Rock Hill, SC Getaway - The Mercantile: Cafe, DIY, Shop

Rock Hill, SC might just be the next destination for a small group of us that go on three to four day getaways to not-too-far-away places. We go for food, drink, entertainment, and sightseeing and Rock Hill hits all that. It’s about 2 1/2 hours from Hendersonville, just south of Charlotte, NC.

I was invited to explore Rock Hill recently by Visit York County, SC. Molly Fowler, aka The Dining Diva, joined me. It was great comparing opinions with Molly, as she’s a talented Chef, gardener, world traveler, and not shy about sharing.

First stop on our “Crawl” was The Mercantile. It’s a General Store (“Modern General Store”) of sorts, but oh so much more! There’s A LOT going on in this 10k sq ft space that was previously home to a Coca-Cola factory. Warning – it’s very easy to go down the rabbit hole while exploring their website.

The Jackass Cafe – Cafe/Coffee Shop/Wine Bar
Multiple DIY Bars: Flowers, Soaps, Spices, “Trucker” Hats, Jewelry, and Candles
Murals by “world-renown Muralists”
Event Venue: Makers Markets are held in this 2nd floor space, or outside. The venue is also available to rent for your event.
The Rock Hill Community Fridge: a first in Rock Hill, created by and hosted at The Mercantile. “Free food for anyone who needs it. Powered by the community, for the community.”

Opened in 2018, The Mercantile is the oldest of businesses opened in the last few years during a renaissance of “new, small and locally owned” businesses within easy walking distance in Rock Hill’s charming downtown.

“City of Rock Hill leadership has done a great job on revitalization of the downtown. First, there were some opportunity zones and tax incentives in the past and now cater towards other areas surrounding downtown. Also, there has always been a lack of residents (people living downtown) which is slowly shifting. Two relatively new apartment complexes are in downtown…The Exchange and The Anderson which have added many young couples especially to the area. I’ll also add that the business owners are doing a really good job of working together to create a vibrant environment downtown. Definitely “a rising tide lifts all boats'” mentality.” – Andy Clinton, President/CEO Visit York County, SC

We had a great time exploring what felt like all ten thousand square feet! There’s so much going on here, it could easily become overwhelming if not for the thoughtful layout. Each area – merchandise, DIY bars, cafe, etc., is an independent vignette, separated from the others through thoughtful design.

Molly left with a package of Angel Hair Pasta to cook at home, and we both left with our Soap Bar creations.

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