Why Live in Greenville, SC? Ask These Residents
Greenville, SC, is a magical place, thanks in large part to the wonderful weather, terrific food, easily accessible outdoor recreation and other fantastic amenities that make for an ideal quality of life. But the real thing that makes Greenville so special can’t be found on a map or on a list of statistics. What makes Greenville unique is the people who choose to live, work and create here. Here’s a look at why these residents choose to live in Greenville.
The Family Man
Nathan Herber moved from New York City to Greenville with his wife, Monica, and their son, Caiden, in 2019. Caiden, who has cerebral palsy, had a lot of needs that were becoming increasingly difficult to navigate in a huge megalopolis, so the Herber family began searching for a new home, looking all over the map.
“We started looking down South, and we came across the Meyer Center and realized it would meet all of our son’s needs,” Herber says. “When we visited Greenville, we fell in love with it. The city is so vibrant for its size.”
It turned out moving to Greenville was absolutely the right move for Herber and his family. The Meyer Center for Special Children, a charter school, met Caiden’s medical and education needs all in one place. And after graduating from the Meyer Center, Caiden enrolled at Monarch Elementary, where he continues to receive all the attention and resources he needs.
“New York City has its own uniqueness, but in Greenville, I knew I could start a family here and establish roots with peace of mind,” Herber says. “It’s a little oasis here, for sure – the ease of access to services, affordability, the lively downtown. We love Greenville.”
The Business Owner
Jacqueline Oliver didn’t grow up in Greenville, but she decided to stay after going to college at Clemson University. In 2011, Oliver and her cofounder, Mary Walsh, decided to open Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery to make locally grown produce more accessible. Since then, the business has blossomed and become a true Greenville staple.
“The community support has been amazing,” Oliver says. “We couldn’t do it without our customers and our vendors and our staff. Greenville feels like the perfect mix of a small town where you run into people you know all the time, but it’s also big enough to support an independent store that keeps growing.”
Oliver also finds support from her “business friends,” as she calls them – other entrepreneurs who are always willing to offer time, advice or an extra pair of hands. Additionally, she interacts with over 80 different local restaurants that participate in Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery’s Food Hub program, which delivers food bought from local farmers each week. It’s often a very symbiotic relationship.
“We have some really cool partnerships. For example, several coffee shops will buy our pastries to serve, and we buy their coffee to sell in the store,” Oliver says. “It’s that feeling of small-town connectedness.”
The Artist
Sunny Mullarkey has been a Greenville resident for over 16 years, with no plans of moving anywhere else anytime soon.
“My husband is from here, and when we came to visit, I fell in love with Greenville,” Mullarkey says. “We decided to put down roots here because I loved the schools, the area and the arts. I knew I wanted to make art my career and that Greenville would offer so many opportunities for that.”
Those opportunities included working with the Metropolitan Arts Council, setting up a study in the arts district and showcasing her work at events like Artisphere and the Indie Craft Parade.
Mullarkey’s work is easily recognizable, thanks to her distinct, bold style, and she has become a household name around town. Her work, like her murals, can be seen on display at various establishments around town.
“It’s been amazing to grow as an artist and a person here, and I love how everyone is so supportive of each other,” Mullarkey says. “I also love how accessible nature is in Greenville – nature is a huge part of my inspiration and grounding in my art.”
Get to Know Greenville, SC
Want to learn more about living and working in Greenville, SC? Check out the latest edition of Livability Greenville: Live Here. Love Here. Career Here.