When you walk into the soon-to-open Third Place Coffee House from any entrance, you’re immediately greeted by bright walls adorned by artwork and antique plates.
The coffee shop opens June 7 in a former home at 1711 Old Spartanburg Road. The property was also an art school, Creating Artists for Tomorrow.
“I really wanted this place to still feel like a house,” said owner Céline Griffin. “Like, what are pieces that I can put in here that you would find in your grandma’s house?” noting a baby grand piano near the street-facing entrance. The idea of opening Third Place first came to Griffin while she was a barista at Village Grind and a student at Clemson University. Being an entrepreneur has long since been encouraged in her family with her father leading the charge.
“Ever since I was little, he was just so encouraging,” she recalled. After college, she got a job at the Michelin Innovation Lab. Her position involved seeking out new businesses and testing desirability.
She saw her idea for a coffee shop as viable.
A homey coffee house
Céline and her husband, Trey, initially heard the old house was available May 2024. They began to pursue purchasing the house shortly after but were under contingency on its rezoning approval, which was approved July 2024. They closed on the space in October 2024.
The house was built in 1930 and was home to the art school for 25 years until it closed 2022.
Céline grew up right around the corner so the property had been on her radar for a while. In fact, her sister took art lessons there. When it came time for Celine to open her own business, she thought of the community she grew up in.
“Of course, we hope to be […] a coffee shop for everyone and for Greenville,” she said. “But my heart is with these people in the surrounding community that is just within walking distance.” The intent wasn’t just hometown pride, it was addressing a gap she saw for suburban specialty coffee.
The shop is located in Greer, just off Hudson Road, where a new Starbucks may be commonplace, but not a family-owned shop serving organic Methodical Coffee or milk from Nance Farms Creamery. And that’s exactly what Third Place will provide.
Third Place will be open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
