Universal Joint adds life to Stone Ave.

Greenville's Universal Joint is officially open for business, and with it comes a new era of change for the North Main/Stone Avenue corridor. For years, The Bohemian has been balancing the demand for good food, but as the neighborhood has grown, the need for more has too.

Now, those in the area see a new restaurant's opening as a boon to the area as a whole.

"Anything in the neighborhood is going to help all of our businesses because it brings added visibility and added traffic," says Ed Buffington, co-owner of the craft beer and wine store, The Community Tap, which is located on the corner of Stone Avenue and Wade Hampton Boulevard. "And with restaurants, there's such a lack of density on Stone Avenue that it's only going to help."

The Atlanta-based bar-restaurant has built up a reputation for being a neighborhood-focused eatery, and Partner Scott Drake anticipates Greenville's restaurant being the same. Drake, along with the restaurant's five other partners had been scoping out Greenville for a new location for a couple of years, and were immediately attracted to Stone Avenue's combination of commercial sector and residential neighborhood.

Stone Avenue, with its growing commercial scene and its solid neighborhood scene was a perfect fit for UJ's philosophy.

"We look at it as a neighborhood restaurant," Drake says."So we like to see a strong good neighborhood around us but we also like to be near commercial as well."

In UJ's other cities – Atlanta, Chattanooga, Asheville and Clayton, Ga. – that has meant the restaurant appeals to a wide audience through food and atmosphere.

"It's the kind of place that hopefully we can cater to everyone," Drake says. "I like to see the neighborhood and family and business people, younger crowd, older crowd. We try to keep it friendly to everyone so that everyone can enjoy it and it's a good community gathering place."

Universal Joint's food menu could be described in equally all-inclusive terms. It centers around standards like burgers, wings and tacos, but also offers a few out of the box items as well. The brisket Philly adds another dimension to the classic sandwich, as do the spicy egg rolls, which combine cream cheese, chicken, grapes, jalapenos and mango chutney.

UJ will soon add daily specials to the mix as well. General Manager, Kelly Yabsley says the rotating offerings will follow a seasonal pattern with lighter items like tuna melts in the warmer months and heavier items like meatloaf in the colder months.

Speaking of weather, perhaps one of the most endearing features of UJ is its outdoor patio. Each location has been housed in an old service station, allowing for some creative patio creations. Greenville's restaurant actually has two outdoor areas, one in front and one in the back, bringing the number of outside seats almost equal to the number inside.

Universal Joint is also about beer, and the 16 taps offer a nice range of brews. The Greenville location offers several local beers from the likes of Quest and Brewery 85.

Eventually, Yabsley says, UJ will add some events as well. She sees offering live music and other community events like chili cook-offs or lobster boils.

Perhaps the one issue with UJ is also a one of its more endearing qualities. Parking, although definitely available, is not plentiful. However, UJ's location makes it a prime spot to walk or ride a bike to. Already, Yabsley says she's seen a lot of people making their way to the restaurant sans car.

Buffington made his way to Universal Joint Friday for an early dinner and the experience only solidified his positive feelings for UJ's Greenville arrival.

"It was everything I kind of expected it to be," Buffington says. "It was a really good burger in a fun laid-back atmosphere, family friendly with a good beer selection."

Universal Joint is currently open daily from 11 a.m. – midnight; the restaurant is located at 300 E. Stone Ave. For more information call 864-252-4055 or visit www.ujgreenville.com.