On Tuesday, February 20th, Tropical Grill opened its restaurant doors in Mauldin’s oldest historical building. This is the sixth Tropical Grill location to open in the Upstate. About eight years ago, Lazaro and Shadid Montoto started the family run business right here in Greenville. It was born out of their desire to share their favorite childhood recipes as an alternative to fast food. Delicious Cuban food options are served fast, healthy, and affordable with South Carolina sourced ingredients. Mauldin locals have been requesting the arrival of the savory Tropical Grill grub for a long time. Finally, residents can enjoy the flavors in the beautifully renovated modern building with a rich past. And, Cuban food fans have an answer to taste bud prayers.
Manager of the Mauldin Tropical Grill, Tyler Handler, is elated at the opportunity to join the Mauldin restaurant circle, “We got a lot of requests to come this way between facebook and social media. I just want to thank the community for letting us come and look forward to serving everybody in the future,” he says. It took a while to find the right spot in Mauldin, but eventually everything fell into place, “This one came up and we put a bid on it. By the grace of God, we got it.” The fact that it was a historical building was just an added bonus.
Once they bought the building, it took 13 months to build. It was important for them to keep the historical integrity of the building, “We kept all the original brick, took out load bearing wood, re-purposed it, and rebuilt the stairs and archways. All the wood and brick are over a hundred years old and kept intact,” Handler proudly shares. As their largest location so far, it is complete with a drive thru and patio seating. Originally, the building was Mauldin’s first general store and was built in the early 1900’s. Although it took hard work to make it all happen, the end result has been worth it, “We’re so happy and blessed to inhabit it, and preserve the history of the oldest building in Mauldin,” Handler adds.
Customers can try a wide range of chops or sandwiches with unique sauce options. From a hot vegetarian plate with rice to juicy hormone-free pork or chicken, there is a wide variety of choices. Gluten free options are also available to nourish the body with natural ingredients. Try the new restaurant and witness history by visiting the location at 108 North Main St. in Mauldin. Hours are Mon – Sat 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. For questions, call 864-552-1205 or stop by to see Handler. He will be there to serve with a smile, “Mauldin has treated us very well. We’re looking to grow our customer base as much as we can here and serve the community with what we can,” Handler assures. With a delightful cultural taste and warm tropical welcoming, customers will surely keep coming back for more. ♦
