Criminal Defense Attorney inSimpsonville, SC

SIMPSONVILLE — Even in 2018, when Phil Watts and Victor Juarez were contemplating their first joint restaurant concept, they knew there would be more than one restaurant and they knew there would be more than one concept.

Now, the partners behind Tacos & Bla Bla Bla are opening Nixtamal Mexican Kitchen. While the former concept is centered on quick service Mexican food, the latter is more about experience and taking time to soak in every aspect of the dining experience.

Nixtamal, located at 679 Fairview Rd. in Simpsonville, will serve fresh, Mexican-inspired food with a decidedly future-thinking twist.

“So we’re going for an authentic Mexican cuisine with a fresh modern vibe,” Watts said.

Nixtamal is a reference to the traditional way to prepare corn for processing.

The food is rooted in the flavors and spices and techniques Juarez learned from his grandmother in Guadalajara, but the presentation is over the top, Watts said. Case in point — table side guacamole designed to serve up to 8 people. Diners will be able to up the ante of the starter by adding things like pork belly, dried peppers and feta cheese.

Nixtamal will also feature a seafood tower that comes not just with head on shrimp and oysters, but with ribeye and chorizo sausage in the mix. The cocktails will follow a similar style, with the focus being on flavor, but also wow factor. Expect large displays of whole fruit slices and decadent garnishes.

“A lot of our menu items are what we’d call showstoppers — over the top, embellished kind of food,” Watts said. “Pick up your phone, put it on TikTok kind of things.”

In some ways the concept for Nixtamal is a sign of the times. Those times require restaurants to up their game when it comes to social media, Watts said. Having worked on the business side of food as a rep with Sysco for 15 years, Watts can’t help but be a numbers and statistics guy. Those numbers show TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat are integral to business now.

TikTok in particular is getting a lot of attention for generation traction for a brand or business. The app now has more than 1 billion users each month, according to data released by the company in 2021.

“It’s critically important,” Watts said of social media’s influence on restaurant success today.

The theme will carry into the restaurant’s décor. Expect neon signs, vibey music and lighting that makes it easy to take pics with your phone.

“We’re trying to get ahead of that curve,” Watts said.

This is not Watts nor Juarez’s first foray into restaurants. Watts grew up in the business, the son of a restaurant owner in London, Ky. Juarez learned to love food through his grandmother’s recipes. Food was at the root of every family gathering, almost like part of the soul of his family.

Watts furthered his culinary training at Johnson and Wales, but never took it too far. He worked at a few restaurants in Charleston, including Bonefish Grill, in the early days of that restaurant, but instead joined Sysco. That job took Watts and his family — his wife and three young kids — to Greenville in 2017.

Juarez has worked in restaurants for decades. He has owned La Fogota since 2004. That’s how he met Watts. In time, the two got to know each other and they began to dream of opening a new restaurant together, uniting their business and culinary skills.

The result was Tacos & Bla Bla Bla, which opened its first location in Simpsonville in 2018. The fast-casual Mexican-inspired restaurant has grown thanks to a focus on freshness and fast service. Now, there are seven locations throughout the Upstate.

Nixtamal brings more of Juarez’s family recipes to the fore, including posole, chilaquiles, beans and of course the homemade tortillas. Plans call for opening at least two more Nixtamal Mexican Kitchen locations in the next two years. The first is slated to open in Greer later this year, Watts said.

The business partners have plans to launch other concepts. The first, which will center on Southern fare in a family-friendly environment, will open in Fountain Inn within the next year, Watts said.

“I think certain people like Victor and myself are born with a desire for hospitality,” Watts said of the shared passion for restaurants. “You just really enjoy seeing other people enjoy things you create. You’re just kind of born with that hospitality piece.”

Nixtamal Mexican Kitchen is slated to open the first week of May. For more follow Nixtamal Mexican Kitchen on social media.

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. —

WYFF News 4’s Team Hartstrong marked the last day of the Ride To End ALZ across South Carolina Sunday by surpassing its fundraising goal.

They left Orangeburg strong at 7 a.m. on Sunday.

Geoff Hart hit a pothole and blew out a tire about two hours into the ride - but that didn't slow them down.

The team powered through a heat index of 106 to make it over the Arthur Ravenel Bridge to Patriots Point just after 1 p.m.

Thanks to generous WYFF viewers, friends and family, Team HartStrong raised more than $8,000 this weekend alone to surpass their $44,000 goal - with more than $45,700.

There's still time to help the team reach new fundraising heights and support Geoff Hart as he fights Alzheimer's.

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Since the ride started Friday morning, Team HartStrong raised more than $7,000, shattering its goal of $44,000, thanks to WYFF News 4 viewers answering the call to give.

All the money raised will be used for research, care and support of the Alzheimer's Association.

Please consider helping the team reach new fundraising heights by donating to Team Hartstrong today by clicking here.

WYFF 4

Almost 500 cyclists began a grueling three days of pedaling Friday morning in the mid-summer heat across South Carolina, and it's all to put an end to Alzheimer's disease.

Former WYFF News 4 anchor Geoff Hart's Team HartStrong, sponsored by the station, which includes three current and one retired WYFF 4 employees, two of their spouses and four friends, embarked on the ride for the second year in a row.

In May of 2021, Hart announced he would not be returning to the anchor desk after being diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

Fueled by generous donors, WYFF 4's Team HartStrong set off on this year's ride, which is 255 miles, a few miles longer than last year because of detours.

With heat advisories up across the entire state, the ride tests the endurance of all who are taking part.

Check the weather forecast and expected high temperatures here.

Rest stops staffed by volunteers, including a team from WYFF 4, offer hydration and snacks every 10-to-15 miles along each day’s route.

Riders left Simpsonville Heritage Park Friday morning and finished the first day's 69 miles at Newberry College.

The second day of riding was more than 90 miles and ended in Orangeburg.

The final and longest day of the ride, Sunday, stretches more than 100 miles, ending across the Arthur Ravenel Bridge at Patriots Point in Charleston.

All the money raised goes to the Alzheimer's Association to be used in fighting the disease and raising awareness.

Last year, the Ride To End ALZ raised $814,000 among all the teams.

This year, the state organization’s donation goal was a daunting $1,000,000.

Participating cyclists and teams have raised more than $1,160,000 and counting.

If you would like to donate to the WYFF News 4 Team HartStrong, you can do so here.

Are you looking for a restaurant near Simpsonville, SC? Whether you are looking for a restaurant for a specific meal or occasion, this guide can help. We also broke down our list into sections of Simpsonville due to it’s size.

Spread across the lower half of Greenville County, getting from one end of Simpsonville, South Carolina to the other can be time-consuming if you’re not familiar! Locals know to ask for more details when someone says, “Meet me in Simpsonville” because that could mean several different sides of town. We’ve sorted out our restaurant list into sections of Simpsonville: Fairview Road, Five Forks, Downtown Simpsonville, and Fountain Inn.

Where In Simpsonville, South Carolina Are You Headed?

There are three major areas within Simpsonville:

Fountain Inn, SC: Not to be forgotten, but just outside of the Simpsonville border is Fountain Inn. This small town in Greenville county is just five and a half square miles and includes some of our favorite places to grab food.

Breakfast in Simpsonville

Big Apple Doughnut Cafe – Fairview RoadLearn more from Kidding Around – Big Apple Doughnut & Cafe Is A Doughnut Lovers Dream Come True.

Maple Street Biscuit Company – Five Forks Delicious biscuit sandwiches, fresh-squeezed orange juice, and more are on the menu for breakfast. Come hungry because the portions are enormous! Go early because they can get swamped on the weekends.

Lunch in Simpsonville

Uncle Bertos Burritos – Five Forks A delicious spot to grab some authentic Mexican Food!

Henry’s Smokehouse – Downtown Simpsonville Pull up a chair and enjoy some delicious BBQ!

Southern Catch – Fairview Road A no-frills southern-fried-seafood restaurant. It’s only open three days a week, so plan to have lunch at this off-the-beaten-path cafe. It’s past all of the commercial areas on Fairview road.

Dinner in Simpsonville

Shortfields – Downtown Simpsonville In business for over a decade, Shortfields serves everything from burgers and fries to grilled salmon. They also have a reasonably priced kid’s menu in addition to the extensive menu.

Golden Llama – Five Forks Healthy and delicious Peruvian cuisine is an exotic way to enjoy dinner without offending the pickiest eaters in your family. Golden llama’s menu includes grilled meat dishes, salads, and more.

Lin’s Asian Cafe – Five Forks The menu at Lin’s includes sushi, Chinese-American dishes, Thai cuisine, hibachi, and more! They also have several lunch specials that make them an excellent choice for that meal.

Romantic Restaurants in Simpsonville

Stella’s Southern Bistro – Fairview Road An area favorite, this southern bistro utilizes the local farmers to inspire the food on the menu.

Unterhausen – The Castle Cellar Pub – Downtown Simpsonville This hidden gem of Simpsonville is tucked away in the basement of a castle. OK, maybe not a castle, but pretending is fun, right? Once you enter, you’ll forget that you didn’t cross a moat to get in—the intimate size of Unterhausen. The German beer and the delicious Bavarian food will have you wondering how it took you so long to discover this place.

Places With Delicious Food In Fountain Inn

Bobby’s BBQ & Seasonings Learn more from Kidding Around – Bobby’s BBQ & Seasoning in Fountain Inn, SC Will Have You Begging For Seconds.

Gio’s BakeryLearn more from Kidding Around – Gio’s Pastry Shop: An Edible Trip To Italy Is Just Around The Corner in Fountain Inn, SC.

More spots to try out in Fountain Inn

Best For Young Kids

Warehouse at Vaughns – Downtown Simpsonville This food hall venue not only has a selection of different food vendors to order from (so everyone gets what they want), there is a large outdoor seating area with plenty of space for kids to run around. Bourbon Street Burgers | Tacos and Bla Bla Bla | Anchor Raw Bar | Southern Freight | Humble Pie Pizza Co | Pineapple Express | Crazy Cow Creamery | The Peanut Co.

Bova Pizza – Five Forks With a menu including brick oven pizzas, pasta dishes, and even chicken tenders, it’s the holy trinity of picky-eater options.

Ice Cream Station – Downtown Simpsonville This walk-up ice cream shop is suitable for kids (and kids at heart) of all ages! Plus, they have Dole-Whip, for you Disney World fans!

Best for Business

Exchange Coffee Co – Downtown Simpsonville Enjoy an early morning meeting with coffee or a meal of crepes at the Exchange Coffee Co.

Anita’s Mexican Restaurant – Downtown Simpsonville Anita’s Mexican restaurant makes for a great business lunch spot in the absence of papers spread around the table that could fall victim to stray salsa drips. They also cater to private functions if your business meeting includes a large group.

Budget Friendly

Smoqued BBQ – Downtown Simpsonville Ordering up a family platter is a money saver, plus Smoqued has a kids-eat-free night!

Coach House Family Restaurant – Fairview Road This Greek/Diner-style restaurant has an extensive menu with an all-day breakfast menu, burgers, gyros, salads, seafood, and more. You’ll be hard-pressed not to find something you’re craving on this menu, and it’s all reasonably priced.

Take Out

Mei Mei House – Fairview Road Chinese take-out is always a good idea! Mei Mei house has been in that location for over a decade, and locals love the food here!

An awesome arcade that has the best games from the 80s and 90s is located in Simpsonville, SC and we just had to try it out! Thanks to the Upstate Pinball and Arcade Museum for having us come by to do this review.

When I see an old-school Pac-Man machine, I immediately think of my mom and how much fun we used to have to play it (and constantly getting eaten by ghosts). Super Mario Brothers bring back memories I had of my friends and me playing it together in middle school. Yes, I’m dating myself but I don’t even care because there’s a place in Simpsonville where I can now go and play all these retro games and share my own great memories with my kids and make new ones as well.

About the Upstate Pinball and Arcade Museum

The Upstate Pinball and Arcade Museum, located at the Warehouse at Vaughn’s and near the Ice Cream Station, has more than 50 games for guests to play, including classics like pinball, Pac-Man, Paper Boy, tons of Nintendo video games, ice hockey foosball, and even Frogger.

This isn’t a regular museum; it’s a cool museum. It does have vintage games on display at the counter and you can read about the history of many of the games, but you can play nearly every game at the arcade. The place started because the owner, Mike, really loved pinball and had quite the collection. So, what do you do with a collection? Play with them, of course! Mike, being the cool guy he is, decided to share his passion and hence, opened the Upstate Pinball and Arcade Museum.

We found the place to be super clean and the games in great working order. I can’t wait to go back honestly.

Birthday Parties & Special Events

One of my first questions to Mike was if people could have birthday parties there and the answer was a resounding “yes!” When we posted to our Facebook page about the museum, a reader commented that she recently had a birthday party there for her son and it was awesome. I was actually thinking it could be really fun for an adult birthday party – think of all the great memories you could reminisce about!

The Upstate Pinball and Arcade Museum also hosts special events and corporate parties. So, if you want to do something nice for your employees, bring them here and let them challenge each other to play Super Mario Brothers 3 and make it through the castle without dying.

The cost for two hours of free play for up to 15 guests is $225 plus tax. Extra guests are $10 each and parties must be booked during non-operating hours. Tables and chairs can be set up per request.

Food is Right Next Door

The Upstate Pinball and Arcade Museum is located adjacent to the Warehouse at Vaughn’s, where there are multiple dining options and areas to eat both indoors and out. There’s also an ice cream place right next door to the arcade or you can walk across the street to the Ice Cream Station next to the train tracks.

If you want a fun date night with food and arcade entertainment, this is it. And the arcade is really for any age. I went with my two kids (ages 11 and 7) and their grandmother and all of us had a blast.

Play Time and Hours

No coins are needed at the Upstate Pinball and Arcade Museum! The cost for unlimited play is $10/person and that includes all day. So if you want to play for a bit, go have dinner next door and then come back, your admission includes all of that time.

Operating hours are Wednesday – Thursday from 4-9 pm, Friday 4-11 pm, and Saturday from Noon – 11 pm. They are closed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

Upstate Pinball and Arcade Museum109A West Trade Street, Simpsonville, SC 864.881.1876

Community Hub LLC, a real estate and development group based in Greenville, announced Aug. 1 it purchased Danny Smith’s Fillin & Fixin service station in downtown Simpsonville for an undisclosed sum.

The development group plans to transform the property at 136 S. Main St. to a community gathering space that will feature a stage for live performances as well as a variety of food, beverage and entertainment options.

“The commitment to revitalization initiatives and continued focus on economic growth in Simpsonville is quite impressive. We have been watching the city’s growth over the years and have unwavering confidence in the diligent work put forth by the city and its leadership,” Community Hub LLC Principal David Berger said. “We are excited to play a part in the flourishing journey and cultivate a true local community gathering destination that will be sustainable for decades to come.”

Danny Smith’s Fillin & Fixin closed in November 2022 after its owners retired. The service station provided auto repair services for 27 years.

Construction on the unnamed community gathering space is expected to start in spring 2024.

South Carolina Research Authority, a public, nonprofit corporation that works to fuel the state’s innovation economy, announced Aug. 1 it awarded a $50,000 grant to Real Motors Inc. of Greenville.

Real Motors Inc. is working to develop an affordable, light-duty, electric motorcycle.

SCRA also awarded a $25,000 academic startup grant to Apex Orthopaedic Technologies LLC of North Charleston.

In addition to awarding $175,000 in grants, SCRA welcomed DRAHOLA Technologies Inc. of Rock Hill, Heirloom Cloud Corporation of Mount Pleasant, Lynk-ed Corporation of Columbia and Rapid Title Corporation of Goose Creek.

As SCRA member companies, NeuroHope Therapeutics, Ortho-Dx and Skilldora will receive:

For more information, visit scra.org.