Greer's First Downtown Bookstore and First City Trail Are Arriving the Same Fall

By the end of 2026, what will Greer have gained from its 150th year that wasn't there in January? The festivals and the anniversary programming end with the calendar. The additions that will still be around next October are smaller, and two of them are things the city has never had: a bookstore downtown and a trail the city built itself.

They're arriving a few weeks apart. The Bookmark's grand opening on School Street was scheduled for yesterday. Across town, Phase 1A of the South Tyger River Greenway was in its final stages by the end of summer. Both are built for an ordinary Saturday, and both arrive ahead of the city's largest current project.

A bookstore on School Street, built in spare time

The Greenville News reported that The Bookmark is Greer's first downtown bookstore. It's owned by Greer residents Nicole and Avery Noel. Nicole Noel told the paper she started the store because the city didn't have a local bookstore, and also because she wanted to create another "third space" in the community.

The store is at 115 School St. The Greer Chamber's listing for the grand opening gives the address as Unit B and set the event for Saturday, Oct. 10, from noon to 4 p.m. According to the Independent Mail, as summarized by Shelf Awareness, both owners have worked remotely since the pandemic, saw a need for more places that bring people together, and found their space on School Street. Both still work full-time and have spent their spare time building the store out.

Here's what they described for the space: bookshelves painted deep green, bar seating along the front of the store, comfortable seating throughout, and a fairy-themed children's section. The goal is a coffee-shop feel where people stay and hang out surrounded by books. Book clubs and community events are on the plan.

"We're really excited to be creating a community space here in downtown for people that are just looking for a passion for books and also just a place to hang out."

Nicole Noel, as quoted by the Independent Mail via Shelf Awareness

The opening was set up as a neighborhood event. Plans called for 10 vendors in the parking lot next to the store selling book-themed goods, coffee and more. The Chamber listing names Grounds Coffee Bar among them. The coffee that day was planned to come from a vendor, and no source we found says whether the store will brew its own. As of this writing, the store's website hadn't posted regular hours, so check there before you plan a weekday visit.

The city's first trail starts at the ballfields

The other first is on the east side, at Country Club Park. The City of Greer calls the South Tyger River Greenway its first trail project. Phase 1A starts at the park at 2501 Country Club Road and runs along the South Tyger River. It's 0.7 miles long and 12 feet wide, with sections of concrete, boardwalk and natural surface.

The city has posted progress in its weekly GreerView updates. Tree clearing started in February 2026, and crews began pouring concrete in April. Greer News reported weather delays earlier in the year and said trees damaged by Helene had to come out first. In the Aug. 31 GreerView, the city said the phase was in its final stages. The boardwalks were done, and concrete stairs were next.

Two details from that update affect how the trail will work day to day. It will be open during daytime hours even when the park's ballfields are closed. It will also meet ADA requirements and have accessible parking. The park itself is the city's 51.81-acre riverside sports complex. It has two baseball fields, three rugby and soccer fields, batting cages, a concession stand, restrooms and a picnic shelter, so the trail starts where restrooms and shade already exist.

The Greenville Journal reported that Greer City Council awarded a $985,881 bid to Foothills Contracting Services for Phase I at its Oct. 28, 2025 meeting, paid from the city's real property fund. That's the award amount, not a final cost. Greer News also reported that Greenville County Council member Kelly Long presented the parks department with a $5,000 check for a trailhead sign and a pollinator garden.

The 0.7 miles is only the first piece. The city says future phases will connect the trail to Greer High School, Cypress Landing and Greer Golf. The master plan also includes links to nearby neighborhoods.

What's open, what's scheduled, what's still finishing

The two firsts are at different stages, and the timing matters if you're planning a weekend around them.

None of the city's weekly updates from early September through Oct. 5 mention a trail opening or ribbon-cutting. The city's Parks, Trails & Facilities page still lists Phase 1A as under construction, with completion by the end of 2026. City sources also disagree on how many river overlooks the first phase will have, so we'll wait to count them in person.

The smaller additions downtown

The Bookmark isn't the only new business downtown this year. A few others have opened or gone up within a few blocks of Main and Poinsett:

• The Slice 3.0, 107 S. Main St. Greer News reported the grand opening on May 28. The menu covers New York-style pizza, pasta and wings, and the Greer location adds calzones, strombolis and catering.
• The Corner Cookie, 200 E. Poinsett St., across from Greer City Park. Greer News reported a planned opening day of Thursday, July 23. The shop's website lists cookies baked daily, custom cookie cakes, ice cream and old-fashioned candy. It also takes online orders for pickup at the Poinsett Street location.
• The "Welcome to Greer" mural on The Great Bay Oyster House building at Main and Poinsett. It's by Adam Schrimmer of Blank Canvas Mural Company, who earlier finished the Greer150 mural on the old Davenport building. That one shows a Trade Street scene from 1938. The city's Sept. 3 update still listed the new mural as a work in progress.

All of these are small additions that stay put after the anniversary ends. A cookie counter facing the park, a pizza place on Main, and two murals with Schrimmer's name on them change what a walk downtown looks like. A bookstore with seating and plans for book clubs gives you a reason to stay after you've eaten.

Why the small things arrived first

The city's largest current project is the Greer Sports & Events Center on a 26-acre site off S. Highway 14. In its July 13 update, the city said crews were paving the parking lot on the S. Buncombe side. The grand opening is on track for early 2027. That timeline puts the center's opening after the 150th year is over.

The trail and the bookstore moved faster because they're smaller. The bookstore was built by two owners in their spare time. The trail is a single 0.7-mile phase with a contract under $1 million, starting at a park that already had parking and restrooms. So the new places Greer gets during its 150th year are a School Street bookstore and a river trail at Country Club Park, both of which will still be part of an ordinary Saturday next year.

If you've already been to The Bookmark, or you're waiting for the greenway gates to open, I'd like to hear how it's changing your weekends in Greer. When you're curious how the trail and the newer downtown businesses fit into the rest of the city, Jason Boozer is glad to talk it through. Let's Connect.