South Main Social to open in downtown Greenville

The founder of Foxcroft Food & Wine has found a new use for his space on S. Main Street in downtown Greenville.

Conrad Hunter will open South Main Social on April 28 at 631 S. Main St. in the former Foxcroft Food & Wine space. The venue will pair a vinyl Hi-Fi listening room and craft cocktail bar with cuisine drawing from Southern, Asian and global influences, influcences at the root of Hunter himself in both music and hospitality, according to a news release.

Inspired by Japan’s kissaten, vinyl listening rooms dating back to the 1920s, South Main Social offers a modern interpretation of the concept. A vinyl collection of jazz, ambient, bossa nova, electronica, and the American Songbook plays on a vintage hi-fi system, with programming including in-house sets and rotating guest DJs.

“Everything about South Main Social is designed to slow things down a bit,” Hunter said in the release. “It’s about creating a space where people can really listen, connect and enjoy what’s in front of them, whether that’s the music, the food or the company they’re with.”

Hunter’s path to South Main Social spans two distinct careers. He began performing at 14, trained at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, and spent decades as a professional musician before, at age 28, a bottle of Bordeaux redirected his focus. That pivot led to Foxcroft Food & Wine, which he founded in 2004 and grew from a single site into a multi-location enterprise. South Main Social brings both careers into the same room, delivering a unified experience of music, food and atmosphere

The beverage program is led by Stefan Huebner, an operating partner at South Main Social and co-owner, with Hunter, of Charlotte cocktail bar Dot Dot Dot, and a GQ-recognized bartender, according to the release. The cocktail lineup includes the All Analog, built on pisco, cachaça, crème de violet, and egg white, and the Hi Watt Clarity, which layers Heaven Hill bourbon with Worthy Park rum and rooibos tea. Nearly 40 wines span small producers, with a rotating by-the-glass selection. Beer runs from Miller High Life to Westbrook Gose, and zero-proof options.

Culinary Director Stephanie Klos leads a menu that draws heavily on Asian flavors while grounding each dish in familiar, approachable formats, according to the release. Spanning small plates, salads, handhelds, entrées and desserts, the menu is designed for sharing and to pair with the cocktail program and Hi-Fi listening experience, with dishes like Tempura Chicken Bao Buns, Smashed Dumpling Tacos, and a Bourbon-Soy Glazed NY Strip.

Rich Adams is general manager of South Main Social. He draws on more than two decades of local hospitality leadership, most recently running operations at Soby’s New South Cuisine

South Main Social will feature a rotating lineup of events, including whisky dinners and other experiences, with specific details and dates to be announced. The venue seats 118 guests and will operate Tuesday-Thursday, 4-11 p.m.; Friday, 4 p.m.-midnight; and Saturday, 2 p.m.-midnight. Reservations will be available via Resy beginning April 30 but walk-ins are welcome.