As girls, sisters Joyce and Nancy McCarrell were two of the more memorable children in Travelers Rest—mainly because they seemed to be everywhere all the time. Whether tearing down State Park Road on their bicycles, making house calls with their father, Dr. McCarrell, or catching lightening bugs in a jar, Joyce and Nancy were the very definition of hometown girls.

After several decades of success in their respective professional careers, Joyce and Nancy wanted to come back home for good. They also wanted to give back to Travelers Rest— by honoring the community that made such a lasting impression on their lives.

One of their aunts often said “one generation moves in, one generation moves up and one generation moves out” and that has happened in the McCarrell family. Now, their brother is the Dr. McCarrell people talk about.

“We wanted to be an active part in the revitalization of Travelers Rest,” said Nancy. “Then we heard the Williams Hardware building was for sale,” said Joyce. “When we walked into the old store, we knew we were home.”

The McCarrells have recreated a place out of the past that means so much to all of Travelers Rest and they welcome you to The Cafe @ Williams Hardware to enjoy an old fashioned taste of comfort, community and conversation.

Michael Burnham’s award-winning career in food service has ranged from volunteering at the Triune Mercy Center to owning his own restaurant. His culinary training has come from mentors including his late mother, Jane Flanagan, as well as Liz Minetta Bardsley, now chef at the Northampton Wine Café.  On the job training at Garner’s Natural Market and the Red Barn Restaurant in Gray Court, as well as other opportunities along the way expanded his ability to prepare meals for vegetarian or other individual dietary concerns.  Chef Michael prepared the kick-off reception for the recent Scottish Games, at which the Café was honored to host HRH the Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, and the Baron of Inneryne, Ronald Busch Reisinger, and other guests.

One of the things that attracted Michael to the Café is the opportunity to stretch his creative wings.  The proximity of the Café to the Community Farmers Market in Travelers Rest allows for easy access to locally grown, really fresh produce and fruit.  Already Chef Michael has made an impression with his Strawberry Tiramisu which has garnered awards at the 2010 Taste of the Nation and the Strawberry Festival.  The Greenville County Recreation District pocket park right behind the Café incorporates an herb garden (and a couple of tomato plants) so expect to see some fresh herbs worked into the menu as well.

Michael spent some of his childhood growing up in Travelers Rest, right on McElhaney Rd., so if you were a student at Northwest Middle or TRHS in the mid 70’s you may have shared some classes with him.