Sisters Revive Historic Pelzer Site as Coffee Shop, Community Center

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

It is a dream which has brewed in the minds of sisters Calle and Kaitlyn Walters for some time. In a few weeks, that dream will be realized with the opening of Cryptid Coffee in Pelzer in a historic structure downtown.

The sisters have spent more than three years restoring the brick three-and-half story, century old building, primarily remembered as Frierson's Drug Store and Soda Shop on Lebby Street, and plan to open the doors for business soon.

After closing on the property in 2021, the first step was to gain historic register certification for the structure, located near the Saluda River on the border of Anderson and Greenville counties.

Then came the renovation and restoration work.

“Some of the pieces that we were able to save have been astounding,” said Kaitlyn Walters. The century old original ceilings were cleaned and repaired and are still in place, as well as many of the windows and other vintage pieces.

And while the floors of the building were not salvageable, another local renovation project provided the answer. The sisters were able to salvage the floors from the Piedmont YWCA restoration project, providing historic material from a nearby village.

The work required pulling up the old flooring and cleaning the salvaged wooden floors for installation in the Pelzer building.

“We had our hands on everything that has gone on here, from putting down the floors to building the bar,” said Calle.

“Everything’s been lovingly restored so it can stand another 100 years,” said Kaitlyn Walters. “It’s been quite an investment.”

The work has been a family effort. The sisters’ parents, Ken and Glennis Walters, were residential builders, something that left an imprint on Calle and Kaitlyn and provided experience and expertise in the renovations.

Kaitlyn said she’s always had a love for old buildings and wanted to have her own business, which is part of her family’s tradition.

The sisters who grew up in the area, said they remembered passing the structure often while growing up. They hope to renew the historic relevance of the building, and relive memories of others who remember various incarnations of the site.

“It’s long been a staple in a lot of people’s day-to-day life here,” said Kaitlyn. “I think they are excited and the Town of Pelzer is excited.”

Initially the business will serve as a coffee shop and bakery, but plans are to expand to a restaurant and center for community activities in the months to come. The upstairs already has a few weddings booked, and the sisters’ goal is for the space to become a landing place for other groups in the community.

The pair is also excited to be part of other ongoing efforts of historic building renewal in Pelzer. In addition to their building, which over the years has served as Pelzer Masonic Lodge, Leon's Quick Stop, Carolina BBQ, Allen Photography Studio and Scott's Barbershop and possibly a mortuary, a number of other Pelzer historic building renovations are in the work of planning stages.

Kaitlyn praised the efforts of Pelzer Mayor Will Ragland for rejuvenating the town and community’s sense of history, and wants Cryptid Coffee to be a part of the town’s identity.

These include efforts by Mayor Ragland to restore the Pelzer Lyceum, originally built in the late 1800s by the Pelzer Manufacturing Company as a community center for education and cultural activities and later used as a hospital for the mill community, as well as the restoration and repurposing of the Pelzer Community Center, which was a covered outdoor skating rink a century ago.

“It’s been really interesting to see the other historic buildings in this area which are being maintained or restored,” said Kaitlyn.

Ragland, meanwhile, said the sisters’ investment in the community and commitment to history is important to the future of Pelzer.

“This is exactly the type of investment we are looking for in Pelzer - a reimagining of an historic space in creating something unique that can be found nowhere else,” said Ragland. “Bringing new life into an old building is exciting and contagious. I believe this will be the beginning of much more to come.”

Cryptid Coffee brings together each of the sisters’ work and life experiences.

Calle has a long history of coffee shop experience including The Village Grind in The Village of West Greenville and Junto Coffee in Taylors. Kaitlyn, who has baked since an early age and is committed to other artistic endeavors, wanted to work with her younger sister to combine those passions, as well as put to work her own Winthrop University degree in sculpture and photography degree, to open a coffee shop/restaurant which will also be an event and gallery space.

Calle said initial coffee offerings will include Junco, Little Waves and Rowan, as well as regular coffees and creative experiments.

“We really want to bring a family business that will be something that bring the community together in a place they can enjoy,” said Kaitlyn.

Cryptid Coffee, which is now finished, save for the paving of the parking lot, is expected to open before the end of January.

As for the name? A cryptid is an animal whose existence is unconfirmed or disputed by science, but whose existence is suggested by folklore, rumors, or anecdotal evidence, such as Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster.

“Growing up in the Appalachia you kind of hear a lot of stories and you live a little close to folklore and it’s just a lot of fun to have this idea of mythical monsters enjoying a cup of joe,” said Kaitlyn.

Cryptid will soon begin serving coffee daily for the rest of us, as well as adding some food offerings on weekends. The goal is to be serving food every day by Spring.

“Hopefully, this will be our legacy and stand the test of time,” said Kaitlyn.