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Speaking of the future of our city...

One Saturday, a friend and I were on a bike ride and stopped at the Swamp Rabbit Cafe to grab a bite to eat. Like most weekend mornings, the outdoor space was packed so we asked a couple if we could share their picnic table. We introduced ourselves and started a conversation that ended with us finding out about a development that will totally change the West End (in the best way).

Gather GVL is a community food and beverage collective (think: modern food hall but al fresco) that houses local restaurants, breweries + bakeries in small structures and retired shipping containers. It will have a stage + rooftop venue for local talent to perform, plenty of seating, and a big lawn area for kids to run around.

Gather GVL, located at the West End on Augusta St

📍Located diagonally across the street from Smiley’s Acoustic Cafe, near Fluor Field.

The space is, in their words, “pet-friendly, kid-friendly, environmentally-friendly, heck, just friendly.” Sounds like our kinda spot.

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We love watching our city grow – there are so many new places to meet, interact, and play.

Here are three we heard about over the weekend.

1️⃣ A new playground was recently completed at the West Greenville Community Center.

According to Amy Ryberg Doyle, Councilmember, Greenville, SC’s Facebook post about the new playground, eleven new playgrounds are expected to be installed over the next few months at these parks: Gower, Holmes, Juanita Butler, McCoy Bacon, Newtown, Pinckney Fludd, Railroad Mini, Rockwood, Skyland and University Park.

2️⃣ Southern Om is expecting to open a new location at 1116 South Main St in the West End by late fall.

@southernomhotyoga

3️⃣ Organic Cat Cafe plans to open soon at 123 College St downtown (by Buncombe Street United Methodist Church). They will serve coffee, hot tea and other non-alcoholic drinks as well as vegetarian + vegan snacks in eco-friendly packages.

🐈 DYK – Cats are known to help relieve stress and improve social, emotional, or cognitive functions. All 23 of the Organic Cat Cafe’s resident cats were rescued.

@organic_cat_cafe