisine. Try the JamiePoo. Yes, that’s a burger option and also named after the youngest worker at Cribb’s Kitchen.  They also have live music on the weekends to accompany your dining experience.  

Shopping

Hub City Bookshop, although fairly young in the area, has made its impact on the literary community in the Upstate. Nurturing the creative minds of Spartanburg, all proceeds from sales fund creative writing education, scholarships and independent book publishing locally.  Stop by this quaint bookshop in the heart of downtown for a book signing from a traveling author, trivia night or browse the plethora of titles.

Hub City Farmer’s Market– Looking for local, fresh producer-only food in Spartanburg? On a Wednesday or Saturday starting in June, grab a cooler and venture into the Hub City Farmer’s Market and stock up on healthy, affordable produce for your home. Not only are you promoting an active lifestyle, but also helping small family farms and local artisans grow their business. It’s a win-win for this diverse community.

Not only is Spartanburg a great place to live due to the low cost of living and low cost of housing, it also has wonderful shops and restaurants throughout the Spartanburg area. We have a lot of music and cultural events available in the area due to having seven plus colleges in Spartanburg County alone. – Victor Lester, CB Caine Agent

 Events

Spring Fling– As one of the largest annual street festivals in the Upstate, Spring Fling brings the community together in a pretty awesome way. With other 75 acts on 4 stages, delicious food, great shopping and a zip line, you definitely want to be in Spartanburg that weekend.

Music Trail– Did you know that a number of prominent musicians hail from Spartanburg? You can find out all about them in the downtown Music Trail audio tour that honors twelve of the best musicians specific to this area!

Music on Main– Enjoy the outdoor downtown setting, just below Morgan Square, with friends and colleagues while listening to live music with a drink in hand. It’s free. It’s every Thursday April-July and it’s a great event that Spartanburg offers its community.

These events get people to explore the downtown area and see Spartanburg in a unique and special way. – Rhonda Porter, CB Caine Agent 

Parks

Croft State Park has 7000 acres of wooded terrain, 12 miles of biking/hiking trails, picnicking, camping, boating and horseback riding.  Barnet Park is a premier outdoor concert and special events venue. It hosts national recording artists at the Zimmerli Amphitheater.

Written by: Jill Shepard              Photos by: Rachel Williams