I consider myself to be semi retired! You will find me working at Chestnut Coffee House & Local Market most days now, though. I am a huge Clemson fan and enjoy sports. I’m a boat owner and love spending time in it, especially fishing. Striper fishing, not water skiing for me please. š I have been married to Cindy for 41 years now, and together we have two kids, Brandi and Brian, and 4 grandkids. They make our life very special.
Q: Tell us about yourself, including a little bit about where you grew up, your education, your family, interests, passions, and career?
I grew up in Hemingway SC and moved to Greenville as a senior in high school as my dad came to seminary to become a pastor. He is still pastoring in Andrews SC. I graduated from Greenville High as a Red Raider.
I married Cindy in 1981 and went to work at CMH, Carolina Material Handling, in Mauldin until 2002. Because I became tired of traveling, I started a landscape company.Ā We grew Chestnut Oaks Landscaping into a “Pros in Excellence” award winning company, thanks to the folks in the Golden Strip.
Being an entrepreneur was in my blood and we then opened The Loom, a wedding venue in the Woodside Cotton MillĀ from 2008 until 2019 and helped lots Golden Strip young couples get hitched. That was a very fun and happy job. Lots of great friends and smiles came out of running that piece of Simpsonville history.
We sold The Loom and kicked back and I fished as much as I could until my daughter Brandi opened Chestnut Coffee in Hollingsworth Park in January 2022 and pulled me out of retirement.Ā She opened her second shop in the beautiful and historical Burdette Central on Main and Curtis Corner in Simpsonville, as well.
Today my days now are running between coffee shops and meeting more friends everyday.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in The Golden Strip?
I have lived in Asheton subdivision, off of Hwy14 for 14 yrs. With CMH, The Loom, Chestnut Oaks Landscaping and Chestnut Coffeehouse it has been a total 40 years working in the Golden Strip.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people donāt know about you?
Many people know me as “The Hat.” I wear an orange cowboy hat and go to most Clemson games. As The Hat, I have helped a school get a new playground and raised funds to help a child get a kidney. Recently we have started to feed the homeless every Sunday with an awesome group called Sunday Dinner with a Twist.
Q: Who is the most interesting person youāve met here in The Golden Strip?
Kasey Coffey
Q: What current / former local business makes you the most nostalgic about The Golden Strip?
P Simpson’s Hometown Grille.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about The Golden Strip?
Sippin’ Simpsonville, it is so much fun.
Q: With so much growth in our area, there are always new places popping up. Tell us about the a ānew to youā place that you recently tried.
We are regulars at 1885 Taproom andĀ King Tut Grill.
Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME or NEIGHBOR?
Love, Caring & Friends.
Q: If you had friends or family visiting you from out of town, what is the one place that you must take them to?
Chestnut Coffeehouse of course!
Q: If you had a free day with no plans, what would you do? Or where can we find you on the weekends?
Striper fishing on the lake with my fishing buddy, Dale Gilbert.
Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?
John Cegledy
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
I can say my bucket is full! Yes, I love my life!
Q: What advice would you give to a crowd of people?
Treat others like you wanna be treated.
Q: Who would you like to see nominated for this project, The Faces of The Golden Strip?
Brandi Cox Ward
