Jim Fair
Abbott's Frozen Custard is locating in downtown Greer at the former Dixie Shoe Shop.
Khoury is visiting family in Rochester, N.Y., this week, home of Abbott’s, and making a daily run, sometimes more than once, for the frozen treat he grew up eating.
“I was tired of creating ways to bring Abbott’s down here,” Khoury said. “So I bought the franchise rights to the Upstate and have first refusal to any others in the state.” Khoury is committed to 3-5 more Abbott’s in the Upstate.
Coming to Greer, at the former Dixie Shoe Shop at 119 E. Poinsett Street, is Abbott’s first franchise in the Carolinas and Georgia. Permitting and construction is fast-tracked to have the store open in time for Oktoberfest (Oct. 3). That appears unlikely but Khoury said he may be able to offer the product on the street during the festival.
Jason Cole is the general manager, “and he will be the face of the company,” Khoury said.
Abbott’s offers 45 flavors of frozen custard served in cones, dishes, novelties, shakes, floats and flurries. Pints for takeout and cakes and pies are available.
Here’s how Drew explained his family’s frozen custard: “It’s two things – the flavor and texture – that makes it so good. It’s denser, creamier and velvety. The smooth velvety confections melt in your mouth. We make it fresh throughout the day.”
Abbott’s was founded in 1902 and Brenden Drew, Vice President of Franchise, is the grandson of the founder.
“I love what Mark told me about the community and saw some of that old school feeling where you want to preserve the structure of the town,” Drew said. “I am purely into location and that was my concern.”
Khoury said the alley will be renovated to look like a common area much like Jason Clark did with the Strip Club 104 restaurant.
“We’re going to transfer the alley into a place where people can relax and eat custard,” Khoury said. “We’re going to change quite a bit.”
Jimmy Chulkas leased the property to Khoury. “Mark liked the fact that the alley was in the middle,” Chulkas said. “He wants to make that a part of outdoor dining, put tables in there, plant some trees and landscape it a little bit. He wants to put some strings of lights over the top. He’s going to make it a fabulous place.”
The store’s tin ceiling, still in excellent condition, convinced Khoury, Chulkas and Drew it was a definite keeper for the inside décor.
Chulkas had envisioned some type of restaurant business at the former shoe shop for years. “He just saw what my sister and I first saw in that building,” Chulkas said of Khoury’s vision.
Mayor Rick Danner, who helped oversee the Partnership For Tomorrow’s 2030 master plan, presented in the spring, said, “We are seeing a kind of new frontier. (Abbott’s) is another piece of this development. We’re seeing a spectacular renovation of a building (The Galleries of Brian Brigham at Trade and Victoria) and we’ll continually see specialty-type businesses.”
“I think what is happening is people remember the small downtown feel Greenville had at one point, which is fabulous,” Chulkas said. “But I think people want to maintain that small town feel and Greer still has it.”