Mountain House at Caesars Head, a coffee shop and restaurant located in a century-old stone building in Greenville County, South Carolina, has closed its doors after just 18 months. Owner James Akers Jr. cited several challenges that led to the difficult decision. The cafe was heavily dependent on visitors to nearby attractions like Pretty Place Chapel and experienced drastic fluctuations in customer traffic, making planning and staffing difficult. The remote mountain location added logistical challenges, such as unreliable delivery services and the inability to secure wholesale pricing for supplies. Staffing was another issue, as the location's distance from Greenville made it hard to attract and retain employees. Despite the picturesque setting and historic building, these compounding factors made the business unsustainable. Akers, also a real estate broker, has not yet disclosed future plans for the iconic stone building, but it remains a landmark ready for its next chapter in Greenville County history.
Enjoying the read? Subscribe for free to one of the fastest-growing newsletters and get weekly coffee news (TL;DR updates) delivered right to your inbox.