Woodruff

The restaurants, and the downtown area overall, of Woodruff are growing from a quaint but quiet historic Main Street to something livelier as new, locally-fueled investments transform the community.

Claudio’s Bistro offers upscale steakhouse vibes, while the new Tap 3 Restaurant and Pub is a calm place to hang out with friends or colleagues. There are also a few longtime community staples like Friends Café, Bronco Mexican Restaurant, and the very popular Wine Gallery Wine Bar & Restaurant.

Humble Grounds Coffee Shop serves up pastries and caffeine, and is a great place to start the day. And just up Main Street is the locally-owned Country Meat Center, a popular grocery store bringing fresh meats and more to Woodruff.

Woodruff is home to the Stone Soup Storytelling Festival, which each April brings together people from across the state and the region to tell their tales, and dive into the art and importance of storytelling in all its forms.

An offshoot of Stone Soup, MUSE 134 is home to performances and some artist-in-residence spaces. Pro tip: visit in April to get the full Arts festival experience.

Block 224, the city’s outdoor performance space and gathering area, was opened in 2021 among a crop of new additions. Block 224, right on Main Street, features seating areas and live performances typically on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from April through October.

In the heart of Downtown Woodruff sits the rejuvenated McKinney Park, a perfect play place for kids or a spot to walk off the delicious lunch or dinner you just finished. The park is home to a new baseball/softball field, amphitheater, concession stand, rentable shelters, playground and outdoor exercise area.

A quarter-mile paved walking trail and splash pad were also installed to help cool visitors off during the hotter summer months.

Speaking of trails, the Woodruff Greenway Trail, a 1.8-mile round-trip trail, starts at the Woodruff Leisure Center and travels safely to Woodruff Middle School. The trail is classified as “Easy” by the State Trails System, so it’s approachable for all ages.

Investments from locals have brought new life to Woodruff right as thousands of houses are being built to accommodate the area’s consistent growth.

Construction is ongoing now at the largest investment in Woodruff’s history — BMW Plant Woodruff. The newest plant built by the German automaker, totaling $700 million in investment, will serve as the battery-assembly plant for BMW electric vehicles, working in tandem with BMW Plant Spartanburg, the company’s largest plant in the world by-volume.

Woodruff, like much of South Carolina’s Upstate, is business-friendly with agreeable licensing and fee rates and structures, and more.

Woodruff is served by Spartanburg County School District 4, consisting of Woodruff Elementary School, Woodruff Primary School, Woodruff Middle School, and Woodruff High School.

The district currently boasts a student population of around 4,500, which is expected to grow significantly in coming years. Residents recently approved a referendum allowing for construction of a new, modernized Woodruff High School to accommodate the growth and provide students a more modern learning experience fitting of a growing community.