Why We Launched Restaurants in Greenville

Table 301

In 1997, Greenville, SC, was poised for a revitalization, making it ideal for Carl Sobocinski, founder and president of Table 301 Restaurant Group, to launch his first restaurant, Soby’s New South Cuisine. 

Today, there are seven restaurants in the company’s portfolio – and Sobocinski’s restaurant group has helped five longtime employees launch restaurants of their own, bypassing many of the barriers to restaurant ownership. 

One of them is Papi’s Tacos, owned by former staffers Jorge Barrales and his son, Jorge Barrales Jr.

Ahead, Jorge Barrales Jr. and Sobocinski detail what it’s like to open restaurants in Greenville and why it’s the ideal environment for entrepreneurs.

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How did Papi’s Tacos get started?
Barrales Jr.: My dad was on staff when Carl opened Soby’s in 1997 and worked for Table 301 Restaurant Group for more than 20 years. When I was old enough, I started working for Carl, too.

My dad has always been passionate about working in the kitchen, and I fell in love with the food and beverage industry, too. In 2013, -one of Carl’s concepts closed, but he still had a lease on the building. Carl asked my dad if he had ever thought of opening his own restaurant and gave us the opportunity to open a taqueria without having to buy the restaurant outright. 

Until 2019, Papi’s was under the Table 301 umbrella until we bought them out. We opened our second location nearby in 2023.

What are some of the organizations that you are a part of that have been helpful in opening and running your business?
Barrales Jr.: We have found that being members of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and the Hispanic Alliance – both here in Greenville – have helped a lot. They have been great resources.

Would you recommend Greenville to other people thinking about opening a business, and what advice would you give them?
Barrales Jr.: Greenville is growing rapidly. People and companies are moving here from all over the nation, and the city has an ambitious plan for the next 40 years. I would encourage entrepreneurs because there are great opportunities here. 

The people in Greenville are very welcoming. There’s a camaraderie even if you’re not in the same business. People in Greenville just have a very welcoming mentality where they want you to be a part of the community and be involved in the community.

How did Table 301 Restaurant Group get started, and why did you choose Greenville to start your business?
Sobocinski: About 30 years ago, I was fresh out of college and wanted to get into the restaurant business and launch something on my own. Cities like Atlanta or Charlotte were definite possibilities, but I felt like Greenville was on the verge of exploding and had opportunity.

I didn’t want to go to a larger city and just survive, and I thought that I could have a much greater impact and a chance to help a community grow. My thought process was that the city was in the early stages of being revitalized and the wheels were turning on some bigger economic developments. 

Did you use any local resources when you got started? 
Sobocinski: When I opened my first restaurant, I didn’t know a lot and was eager to get involved in the community. The chamber of commerce was one of the first organizations I joined, and it provided a tremendous amount of resources. Our Small Business Development Center was another great resource. Greenville had a convention and visitors bureau, and I joined a committee there. 

How has your restaurant group grown and changed over the years? 
Sobocinski: On average, we’ve opened a new restaurant every two years. We’ve had some stumbling blocks and challenging times, but we’ve grown from one restaurant to currently operating seven, but we’ve also sold five of our previous businesses to folks like Papi’s Tacos. 

In 2019, we decided to start paying it forward. Papi’s was the first one, and over the past five years, we’ve sold several restaurants to a chef or general manager, which is one of the greatest feelings of satisfaction. We’re providing them with an opportunity to get their business started and own something established that they’ve already been a part of and put blood sweat and tears into. It’s a great plan and program for a longer-term exit strategy.