There are few ways to improve a float down the Saluda River on a breezy summer day – except, maybe, grabbing a burger and a cocktail afterward.
Butler Tavern opened along the river July 26. The space was home to the former 13 Stripes River Lodge, which closed four months prior on March 24.
The restaurant space has transformed under Michael and Heidi Butler, now boasting a river lodge interior full of cozy vintage accents, natural wood and cool shades. Michael is a chef and focuses on the back of the house duties, while Heidi manages front of the house matters and interior design.
The couple have split the last few decades between Greenville and the Tampa Bay area in Florida. The two met working at a country club in Aiken. Shortly after they married, they were sent to Tampa and later relocated to Greenville. Michael worked at The Commerce Club while Heidi first worked at Pebble Creek Country Club, then later, a downtown interior design studio, where she found her passion.
The couple raised a family in Greenville for 14 years before moving back to Florida, staying until their children graduated. They then decided to split their time and moved into restaurant ownership, signing a lease for their first restaurant, The Helm: Provisions & Coastal Fare, in 2021.
From Florida to South Carolina
The Helm is located in St. Petersburg and made the Tampa Bay Times’ best new restaurants list in 2022. Along with Butler Tavern, the couple has a “dream” portfolio.
“We call it ‘one at the beach’ and ‘one at the river,'” Heidi said.
Heidi calls Butler a “Southern tavern,” paying homage to the Scots-Irish people that once settled in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Its cuisine reflects that identity but to call it “tavern food” doesn’t do it justice. The scratch kitchen takes classics and reconfigures them – melding with Southern favorites and referencing its Floridian sister restaurant.
Photo provided by Butler Tavern.
The Butlers first gained a presence along the Saluda River in May, taking roughly two and a half months to reopen the structure and their concept. The patio has added an outdoor kitchen and been extended roughly 400 square feet, built in collaboration with GVL Renovations.
In the past, the space has had some difficulty attracting clientele when the river is no longer optimal for floating. The husband-and-wife duo don’t see seasonality as an issue. They plan to host events and maybe even weddings, prioritizing hospitality.
“It’s the same in Florida too. You have tourist season or whatever, but that’s not who we want to cater to,” Heidi said. “We want to cater to locals and people who want to come here all the time and become part of our little family. We love that.”
Butler Tavern is located at 1307 Old Easley Highway. It is open Thursday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for brunch.
