New Main Street Coffee Shop Draws Strong — and Mixed — Community Response
By: Tracy Sanders, Publisher
tracy@thewoodrufftimes.com
WOODRUFF, S.C. — Flying Fox Coffee is preparing to open a location at 132 S. Main St., adding another name to Woodruff’s rapidly growing coffee scene.
The locally focused coffee concept is expected to create a new gathering place in downtown Woodruff. An opening date, operating hours and menu have not yet been announced.
The lease transaction was represented by Brett Mitchell of Reedy River Retail at SVN Palmetto.
“We’re excited to see Flying Fox Coffee become part of the continued growth and revitalization of downtown Woodruff,” Mitchell said. “Main Street continues to attract new businesses and investment, and we’re thrilled to play a role in bringing another great concept to the community.”
The announcement comes as Woodruff prepares for several new coffee options. D’Cafe has announced plans for a downtown location, while a Dunkin’ is also in the works.
Starbucks is already operating on N. Main Street.
News of the expanding coffee scene generated a substantial response from Woodruff Times readers on Facebook.
By Wednesday, the post had received 148 reactions, 124 comments and 19 shares. The comments reflected both excitement about Flying Fox Coffee and broader questions about the types of businesses coming to Woodruff.
One reader described Flying Fox as “the best coffee in the Upstate,” while another encouraged residents to welcome and support new businesses.
Others questioned how many coffee shops the growing city can support. Several readers said they would also like to see additional restaurants, grocery options, urgent-care services and retail stores offering everyday necessities.
“How much coffee do we need?” one reader asked.
Another offered a lighter take on Woodruff’s expanding selection of coffee shops and pizzerias:
“Coffee and pizza for breakfast!”
The discussion illustrated the competing expectations that often accompany rapid growth. Some residents view each new business as another sign of investment and activity, while others want future development to include a wider variety of services.
Flying Fox Coffee will join a downtown district that has welcomed new businesses while continuing to work toward filling vacant storefronts and attracting additional investment.
Coffee shops can serve a broader role in a downtown area by providing places for meetings, remote work and informal gatherings in addition to serving drinks and food.
Supporters of the Flying Fox announcement said they were especially pleased to see a new business choosing a Main Street location.
Reedy River Retail, the firm involved in the lease, is a specialized retail team at SVN Palmetto. Its services include tenant and landlord representation, leasing, investment sales and development.
Additional information about Flying Fox Coffee’s opening date, menu and hours will be reported as it becomes available.
