Good morning, Simpsonville! ☀️

We’re halfway through the week, which means we’re close enough to the weekend to start making plans, but still squarely in “let’s get things done” mode. 💪

We’ve got a few things worth talking about today: a quick community need, a little local growth update, trivia if you’re feeling smart, and dinner so you don’t have to figure it out later — I’d call that a solid Wednesday.

Let’s dive in.

🌤️ Weather

🩸 Community Call: Red Cross Reports Critical Blood Shortage

📅 Upcoming Events & Things to Do

🏡 On the Market (Real Estate)

⚡ Local Quick Hits

🆕 New & Noteworthy

🍽️ What’s for Dinner?

😁 Just for Fun

Recent winter storms across South Carolina have forced the cancellation of dozens of blood drives — and now the American Red Cross says the situation is urgent.

Nationwide, the organization lost nearly 20,000 units of blood due to storm-related cancellations. In South Carolina alone, the Red Cross typically collects around 400 units per day (about 5,000 per month). That supply has taken a significant hit.

Blood donations support:

Each single donation can potentially help up to three people — and a unit of blood only has a shelf life of about 40 days.

Right now, there’s especially high demand for:

…but all blood types are needed and appreciated.

Scott Brown, Red Cross Region Donor Services Executive for South Carolina, shared a simple perspective: If someone you loved needed blood, you wouldn’t hesitate. Sometimes it’s just a matter of making the time.

If you’re able, please consider stepping up for our neighbors.

🔗 Find a local blood drive or schedule an appointment:
https://www.redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive

📅 Feb 25 - 🌟 Fountain Inn 25 Under 40
Celebrating Fountain Inn’s brightest young leaders making big waves before 40.
🕝 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
📍 Fountain Inn Activities Center, 610 Fairview Street, Fountain Inn, SC 29644
🔗 More Info

📅 Feb 26 - Family Night- Kids eat FREE at select restaurants!
Experience the best of local and international cocktails, beers, and cuisine.
🕝 5:00 PM-10:00 PM
📍 Warehouse at Vaughn's, 109 West Trade Street, Simpsonville, SC 29681
🔗 More Info

📅 Feb 28 - UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Almabayev
Celebrating Fountain Inn’s brightest young leaders making big waves before 40.
🕝 8:00 PM
📍 Social Latitude, 1812 Woodruff Rd, Greenville, SC 29607
🔗 More Info

📅 Mar 7 - Simpsonville Cards & Collectibles Show
230 tables -Sports,non-sports cards (Pokemon, onepiece, magic, lorcana, Disney, etc) comics, video games, toys, coins, other collectibles.
🕝 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
📍 City Of Simpsonville Activity & Senior Center
310 West Curtis Street, Simpsonville, SC 29681
🔗 More Info

📅 Wednesdays - ❓Trivia @ Bullwinkle’s Tavern
Midweek plans? Enjoy a fun night of trivia, drinks, and bragging rights at one of Simpsonville’s favorite hangouts.
🕝 7:00 PM
📍 Bullwinkle’s Tavern - Five Forks
🔗 More Info

📅 Thursdays - 🎶 Music Bingo @ Dave & Buster’s
Dave & Buster's - Greenville, SC hosts Music BINGO Game Night Thursdays. Join for great music, food, fun, and PRIZES! Free to Play!
🕝 7:30 PM
📍 Dave & Buster's - Greenville
🔗 More Info

More details…

More details…

🌷 Spring Market Season Loading… — Vendor applications are opening for spring markets and festivals across the Upstate. If you’re a local maker or small business, now’s the time to apply.

⚖️ Council OKs Reopening Local Road — The Simpsonville City Council voted 4–3 to reopen Hunter Street to through traffic by August 8, 2026, reversing a road closure that’s been in place since 2022. Council supporters say it will improve connectivity, but discussion continues on traffic mitigation.

🌳 Park Life Picks Up
As the weather warms, activity will be picking up at Heritage Park — from walking trails and playground afternoons to early festival planning. It’s officially “spend more time outside” season in the 864.

Coffee lovers, take note — Dutch Bros Coffee is officially expanding into Mauldin.

Construction is underway on a brand-new drive-thru location near the intersection of Main Street and East Butler Road, bringing the high-energy Oregon-based coffee chain closer to home.

📍 Where?

210 S. Main Street, Mauldin, SC 29662
(Near Main Street & East Butler Road — formerly the A&W / Long John Silver’s site)

☕ What to Expect

📅 Opening Timeline

Early 2026.

Founded in 1992 in Oregon, Dutch Bros now operates more than 1,100 locations nationwide and has been steadily expanding across the Southeast. Another Upstate location was previously announced for North Pleasantburg Drive in Greenville (still pending opening).

If you’ve ever been to one, you know the vibe: upbeat, fast-moving, and very drive-thru friendly.

Mauldin continues to grow — and this is another sign the Golden Strip is on retailers’ radar.

Simpsonville-based 864 Outdoor Solutions is now booking weekly lawn care spots, and they’re filling up fast.

If you’ve been meaning to lock in reliable lawn service before spring kicks into high gear, now’s the time.

📱 Text: 864-361-5949 to claim one of the remaining weekly spots.

Good to Go Greenville
📍 330 Scuffletown Road
📞 864-236-1324

Wednesday Special: Buttermilk Fried Shrimp
Crispy buttermilk fried shrimp with hush puppies & honey butter, slaw, fried potato wedges, and Sue’s ooey gooey butter cake for dessert. 🤤

💵 Small (serves 2) — $39.99
💵 Large (serves 4) — $59.99

Midweek dinner = handled.

Order Online

👉 Know a daily special we should feature? Hit reply and tell me — you may be saving dinner for the rest of us.

Today’s Trivia:
Roughly how long does it take for the sun’s light to reach Earth?

(Answer at bottom — no peeking!)

If you know a local business, nonprofit, organization — or just an interesting neighbor with a great story — we’d love to feature them in an upcoming section we’re calling “Get to Know Your Neighbors.”

Just hit reply or send me a message. The best stories are happening right here at home.

See you Friday! We’ll be talking weekend plans. 👀

8 minutes and 20 seconds.

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