Up-And-Coming Upstate

Stepping into the Wayback Machine and turning the dial to 300 years ago, you would see herds of buffalo, elk, and deer wandering without a care through dense forests and sipping cool water from pristine streams. In the days before the American Revolution, this was Cherokee Territory, and only the most intrepid made their way into the foothills. First known as Pleasantburg, its name was changed to Greenville in 1831. With ample water resources and rail service, Greenville became the center of textiles in the state. Between 1880 and 1903, there were some 13 mills opened in the Greenville area utilizing water power from the Reedy and other rivers. Some mill owners provided housing and stores for their employees. Within these mill villages developed something else…baseball teams.

Recruited to play for the Brandon Mill team at 13, Joe Jackson probably made more playing baseball on Saturdays ($2.50) than he did all week pulling a 12-hour shift each day. Jackson went on to play in the bigs and currently has the third highest lifetime batting average (.356) in major league history.

Along about the same time that Joe was swinging Black Betsy, a store on Main Street, Meyers-Arnold was making a name for itself. From offering clothing for women and children, the store diversified to include all matters of goods from toasters to towels and shirts to shoes. Employees of Meyers-Arnold were asked to cater to their customers and to take care of their needs. Gosh, that sounds familiar…and that’s not the only thing you’ll find from a by-gone era at 111 North Main Street in Downtown Greenville.

Parking

Parking on Main Street, including immediately in front of Mast Store, is FREE for up to two hours. For longer visits, Richardson Street Parking Garage (66 Richardson St., Greenville, SC 29601) is located directly behind Mast Store. This parking garage is FREE for the first hour Monday - Friday, $2 for the second hour, and $1 for each hour that follows. Parking here is FREE on the weekends and after 6 p.m. Friday – Sunday with some exceptions for special events in Downtown Greenville.

For information about parking motorcoaches and RVs, please call the City of Greenville Parking Department at 864-232-2273.

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Plan Your Visit

Greenville has one of the most beautiful downtowns in the United States. With tons of restaurants, nifty shops, a minor league baseball field, and a unique scavenger hunt for kids of all ages, you’ll find something to keep everyone happy.

Conestee Nature Preserve

Metropolitan Arts Council

Visit Greenville

Area Events

Weekly on Friday

Main Street Fridays

NOMA Square • 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM

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MAY 16, 2026

Landon Bryant Book Signing

Greenville Mast General Store • 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

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Local Flavor

The Story Behind the Store

The street address of the Mast Store in Greenville has a long retail history dating back to at least 1898 in the present day building. According to city plats, this building started out as a dry goods and shoe store. Before that, it was the site of a common well and kitchen facility.

As the city began to grow, retail, restaurants, and entertainment venues began to dominate the downtown area. The dry goods store from 1898 expanded by 1913 to encompass the entire width of the block and at that time housed the Meyers-Arnold Department Store.

In the 1920s, part of the store shared facilities with the Garing Theatre. These "movie houses" were seemingly on every corner. Within a short walk from the Garing Theatre was the Casino Theatre (at the corner of East North Street and Main), the Bijou Theatre (just across the street), and the Rialto Theatre (located where Trios Restaurant is today).

Greenville Meyers Arnold Store

Photo Courtesy the Greenville Historical Society, The Coxe Collection.

Meyers-Arnold, a family-owned store carrying most everything from clothing to housewares, occupied the building from 1903, when it was then Arnold Department Store, until 1971, when it moved to the McAlister Mall. It grew to include several other locations including Anderson, Asheville (NC), Augusta (GA), and Spartanburg.

Several old employees from the Meyers-Arnold days commented on the restoration project which revealed a pressed tin ceiling and warm maple flooring. It reminded them quite a bit of "the old days."

Mast Store Greenville Storefront

The Mast Store in Downtown Greenville circa today.

Mrs. Betty Meyers shared a story about the store. She said that there was never a signed lease on the building on Main Street. When the Meyers brothers and the gentleman that owned the building negotiated the agreement, it was sealed with a handshake. When both of these men that originally set the deal had passed away, neither of the remaining parties knew what the agreement was. So, a new deal was negotiated and cemented as gentlemen with a handshake.

The Mast Store in Greenville opened in 2003.

Community Partners

In a time when general stores dotted the landscape, business was a mutually beneficial agreement, and it was done with a handshake. That could easily describe our relationship with our Community Partners. The Mast Store supports many groups in its local areas that help meet human needs, champion the arts, promote conservation, and contribute to moving the community forward. These are just a few of the organizations we support locally.

Loaves & Fishes

Upstate Forever