A landmark building in the heart of Downtown Spartanburg’s Grain District has been revitalized into the home of a revolutionary independent bookstore, a coffeehouse, and a sweets bakery. In a $250,000 renovation, the ground floor of the 82-year-old Masonic Temple has become a magnet for tourists, downtown residents, hipsters, and book-lovers.The Hub City Bookshop, which opened in July, carries new and used books of all kinds, including bestsellers, children’s titles and regional favorites. From its windows you look out on historic Morgan Square, the city clock tower, and the statue of the victorious Revolutionary War General Daniel Morgan.
The 2,000-square-foot store is an outreach program of the 15-year-old Hub City Writers Project, an award-winning non-profit organization. With each book purchased in the store, customers nourish new writers and help launch authors into the literary world. That’s because all proceeds from the sale of books fund creative writing education and independent book publishing in Spartanburg. To learn more about this unique organization visit www.hubcity.org.
In August, Spartanburg’s hometown coffee roaster, Little River Roasting Co., will open The Coffee Bar in the adjacent space, along with Cakehead Bakery, run by Liz Blanchard of Hampton Heights.
The site has a long, storied past. Shortly after the courthouse village of Spartanburg was established in the early 1800s, early merchant Jesse Cleveland had his horse stables on this site. In 1880 it became the center of Spartanburg’s cultural and political life when the Opera House opened, housing Spartanburg's first public auditorium, the post office, and the first city offices.
Be sure to stop in and grab a good book, a cup of coffee and a sweet treat while you are in Spartanburg!
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