Historic Falls Cottage in Greenville to reopen as eatery, event space

The historic cottage at 615 S. Main St. in Greenville will reopen as a restaurant and event space in spring 2026.

The Greenville City Council approved a lease agreement with Michael Minelli, owner of nearby Passerelle Bistro, according to a news release from the city. Minelli said the new eatery will be named Stone Cottage, in honor of W.E. Touchstone, superintendent of Camperdown Mill, who constructed the building as his family home in 1894.

“There’s a lot of history inside that space and outside,” Minelli said in the news release. “We want to give it a facelift. We don’t want to go tear down walls and make a new building. We want to really preserve and keep the brick where we can, keep the flooring, keep the fixtures and just create a more functional, modern space.”

Minelli has operated Passerelle Bistro since 2017. With the cottage just a “stones’ throw” away he says he’s had his eye on the property for years.

“I want it to be a place where it’s not just a birthday or special event location,” Minelli said in the releas. “My hope is that families who are going to Falls Park for a picnic day will fill up at the cottage, get what they need for a picnic basket and create a memory.’”

Stone Cottage will offer daytime “grab-and-go” fare, including artisanal sandwiches, local produce, soup, salads and daily specials. The event space will cater to parties of 20 to 30 people.

Falls Cottage has housed many businesses and organizations, the release said. In the 1920s, it was converted into a filling station operated by K.S. Conrad, who added the stucco still present on the front and sides of the structure. Falls Cottage later became home to the Metropolitan Arts Council, Greenville Artists Guild Gallery, Tours Around Greenville and the Peace Center’s fundraising office.

In 1975, the Carolina Foothills Garden Club with the support of the city of Greenville, restored the cottage that had fallen into disrepair.

“For over 60 years, the women of Carolina Foothills Garden Club have worked tirelessly to ensure that Falls Park is protected from development and preserved for the enjoyment of the people of Greenville,” the club said in a written statement in support of the project. “We are thrilled with the resolution before council and applaud the city for their hard work and dedication to protecting Falls Park. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the city long into the future.”