Spartanburg City News

They've been building affordable homes for local families in need for decades, and now, Habitat for Humanity of Spartanburg is building three new homes on the Northside. The homes, which will be completed in the fall, are an "early-in" project on the Northside, built near Harvest Park, home of Hub City Farmers' Market and the Butterfly Foundation's Monarch Cafe, the Cleveland Academy of Leadership...

Part of the Solarize South Carolina initiative, Solarize Spartanburg is a new initiative aimed at encouraging more local homeowners to install solar systems by taking advantage of recently approved statewide policy changes that will make the systems more affordable for some homeowners. Through a coordinated partnership with the City of Spartanburg and Upstate Forever, the city will earn a free sol...

Downtown Spartanburg's second craft brewery is set to open later this month as renovation work nears completion on Hub City Tap House's space on St John Street. Most recently the home of Spartan Photo, the building beside Papa's Breakfast Nook has undergone a transformation to become what's sure to be one of the coolest places in town to grab a tasty brew. Hub City Tap House plans to feature 30 ta...

It's been quite a season for Hub City Farmers' Market so far during their first full season at Harvest Park. With continued growth and innovative new programs such as a new permaculture teaching farm highlighting an already exciting year, what's next for one of Spartanburg's most dynamic local nonprofit organizations? How about debuting a new local food truck at the market on Saturday, August 8? T...

For the 21st consecutive year, the Carolina Panthers are set to bring their training camp to Wofford College in Spartanburg. Starting July 31 with the Lowe's Kickoff Party getting things started at 4:30 p.m. Events include the Mayor's Ball Run, on-field performances by the TopCats, Sir Purr, PurrCussion and Black & Blue Crew, face painting, food, and interactive games. As always, admission to the...

Last week we launched our latest web tool, SeeSpartanburgRise.com, a new way to literally map the progress that continues in downtown Spartanburg. On the site, users are presented with a map showing downtown and a timeline. As users move through the timeline, pins appear in the map, highlighting parcels that have received significant investment each year. Click on one of those pins and information...

"When will we hear more details about the new hotel?" That's been one of the most frequently asked questions around town since City Council approved a development agreement in February to bring a new hotel to W Main Street in Downtown Spartanburg. Yesterday, Spartanburg-based OTO Development answered that question, and wowed a standing-room-only crowd at Indigo Hall in the process. Details about t...

Another business is set to open its doors in downtown Spartanburg as H & K Gallery is putting the finishing touches on its space at 151 W Main St. in Downtown Spartanburg for a grand opening on Thursday, May 21. The beautifully renovated space will feature one of the largest selections of Southern fine art pieces you're likely to find anywhere, and figures to be a prominent stop on Downtown Sparta...

May is National Bike Month, celebrated in cities around the country including right here in Spartanburg. Events like "Bike to Jazz on the Square" on Friday, May 15 at 5:30 p.m., with valet parking and giveaways for cyclists who ride to the event, and a "Ride of Silence," a family friendly ride promoting bicycle safety on Wednesday, May 20 at 6 p.m. Today on the podcast we're talking with Ned Barre...

Some big changes are in the works for E Main St. in Downtown Spartanburg, as a streetscaping project approved recently by City Council is set to get underway early next month. The project is part of a $2.3 million streetscaping plan passed by Council in 2013, and includes straightening the chicanes on E Main Street between Church and Liberty streets. The plan also will eliminate the existing alter...

With new murals adorning the walls of downtown businesses, sold-out performances at venues throughout the city, and seemingly more artists, musicians, and writers than ever before, it's pretty easy to see that Spartanburg's creative energy is on the rise lately. In fact, there's so much happening these days that it can be tough to keep track of it all. Thanks to some of those supremely talented lo...

It's been 20 years since three Spartanburg writers came together in a Downtown Spartanburg coffeeshop to dream up what would eventually become Hub City Writers Project. What started as something HCWP Executive Director Betsy Teter calls a "one season lark" has since grown into a nationally acclaimed independent publisher about to release its 70th title, and to celebrate their 20 years of outstandi...

The smell of delicious barbecue will be wafting through the air of Downtown Spartanburg again this weekend as Hub City Hog Fest returns for its third year. Featuring live music on Friday and Saturday, culminating with a performance from Grammy nominated bluegrass greats, The SteelDrivers headlining the show on Saturday night, the Hog Fest will also have food trucks on hand Friday, starting at 12 p...

Late last year, one of the most anticipated developments in recent memory opened on the Northside. Harvest Park, the first project completed as part of the Northside Initiative, today provides Northside residents with access to fresh, locally grown foods through both Hub City Farmers' Market and through the Butterfly Foundation's Monarch Café, something crucial in an area of the city classified as...

If you've been wrapped up in the winter weather madness gripping Spartanburg this week, you might've missed one of the most important downtown development stories to come along in recent memory as City Council voted unanimously on Monday to approve an incentive agreement for a new upscale hotel development at the corner of West Main Street and Daniel Morgan Avenue. Local businessman George Dean Jo...

If you’re a regular follower of downtown Spartanburg news (and you should because there's no shortage of great news) you probably read the article in this past Sunday’s Herald-Journal about the possibility of a second downtown hotel. While we can’t talk about the specifics of any potential development, the article led with a very interesting question: “Is downtown Spartanburg ready for a second ho...

It's been one of Spartanburg's most successful arts programs, and this year Hub-Bub's Artists-in-Residence program welcomes the eighth group to its six month residency. This year's artists include two visual artists, Robin Schwartzman and Jennifer Bonner, as well as a playwright, Anna Abhau Elliott, and a filmmaker, Desiree Moore. If the lasting positive impact on Spartanburg left by past A.i. Rs...

It's one of Spartanburg's most beautiful neighborhoods, a place where Victorian two-story homes mingle with Arts and Crafts bungalows under a canopy of mature trees. Head south for a couple of blocks from Morgan Square for a walk down the wide sidewalks of Spartanburg's first local historic district and it becomes immediately apparent why the people who live in Hampton Heights are so passionate ab...

If you’re a veteran listener of the City Podcast, by now you’ve become familiar with our preferred format: about 15 minutes focused on one topic. So we’re breaking the mold a bit. From an ongoing $2.5 million citywide parks improvement effort to a major capital project at the Downtown Memorial Airport, there is a lot happening in Spartanburg right now. Indeed, now perhaps more than ever, the City...

If you’re a veteran listener of the City Podcast, by now you’ve become familiar with our preferred format: about 15 minutes focused on one topic. So we’re breaking the mold a bit. From an ongoing $2.5 million citywide parks improvement effort to a major capital project at the Downtown Memorial Airport, there is a lot happening in Spartanburg right now. Indeed, now perhaps more than ever, the City...

After a great season last year that took them to the NCAA Tournament for the third time in five years, expectations for this year's Wofford men's basketball team are understandably high. With 11 players returning, including all five starters, Wofford is this year's preseason pick to win the SoCon title and earn another trip to the Big Dance. But before they get that far, there's a game on Tuesday,...

It's been one of the most anticipated new local developments in recent memory, and this week Harvest Park, home of Hub City Farmers' Market and the Butterfly Foundation's Monarch Cafe, opens at 458 Howard St. on the Northside. The opening celebration gets started on November 6 at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting and tours of the new facility. Then on Nov. 8 at 8 a.m. it's time for a grand opening cel...

Around one million Americans today live with Parkinson's Disease, a debilitating chronic movement disorder that eventually robs those who suffer with it of most motor function. The cause of the disease is still unknown and there is no known cure, but Lisa Cox of Spartanburg is going above and beyond to raise awareness of Parkinson's while fostering collaboration among researchers and the community...

Time flies when you're a successful Downtown Spartanburg business. Though it doesn't seem that long ago when our inaugural Main Street Challenge winners were holding giant checks while wearing big smiles, two of our fantastic winning businesses, Haute Mama and The Local Hiker, are gearing up to celebrate one year of business in the heart of our city. Along with recently opened fellow winner Motte...

It's billed as a nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced food, and for the first time, Food Day is coming to Spartanburg on October 25 as Hub City Farmers' Market, the Thomas E. Hanna Family YMCA, and the Mary Black Foundation team up for a pair of events that promise to fill pantries and stomachs while encouraging locals to make better choices about their food. Fir...