Fountain Inn Chamber Members Take Home “Best of the Upstate” Honors
July 29, 2026
Local business leaders and community members gathered this week as the Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce and local municipal leaders celebrated an impressive showing across our corner of Greenville County at the annual Best of the Upstate Community’s Choice Awards.
The regional awards program—which relies on hundreds of thousands of public nominations and votes across the Upstate—honors top-tier local establishments, service providers, and cultural institutions.
Fountain Inn Chamber Highlights Local Champions
Leading the charge, the Fountain Inn Chamber of Commerce gave special recognition to its member businesses that earned top honors in their respective categories:
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Shopping — Specialty Shop: Gio’s Pastry Shop, Caffe & Italian Market
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Services — Self-Storage Company: Swamp Rabbit Moving & Storage
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Finance — Bank: Bank of Travelers Rest
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Entertainment & Leisure — Community Theater: Ignite Theatrical at Younts Center
“We think ALL our Chamber Members are Winners! Congratulations to these great Chamber Members who won BEST OF THE UPSTATE… We’re so proud of all you’ve accomplished!” the Chamber announced in a statement.
Mauldin & Simpsonville Join the Winners’ Circle
The celebration stretched right down Highway 276 as favorite spots in neighboring Mauldin and Simpsonville took home major accolades, proving that the Golden Strip continues to be one of the vibrant hubs for dining, entertainment, and local services in the region.
Mauldin Winners & Finalists
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Entertainment & Cultural Arts: The Mauldin Cultural Center was recognized as a premier community destination for live performance arts, public events, and the popular Amp’d Up Friday outdoor concert series.
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Casual Dining & Coffee: Local favorite Cohesive Coffee inside BridgeWay Station took top honors for artisanal roasts, while Bohemian Bull earned high marks in the local taproom and casual burger categories.
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Family Services & Fitness: Mauldin’s local sports and recreation hubs, including the Mauldin Sports Center, were recognized for excellence in youth programming and community wellness facilities.
🏆 Simpsonville Winners & Finalists
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Local Coffee & Breakfast: Coyote Coffee Cafe scored top recognition in the coffee house category, while Maverick Biscuit was named a top finalist for best breakfast and Southern comfort fare.
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Local Dining & Breweries: The Southern Growl in Simpsonville continued its dominant streak, earning top honors in the All-Around Restaurant and Craft Brewery categories.
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Italian & Pizza: Capri’s Italian Restaurant of Simpsonville earned high marks in the Italian dining category, while Della Ventura’s Pizzeria scored big for authentic pies.
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Boutiques & Specialty Shopping: Downtown Simpsonville favorites like 613 Boutique and Sweetbriar were celebrated for top-tier apparel and home decor shopping.
Where to Find the Complete List
While these Golden Strip staples took center stage this week, the full roster of over 180 category winners and 500+ finalists—spanning healthcare, auto services, home improvement, and dining—will be officially published in a special commemorative section of the Greenville News on Sunday, August 2, 2026.
Residents can also view the complete, searchable digital directory online HERE
