A popular Greenville food hall celebrated 10 years in business by giving patrons more of what has made the establishment a success.
The Commons, located off the Swamp Rabbit Trail next to Unity Park, marked a decade in business with the grand opening of the development’s Phase II. The new 30,000+ square-feet space features a diverse array of locally owned eateries.
Phase II tenants include LaRue Fine Chocolates – recently named the #1 chocolate shop in the country by USA Today – as well as MooHogz BBQ, Indago Kitchen and Kuka Juice. The expansion also includes office space and the recently announced Evolve wellness studio and spa.
Founders Rion Smith, Drew Parker and Ray Foral said the Commons is positioned for many years of success.
“We set out to create a place where we could come with our families and friends and hang out,” said Parker. “We went into it kind of backwards, to say, ‘let's create a gathering spot and let's go and pick our favorite restaurants, hangout spots and bring them to the Commons.’”
It’s been a long road since the three friends, who met after years of running and training together, first discussed turning a row of dilapidated warehouses on Welborn Street into a food hall, something that at the time wasn’t as commonplace as it is today.
The idea didn’t immediately catch on. “The reaction was, ‘Are you crazy? What are you thinking?’” Parker said.
Even Smith, whom Parker introduced to the buildings on a snowy day in February 2015, had his doubts at first.
“I laughed at him,” Smith admits, recalling that first trip to what is now The Commons.
“The concrete slab sloped almost above the roof; leaks everywhere,” Foral added. “But you could just look at the ceiling and see all the I-beams and our pine ceiling and knew that it had just really cool character.”
Renovations began, and soon the three friends’ offices were all there. However, there wasn’t much else. The development of Unity Park was years away, and the campus was rather desolate.
“In the early days, when we finished the first building, there were nights when I would leave the office and be literally the only one in the 60 acres,” Parker said.
That slowly changed as the friends began recruiting their favorite eateries to the new development. There wasn’t a grand plan, Smith admits. It was just a matter of looking at the local places they liked and approaching them.
“Selfishly, I wanted a great cup of coffee in the morning. I wanted a great place for lunch without having to leave campus, and then I wanted a cold beer at night,” Smith said. “It turns out that other people also like those things.”
The Commons successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the city of Greenville approached them about purchasing two more buildings on site and developing Phase II. By that time, construction of Unity Park was already underway, and momentum was clearly on the side of the project.
In 2024, the group formed a partnership with Ashton Realty Investment Company in Charlotte to manage The Commons. The group now oversees property management, leasing and events.
They see a bright future for The Commons, thanks to continued growth of the surrounding area.
“I just hope that The Commons continues to just provide kind of a comfortable gathering place for the city and hope that Unity Park continues to grow,” said Barnes Connell, managing director of Ashton. “The Honor Tower, Mayberry Park down the road, and Unity Park continues to thrive and grow. The Commons just complements that and gives people a chance to come together and make connections.”
For Parker, Smith and Foral, The Commons represents more than just a successful business venture. It serves as a testament to what can happen when three friends have a vision and stick to it. “Do what you say you're going to do, show up and keep your convictions, welcome other people from the community into the story,” Smith said. “There's some amazing things that can be accomplished.”
Originally published by the Greenville Economic Development Corporation, this article offers an insightful look at the region’s economic growth, quality of life factors, and appeal to global businesses.
