Taylors Mill boasts an eclectic combination of artisan coffee roasters, quaint boutiques and hole-in-the-wall art studios scattered among docks and warehouses, and the old factory will soon be hosting the Made South Market, Taylors Farmers Market and the Southern Bleachery venue.
The Made South Market will be held at Taylors Mill May 27-28, featuring more than 100 makers, artisans, musicians, food trucks and demonstrators hailing from across the South. Made South owner and creator Christopher Thomas said that the company “celebrates creativity and the culture of the South.”
The first market, hosted last year, took place in Tennessee, but his search for a venue for this year led Thomas to discover Taylors. “We really fell in love with the group of people,” he said. “They have a crazy amount of passion for this building and this community.”
He emphasized the need for vision and support before bringing the Made South Market to Taylors Mill, and he found both.
“[The Mill] is an organic thing that’s growing and building, and the people have a really good vision,” Thomas said. “If we could use our event in some way to help build the story of these people who really want to build this place up, that would be so exciting.”
Some of the proceeds from the event will be returned to Taylors TownSquare, a nonprofit devoted to community development. The proceeds will help the organization continue its plans to revitalize the Taylors Mill.
Through the Made South subscription box service, which sends customers a curated box of Southern goods made by artisan vendors every quarter, Thomas has partnered with 30-40 independent small Southern businesses and makers, and almost all of them will be vendors at the market, in additional to many local businesses. Thomas hopes the event will help entrepreneurs and customers connect and build relationships.
The event offers vendors the opportunity to get exposure and sell their product, while also meeting and engaging with their customers.
“Our goal is to try to convince people that spending their dollars with local and regional businesses, even though they might pay a little bit more, they will have a higher-quality [product] and will connect with people and build a relationship with the people who make these things,” Thomas said.
Taylors Farmers’ Market coming
Also coming to Taylors Mill this spring is the Taylors Farmers Market, which will be held every Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. May 5 through Aug. 15. Greer State Bank will sponsor the market, which will offer authentic, quality local produce and goods. Vendors already on the books include Blaine Owens Photography, the Bossy Baker, Bully Bites, Farm in the Wildwood, Gifts from Goats, Creative Wiring Crafts, Great Harvest Bread Co., iVAVA, Naked Pasta, Pallet + Crate and Palmetto Wax Works. Vendor applications are still open. Other market sponsors include Taylors Rec Center, Due South and the Pelham Medical Center.
Southern Bleachery event space
The Taylors Mill expansion will continue with a new major renovation of the Southern Bleachery. The Bleachery will accommodate up to 500 people for weddings, concerts and other events, beginning in May. Local wedding planner Angela Culpepper, the coordinator and project manager, is waiting for the final green light on the building permits for the restoration.
The Taylors Mill property was originally a textile plant called the Taylors Southern Bleachery and Print Works. The mill treated and dyed cotton from 1924 to its closing in 1965. It has recently come back to life as artists have set up studios in its old halls and Due South Coffee has taken up residence.
The venue boasts rustic, high ceilings and exposed brick walls, giving off a distinct industrial vibe. Culpepper plans to restore as much of the space as possible while preserving the weathered warehouse look.
Culpepper said they hope to “keep the character but give the twist of a vintage look as well.”
Made South Market will be the venue’s first event, and will showcase its rustic charm to prospective clients.
The Southern Bleachery and Print Works is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
