This story originally appeared in the Aug. 25 edition of the Weekly LINK Reader. To see these stories first, subscribe here.
Dixie Highway is jam-packed with chain restaurants in modern and updated buildings, but this Streetscapes explores where Dixie Highway and Main Street meet in Florence. For those that take the turn onto Main Street, there’s an atmospheric shift in the blink of an eye. Family businesses replace familiar names, and contemporary is replaced with timeless. Join us for this Streetscapes as we explore the quaint, cute and quirky businesses on Main Street.
Stringtown Bar and Grill
Stringtown Bar and Grill is your typical hometown bar, with good grub, cold beer and a casual, friendly atmosphere. Stringtown offers breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s a rarity to find a restaurant that’s open for all three meals and stays open as a bar late into the evening on weekends. With hours like that, there’s no excuse not to visit.
Best known for its karaoke nights, Stringtown is a place to showcase hidden talents and create fun memories. It recently opened an outdoor patio. There’s no better way to celebrate the end of summer than with a cold drink outside on a warm evening. Stringtown recently hosted a movie night, similar to a drive-in movie but without the hassle of driving across the river.
This family-owned and -operated restaurant is always coming up with innovative ways to maintain a fun and welcoming atmosphere. So, whether it’s the movie nights or karaoke nights, guests are always in for some fun and good food.
Hawaiian Sno
In the dog days of summer, it seems as if almost nothing can truly cool one down. Shaved ice is the tasty answer to beat the heat.
Hawaiian Sno serves authentic Hawaiian shaved ice that is packed down and coated in the flavor of choice. Favorite flavors include “shark bait” and cotton candy, as well as traditional Hawaiian flavors such as ube, a nutty and sweet flavor, and POG – short for passion fruit, orange and guava.
Hawaiian Sno also creates specialty flavors each week. From peaches-and-cream to Butterbeer, the flavor of the week is a unique and typically tropical twist often tied to whatever the current buzz is around town. Most recently, that meant a “shark bait” flavor to commemorate the popular “Shark Week” TV event.
For those with an extra-strong sweet tooth, Hawaiian Sno can add a scoop of ice cream at the base of a shaved ice or top it with sweet or mallow cream.
Hawaiian Sno opened its new storefront in May 2022 but has been serving the people of Florence since 1993 at county fairs and community events. It was a staple long before its brick-and-mortar debut.
The family-owned and woman-run business has an indoor space with colorful décor, as well as an ample patio to enjoy the sunshine.
Tom’s Papa Dino’s and Papa’s Bourbon and Beer House
Pizza, bourbon, beer and about everything but the kitchen sink are offered between these two businesses – Tom’s Papa Dino’s Pizza and the adjacent business Papa’s Bourbon and Beer House.
The pizza side of the business focuses on, well, pizza of course, but also hoagies, sandwiches and pasta. This is the perfect place to bring kids and large groups, with plenty of options for even the pickiest eaters. The pizza is piled on with melted-to-perfection cheese to create a mouthwatering cheese pull. The cheese blankets the pizza, and the toppings are just an added bonus. Then again, when the standard pizza is this good, everything else is just the cherry (tomato) on top.
For those with dietary restrictions, fear not: There are both gluten-free and cauliflower-crust options so that everyone gets a taste of the cheesy goodness. Should patrons opt for something outside of cheese or pepperoni, Papa’s Royal Pizza is the perfect option for a taste of Italy. Italian dressing bases the pizza and is topped with salami, spicy capicola, cheese, tomatoes, onions and banana peppers.
A beer garden, often host to live bands, adds to the atmosphere. For those who really want to sample more drink offerings, neighboring Bourbon Bar is the solution. With over 229 bourbons to choose from, all patrons are sure to experience something new.
Have a street, city or business you want to see covered next? Email Maria Hehman at [email protected] and it could be featured on the next installment of LINK Streetscapes.