Out on the Strip: your weekly guide to what’s happening, where to eat, and what to do at Mercato Cafe

Have you ever opened a doorway and immediately felt the rush of the outside world simply melt away? That is the exact magic waiting for you at 1101 Via Corso Avenue. The heavy glass door swings open, the sunlight pours across warm stone and polished wood, and your entire body lets out a breath it didn’t know it was holding. It is warm, genuine, deeply inviting, and always smells delicious—a rich, velvety ribbon of freshly ground beans, sweet steamed milk, and buttery pastries that wraps around you like a handmade quilt before you even take three steps inside.

Welcome to Mercato Coffee Cafe.

Set against the soaring Old-World stonework and arched porticos of Bridgeway Station, Mercato feels like discovering a sunlit village square nestled right in the heart of Simpsonville. While modern life seems dead set on rushing everyone through a high-speed drive-thru line, this cafe was crafted for the exact opposite: an intimate sanctuary to slow your pace, cradle a warm mug in both hands, and simply savor the moment.

As owners Thomas and Angie Wirthlin shared, “Bridgeway Station’s Italian themed architecture played a large part as Mercato means Market in Italian. We wanted the ambiance of an Italian Market where locals came every day and made it their ‘Place.’”

Here is the local scoop on why this welcoming corner has become the Golden Strip’s favorite neighborhood living room.

The Backstory: A Slower, Sweeter Pace

Thomas and Angie are no strangers to hospitality, having spent years managing bustling restaurants, event venues, and lively food halls. But after navigating the high-energy rush of the commercial dining scene, they felt called toward something quieter, sweeter, and far more personal.

“With years in the hospitality industry with multiple restaurants, venues, and food halls we had never opened a slower more intimate setting like a coffee shop,” the Wirthlins explained. “When the opportunity presented itself inside Bridgeway Station we felt we couldn’t pass it up. With years in the industry we knew we wanted the intimacy of the coffee cafe to feel like a place to hang out, work, socialize and belong.”

When asked to capture the essence of their shop in just three words, Thomas and Angie didn’t hesitate: “Honey I’m Home.”

The Atmosphere: Pull Up a Chair and Stay Awhile

Look around the sun-drenched room on any given morning and you will see an authentic snapshot of community life unfolding in real time. Thomas and Angie intentionally designed the space to be “relaxed and chill – a place to come and stay awhile.”

• A Table for Everyone: “It is incredible the diversity of our crowd—Students, Networkers, Business Groups, Mom Groups, Book Clubs, Out of towners, young and old and in between,” Thomas and Angie noted. “We are very proud it fits so many different types of people.”

• The Charm of the Hangout: Corporate counters might rush you along, but Mercato embraces the art of lingering. “The personal interactions on the daily are what makes small shops different,” they shared. “We don’t try to move people in and out quickly, we encourage the hang out!”

• Like Family at the Counter: That genuine care shines through the second you walk up to order. “Our staff will call you by name and most of the time will be making your regular order by the time you get to the counter!”

The Bar: Local Beans, Handcrafted Consistency & Community Craft

Behind the espresso machine, every drink is treated as a craft, pairing hometown pride with meticulous barista technique:

• Greenville’s Own Roast: “Our coffee is local – Methodical,” the Wirthlins said. “We offer the standards but we stand out with our seasonal and special creations from our Baristas and our Amazing GM Savannah!”

• The Anatomy of a Perfect Cup: For the Mercato team, excellence lives in the smallest details. “A great cup to us is consistency. Perfect shot, perfectly steamed milk, and controlled pouring technique.”

• Varied Flavors & Local Partners: “We provide a large variety of coffee varieties and food options as our clientele is so diverse so everyone can find something they want,” they explained, adding, “We partner with local pop ups, vendors and community events whenever possible.”

• Grounded in the Golden Strip: While other concepts chase rapid expansion, the Wirthlins are focused purely on the people walking through their door today. “Expansion is always tempting! Right now at Mercato we are perfecting our craft and just focusing on the Bridgeway Station location as it continues to grow.”

As you look around at the laughing friends, steaming cups, and peaceful morning light, the owners leave the community with one heartfelt invitation: “This is your space—say whatever’s on your heart. We can’t wait to meet you and be part of your day. Your coffee home is waiting to meet you!”