FlopShotter

And now a third Mexican (or Tex-Mex) restaurant within a stone's throw of each other. https://www.goupstate.com/news/20200204/bronco-mexican-restaurant-expanding-to-downtown-spartanburg

Hate to see it go, but Cakehead Bakeshop is closing at the end of the month: https://www.goupstate.com/news/20190812/cakehead-bakeshop-closing-at-end-of-month

I graduated from an all-male college in the early 90's. I went there not because of its single-gender status (it had been that way since its founding in the late 1800s), but because it was one of the top-rated schools in its specialty (it is an engineering and science school - think Institute of Technology). During my senior year, the board of trustees set forth a bold plan to elevate the status of the school from a regionally-known and respected institution to one with a more national reach, albeit while still keeping it relatively small (it has grown from 1700 undergrads to around 2200 today but will likely not grow any more by plan). One of the primary factors in this plan was to move to coed - one which was voted on by both current students and alumni, and wholeheartedly endorsed by both groups. Now, it is still about 3:1 male:female, but the decision was far and away the correct one and a significant factor in elevating the status of the school as desired. I am not saying that this is what Converse needs to do to improve the overall experience or viability of the school - their aims are certainly different than my alma mater's were at the time. However, from my experience, it was absolutely the correct decision to move to coed.

MPS already has a Greenville office.

A bit of a beer snob here - I visited Holliday on Saturday and tried 5 of their offerings. I felt three were really solid brews, and the other two drinkable but unremarkable. The space is cool, and as stated, the photography on the walls was excellent!

And here's the article detailing the proposed judicial center. Personally, I like the federal-style building. https://www.goupstate.com/news/20181218/new-judicial-center-drawing-unveiled

This seems like a big deal locally - I know my better half will (finally) become part of the SHRS from MB. https://www.goupstate.com/news/20181011/spartanburg-regional-to-acquire-mary-black-health-system

Todd may have had a fighting chance in the election if he didn't come off as arrogant and elitist. That, and the 11th-hour mailer that questioned Junie's fitness for office because of his age didn't help matters, whether or not Todd's campaign had anything to do with that mailer - I was on the fence and that one mailer moved my vote into Junie's column. Just my $0.02, I think Todd would have done a fine job, but perception didn't help him when compared with Junie's reputation as a man of the people at the level of the man on the street.

As somebody who travels the stretch between Spartanburg and Blacksburg almost every day, this is a nightmare. They could not have done a worse job of lane-shifting if they tried. Good thing I know most of the alternative routes to where I need to go - this project, while wayyyy overdue, is a disaster.

I don't mind Starbucks, but I very much prefer The Coffee Bar. What other reason for locating literally a block away than to try to take over the downtown market?

And another downtown food option opens... http://www.goupstate.com/article/20160804/ARTICLES/160809862/0/FRONTPAGE

Just saw this...always meant to visit, but never did. Guess I wasn't the only one... http://www.goupstate.com/article/20150912/ARTICLES/150919920/1180?Title=Refuel-Wine-Bar-Bistro-shuts-its-doors

Does anybody know the status of getting Monsoon back in business? We ate there every Friday night, and I'm missing it after Jazz on the Square. Haven't heard anything about repairs and/or reopening.

By all appearances, it was open for business this past weekend and last night when I was downtown. Can't wait to try it...haven't heard any reviews yet...

Broadway Bagels is not closing, just changed ownership, effective today. Terry's has closed, and they say they are not moving downtown, contrary to the rumors on here. The Marble Slab on the east side has been closed for quite some time, and is not the one reopening (the west side one is reopening). I certainly hope Gerhard's doesn't move downtown - no need - they do a great business where they are, and they have a fantastic setup which would be hard to duplicate in another building. Broadway Bagels and Bangkok Cafe as well. Just need to fill in a couple of the slots to make it thrive. I'd like to see the movie theater either become an art movie house with a wine bar (kind of like what you can do at the Tryon Theatre), or just be redeveloped. The old Teeter building needs to come down, also.