Mortgage Broker in Greer, SC

If you’ve never hunted for the Toads on Trade in Greer, SC, add it to your list of things to do. Inspired by Greenville’s Mice on Main, the downtown Greer scavenger hunt features 16 tiny toad statues tucked away on historic buildings. And if you’ve never ventured to find all 16 toads? We’ve got everything you need to know (including a short history lesson) before you go toad hunting.

For more fun, check out The Kidding Around Ultimate Visitors and Locals Guide to Greer, SC.

What are the Toads on Trade in Greer?

Ever been walking around downtown Greer and noticed a tiny green frog statue hanging out on the side of a building? Then you’ve likely seen one of the 16 Toads on Trade.

In 2009, Jason Clark, owner of the former downtown restaurant The Strip Club 104, brought the Toads on Trade scavenger hunt to Trade Street. The original search included 10 toads based on a leggy-fella named Tater.

When the city revitalized Trade Street, the beloved toads disappeared. But one young lady, Kelsi Kennemore, decided to bring them back bigger and better than before.

At only 10 years old, she researched the history of downtown Greer with the help of the Greer Tidbits (Jonathan Lovegrove and his family) and The Greer Heritage Museum. She then used all the info to create new hints for the new Toad locations.

And today? There are 16 toads to be found on and near Trade Street.

Toads on Trade Clues and Starting the Hunt

Before you head out for a Toad scavenger hunt, be sure to grab a list of the Toads on Trade clues.

The Toads on Trade hints tell you where to start your hunt. As you wander down Trade Street, be sure to look high and low. Some are easy to find and others are a bit more difficult.

Tater Toad and his wife returned for more fun. But the sweetest of the bunch is Tallulah Toad, and finding her will earn you a delicious reward. The rest of the hints to locate Toads can be found online.

Tips for Toads on Trade

If you are planning on going on the toad hunt in Greer, my biggest advice would be to print your scavenger hunt clues.

If you get stuck, you can even find a list of Toad locations. The list includes what historical relevance the clue mentioned. So even if you have to cheat a little, there’s still a lot to gain in a look back at the growth of downtown Greer. See how many you can do without peaking, though. The Toads (off of) Trade might be a bit trickier.

Along with the scavenger hunt, you’ll get a mini-history lesson about the former occupants of the historic buildings that line the streets of downtown Greer.

You may spot a toad long before your kids do. Feel free to gamify your hunt even more and play “hot or cold” with them, telling them when they’re getting “warmer” (closer) to the toad.

Bring a camera or have your phone ready to take pictures of your children with the toads they find! You can turn the photos into a little journal or diary of your adventures later.

Be sure to wear comfortable shoes since you’ll be walking!

Following The Toads on Social Media

GREER, S.C. —

When the South Carolina Ports Authority expansion project in Greer is finished, tens of thousands of containers will move through the port, adding more revenue and jobs to the Upstate.

The facility, located near Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport, moves cargo via rail to the ports in Charleston, where they are shipped out of state.

“We can regularly send between 10,000 and 15,000 feet of rail car back and forth to Charleston," said the Director of Inland Ports, Michael Hoffman. "That’s anywhere from 300 to 350 containers each day.”

Clouds of dust swirled in the wind as construction continued on the expansion on Monday. The five-year, $50 million expansion looks to more than double its capacity.

Officials said the port helps contribute to an $87 billion annual statewide impact. Around 60 workers keep the port running. It was built 10 years ago to help serve BMW's plant in Spartanburg County.

“The port, in general, is involved in one out of every nine jobs in the state," Hoffman said. "In the Upstate, that number is probably even higher.”

In August, the port broke its own record when it moved 17,000 containers in a single month. Officials said that figure will likely continue to go up.

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Spartanburg County Councilor David Britt said the port has been a driving factor in the Upstate’s growth.

“It’s all about jobs, and what jobs do. It gives us hope and opportunity for our residents," Britt said. "That’s the bottom line.”

The latest upgrades will bring more container storage and additional rails to the port. However, Hoffman said the project will leave the port with no more land to grow.

“That will use every square inch that we have, and we may have to look at another facility somewhere here in the Upstate in the next few years if we continue to grow," he said.

Britt said he would be open to finding them the land they need.

“Much like any other major company that impacts the lives of our residents, if they need more land, we will find more land," he said.

As voters head to the polls Nov. 7, Greer City Council incumbents Mayor Rick Danner, Jay Arrowood (District 1) and Wryley Bettis (District 5) are running unopposed, while Mark Hopper (District 3) faces opposition.

Mayor

Incumbent: Rick Danner

Position: Retired from the banking industry and works part time for Century 3 construction and engineering

Years as mayor: 23

What do you plan to work on in your next term? Managing growth has to be near the top of the list. Greer is blessed to be in the heart of the growing Upstate. It is incumbent on our council and staff to manage growth intentionally and smartly. We must also be diligent about maintaining our quality of life as we grow. Growth requires that services, programming, public safety, recreation and other city services keep pace. We also need to be vigilant about serving all of our citizens with respect as we grow our community.

District 1

Incumbent: Jay Arrowood

Position: Owner of ALA Construction and owner and operator of Arrowood Farms in Westminster

Years on city council: 18

What do you plan to work on in your next term? Since 2004, the biggest issue has always been growth and managing growth. Our city will continue to experience growth for at least the next decade and most likely beyond. Any growth we experience must help improve the quality of life for all our citizens. We must do our best with our planning to ensure we attract businesses from different industries, so our economy is diversified. With all the growth that has taken place and will continue, we must never forget where we came from and who we are. I will lead the effort to help maintain our identity that shows the world we are Greer.

District 3

Incumbent: Mark Hopper

Position: Owns Abbott’s Frozen Custard in downtown Greer and Hopper Financial

Years on city council: 4

What do you plan to work on if reelected? My next term will focus on helping manage and shape growth in a way that protects our current residents and ensures a high quality of life for all of our residents in the future. I will emphasize maintaining and improving infrastructure, upgrading parks/recreation/green space facilities and programming, and making sure our public safety services keep pace and remain strong in our community.

District 5

Incumbent: Wryley Bettis

Position: Licensed real estate agent

Years on city council: 13

What do you plan to work on in your next term? I believe Greer is obligated to set a fiscally responsible example for other local governmental entities that have shown an inability to restrain themselves from confiscating more money from the public. I believe that if the growth and resulting taxation in our city, the two counties in which Greer lies and the accompanying educational bodies does not pay for day-to-day infrastructure, basic personnel costs and constitutionally required services, something is being mismanaged, poorly overseen and possibly abused. The obvious problem everywhere is traffic and parking. The city has a plan for both with which I do not necessarily agree in total, but it has elements which may improve the congestion. I have spoken directly with SCDOT Director Christy Hall about paving and future plans, but her level of concern does not match mine. In light of this, it may be necessary to have a moratorium on further large-scale residential developments in some areas of the city.

Commissioner of Public Works Perry J. Williams is running unopposed for another term. Challenger Billy Vaughn (District 3) did not respond in time for publication.

GREER, S.C. —

The city of Greer is addressing the potential sale of Victor Gym and Park.

City council gave initial approval this week to sell the city-owned property to Meridian Property Purchaser.

The proposal still faces another vote by council before the deal can be finalized.

“The main reason for considering a sale of this property is to accommodate the demand for our recreational services. The growth Greer has experienced in recent years has outgrown the Victor Facilities,” City Administrator Andrew Merriman said. “The City is exploring options to create a new, multi-use sports and event facility to accommodate those needs. We are committed to doing our due diligence in finding a purchaser who will deliver a project that will provide the right mix of residential and commercial uses to support the vitality of our growing city.”

Here are the answers to some questions that are posted on the city's website:

Why is the City selling the property?

Continued programming on this site is unsustainable. As a result of our growth and the demand for recreational services, our ability to serve those needs are limited given the size of the facilities at Victor Park. We have outgrown the space and need to expand to meet the recreational needs of our growing community.

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With recent improvements to Greer Station through the CenterG project, making the property available for a residential or mixed-use project would continue the renovation and improvement of the central business district and expand the pedestrian-friendly nature of Greer Station. Also, part of the City’s Smart Growth strategy is to increase density in the central business district, which this would help accomplish.

Why not simply rebuild on the site?

Rebuilding on the site to accommodate our current and future needs would still require the removal of the ballfield and basketball courts to accommodate for the required parking.

How will the proceeds of the sale be used?

Income from the sale of the property will fund infrastructure, be that in the form of utilities, pedestrian safety or capital facilities.

Where will softball/baseball games be played?

The City’s Recreation facilities, which currently include Country Club Road Park and Century Park for baseball and softball, as well as the Suber Road Complex, will be complemented by renovations at H.R. Turner Park that include a new ballfield and expanded amenities for both players and spectators. Turner Park is located on Virginia Ave., 1.4 miles from Victor Gym.

How will gym facilities be replaced short and long term?

The City has maxed out the capacity of the current space at Victor Gym. Planning for a new sports and events center will allow the City to create a multi-use facility to meet the needs of current and future recreation and athletic programming.

The City of Greer intentionally negotiated a due diligence period for this project of [300] days in an attempt to create a smooth transition from the current facility to new, more modern facilities capable of handling the City’s growing needs. The goal is that there will be no interruption of services for those who take full advantage of the City of Greer’s recreation amenities.

What will happen to the Creative Advancement program and summer camp?

Should timing make it necessary, alternative space will be made available to accommodate these valuable programs in the short term with the expectation of locating both in a new permanent setting in the future.

What about the outdoor basketball court and playground?

The City is working on options to relocate the outdoor courts to a convenient location in the Victor Community. Basketball courts for public use are currently available at Greentown Park, B.P. Edwards Park and Wards Creek Park. Those facilities, in addition to Victor Heights Park, Greer City Park and the Center for the Arts Park all offer quality play structures for young people.

What project is anticipated for that location?

The highest and best use of this property is for mixed use, residential, or commercial. Through the use of a development agreement, the City will be able to determine whether a prospective project meets the desired current and future use for the property.

While the City of Greer is taking steps to enter into an agreement to ultimately redevelop this property, until all due diligence is completed by the prospective purchaser, the City of Greer cannot be certain that this redevelopment will occur. Regardless of the outcome of this opportunity, the City of Greer remains committed to its plans to modernize and grow its recreational footprint to meet the needs of a growing City.

Is sufficient infrastructure in place to support a residential or mixed-use project?

Greer CPW has invested heavily in improving downtown infrastructure over the past decade. The property’s access to Highway 101 provides ideal ingress/egress. The townhomes constructed on Park Ave. have been a welcome addition while having little impact to traffic and utilities in the area.

As with any development in Greer, a Traffic Impact Analysis (TIA) and environmental research will be conducted prior to any construction on the site. A TIA will identify peak use time and outline necessary road improvements to mitigate a projects impact.

Less than six months after opening their second Sofrito Restaurant, owners Hector and Ana Batista are already in the process of opening not one, but two, new concepts.

One of those, the Food Truck Village, is slated to open at 101 Pennsylvania Ave. on the outskirts of downtown Greer this summer. The other, Sofrito Rotisserie, is set to open at the Publix shopping center in Taylors this winter.

The growth comes as the Batistas are finally putting in motion plans they’ve had in the works for some time and another plan that was born from observing the market and adapting.

“I don’t consider it work, because I enjoy it so much, and the fact we can contribute to providing, help the economy and provide work and help grow the individuals around us,” said Hector Batista, in between stops at the food truck village and Sofrito Downtown. “It’s rewarding.”

The Upstate’s first food truck park

Initially, the Batistas saw potential for creating a food truck park in Greenville.

They were eyeing a property at the corner of Mauldin Road and Pleasantburg Drive, but the partnership in the space never quite materialized and so the Batistas were searching anew.

They figured they’d find a place in Greenville, but when they saw the space that housed Rosie’s Hot Dogs in Greer for 30 years, they knew they’d found a home for the concept.

That concept includes a mix of food trucks and a permanent counter-service restaurant.

The former hot dog space is on track to be converted into a small café that will serve items such as paninis, flatbreads and hot dogs. It will also serve as a bar selling drinks including beer and wine.

Plans call for transforming the outside space into an oasis of sorts, with covered outdoor seating, a deck and hanging lights. The goal is to have about five food trucks present at all times, with the trucks rotating on a weekly basis.

Trucks will pay a small fee that will go toward covering the cost of utilities and upkeep, Batista said.

Among the trucks will always be the Batistas’ Cuban coffee and dessert truck, which will serve Cuban coffee and warm desserts like bread pudding and sweet empanadas, as well as ice cream.

Once open, Batista hopes to feature live music on Fridays and Saturdays and a happy hour with discounted beverages and bites.

Ordering for food trucks will be done via QR code, but guests will be able to order beverages and other food at the counter inside.

“I hope it becomes a place where people know they can have great food and a family community atmosphere,” Batista said. “But I want it to be a community where the community is supporting small local entrepreneurs.”

Sofrito Rotisserie

The idea for a casual-quick-service hybrid concept has been cooking for over a year.

Initially, the Batistas thought about bringing the concept to the West End space, but the restaurant footprint in that location was much larger, so it made more sense to bring their full-service Softiro Latin Restaurant & Bar concept there instead.

The idea has grown out of innovation and necessity. With continued challenges in staffing restaurants, Sofrito Rotisserie allows for great food and efficient service without having to rely too heavily on lots of staff, Batista said.

The 1,500-square-foot space in Taylors will be a hybrid quick-service and sit-down spot. Guests will be able to order at a counter and will be given a pager that, once they are seated at a table, will alert the kitchen of their order and place in the dining room.

Servers will then bring food to tables.

The focus is high-quality and fast.

The food will center on the traditional Latin American sauce called “wasakaka.” The garlic-citrus herb sauce is often paired with chicken.