BY EMILY BELK, CHS JUNIOR Lake Wylie, SC - As Big Papa’s Pizzeria settles into its new home on Highway 274 in Lake Wylie, it’s clear that this isn’t just another pizza joint—it’s a culinary sensation that's capturing hearts and taste buds alike. In a recent interview with Jerry Simonetti, co-owner of the restaurant, we delved into the unique journey of bringing this slice of heaven to the community. Simonetti, a seasoned restaurateur with a rich history in the culinary world, found himself faced with a new challenge when it came to establishing Big Papa’s in Lake Wylie. Unlike his previous ventures, the build-out for this location proved to be a Herculean task, transforming raw cinder block into a cozy pizzeria. Despite the spatial constraints, Simonetti’s team has ingeniously crafted a space that thrives on takeout, catering to the community's appetite for convenience without compromising on quality. Serving pizza, subs, stromboli, calzones, salads, and frozen desserts, everyone can find something they like. When questioned about the restaurant's potential popularity compared to his other past restaurants, Simonetti remained cautiously optimistic. The initial response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive, with patrons expressing heartfelt gratitude for a local eatery that resonates with the nostalgia of small-town pizza joints. Simonetti attributes this sentiment to the void Big Papa’s fills in Lake Wylie’s culinary landscape, catering to a demand for authentic, rustic-style pizza that embodies his unique culinary vision. Choosing the location for Big Papa’s was not a decision taken lightly. While Simonetti wasn’t actively seeking to expand his restaurant portfolio, the opportunity presented itself when the landlord recognized his expertise in crafting top-tier pizzas. Combining Simonetti’s renowned pizza-making skills with a keen understanding of Lake Wylie’s restaurant needs, Big Papa’s emerged as a new beacon of culinary delight in the community. Reflecting on the restaurant’s unexpected popularity, Simonetti admits to being pleasantly surprised. Despite his years of experience in the industry, the overwhelmingly positive response to Big Papa’s has exceeded his expectations, reaffirming his belief in the power of good food to bring people together. As Big Papa’s Pizzeria continues to carve its niche in Lake Wylie’s culinary scene, Simonetti remains focused on delivering an unparalleled dining experience. With each pizza lovingly crafted using his own blend of ingredients and techniques, Simonetti ensures that no two pies are alike—a testament to his dedication to quality and innovation. As Simonetti and his team continue to delight palates and warm hearts, one thing is certain—Big Papa’s Pizzeria is here to stay, serving up slices of happiness one pie at a time. Customers can visit Big Papa's Pizzeria at 5800 Charlotte Hwy., Clover, SC, Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm.
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By Kaya Spencer, CHS Sophomore
Clover, SC - The Coastal Cottage is a local family-owned boutique that hosted its grand opening on March 8, 2024, in downtown Clover. If the name sounds familiar, it is. The store used to operate in Lake Wylie. Due to rising rent costs, Lana Blankenship, the owner, decided to close the Lake Wylie storefront in December and looked for other ways to continue her business. She considered many options, including maintaining a digital storefront and hosting pop-up shops in the area. A conversation with Alicia Griffith, the owner of Carolina Chocolate Company, was the catalyst that led her to open a new store in Clover. The Coastal Cottage is a gift store with various items perfect for giving to friends and loved ones or for giving to yourself. The store carries items such as jewelry, home decor, and clothing, as well as Lake Wylie and Clover merchandise. Most of the items sold are made by other small businesses. Blankenship opened The Coastal Cottage after the healthcare company she was working for was bought out. Lana stated, “For the first time in my life, I didn't have a job and didn’t know what to do. So I decided I’d just open up my own business.''Her inspiration to open a store like this started from a love of home decor. Her passion was interior design, and she would decorate her friends' houses in her spare time. Lana said, 'I've always wanted my own business. I didn't know quite what it would be. But the store is just me. It's who I am, and I found that if you stay in your line and you do what you love, you will succeed at it." The store is located at 108 Kings Mountain Street, Clover, SC. Currently, the hours of operation are Tuesday - Friday, 10 am - 5 pm, and Saturday, 10am - 4 pm. Zo.ra is an elegant, aesthetically pleasing restaurant in the heart of Lake Wylie. Located at 1201 Village Harbor Drive, they feature seasonal food and wine pairings. Owners Roshan and Samantha Singh add to their atmosphere by hosting live music on Wednesdays. Zo.ra serves dinner between the hours of 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday and 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday. They just welcomed their new lunch menu from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Zo.ra boasts tasty, delectable meals such as truffle mac & cheese, ribs, three-cheese flatbread, and she crab soup. During their visit, the desserts offered to the reporters included vanilla, banana, blueberry, and strawberry crème brûlées. If that isn’t quite your taste, they also offered a strawberry cheesecake and plain, classic New York-style cheesecake. Opened in September 2023 by Roshan Singh and his wife Samantha, soon after they moved from New York City to Lake Wylie, Zo.ra was born. As a child, Roshan moved to New York, where he studied at New York Technical College. He studied culinary arts and met his wife, Samantha, who was studying hospitality. Later in life, Singh studied cuisine in France, primarily focusing on pastries. The couple later moved to Lake Wylie, and both shared the enjoyment of dining in upscale restaurants around and in the Charlotte area. They soon noticed that there was not enough upscale dining in the Lake Wylie area. Since both shared a dream of having their own restaurant, Roshan and Samantha decided to create Zo.ra, the name derived from their daughters Zoe and Leora, hoping for it to become a family restaurant. The reporters ordered the Zo.ra truffle mac & cheese, she-crab soup, and the Zo.ra ribs. The truffle mac & cheese had a delightful flavor profile, with the main notes of white cheddar shining through amongst the gouda and truffle oil. The delectable ribs had two options of flavors, Korean BBQ or Whiskey BBQ; choosing the Whiskey BBQ flavor for a smokey and comforting feel. The ribs were not only flavorful but savory and tangy; the meat fell right off the bone. The she-crab soup was served in a beautiful, simple bowl that alluded to the masterfully delicate and put-together flavor the soup itself had. With pungent notes of crab and its creamy bisque blended together, the soup was yet another luscious meal to indulge in. Overall, the experience was not only enjoyable but memorable. If you are looking for a new, unique dining experience, Zo.ra is the place to go. Not only will you enjoy the food, but the lovely atmosphere as well. BY CLOEY HARRIS, CHS SOPHOMORE PHOTOS BY KELLY CLARK, THE ROARING EAGLE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Clover, SC - In the heart of our small town, the daily struggles of life can be challenging. But locals can now take a well-needed break at Brick & Mortar Coffee and Mercantile at 109 N Main Street in Clover. When stepping into Brick & Mortar, one gets a sense of a rustic feel. From wooden beams to brick walls, the interior of this coffee house creates a cozy space. Upon entering, customers immediately notice the bakery case filled with treats like toffee crunch bars and cheesecake slices. Baristas are behind the counter, making lattes, frappuccinos, and other delicious drinks. At the end of the gleaming wooden counter are the specials. Two large chalkboards hang behind the counter and list bagels, sandwiches, coffees, and teas you can order. There is limited seating on the first floor, but if customers head to the back of the store, they will find stairs leading up to a large, open space. Across the room, one can see Main Street from the large windows. However, the fireplace is the centerpiece of this room, flanked by bookcases filled with games and decorations. Facing the fireplace is a comfy leather couch, with some small tables and a few larger ones to accommodate bigger groups. It maintains the rustic feel of the first floor with more exposed brick and wooden beams. One can easily imagine getting coffee and a treat and spending time on the couch with a good book on a snowy day. Or if someone works from home but needs a break from the home office, they could grab a sandwich and the soup of the day before heading upstairs and setting up for their next virtual meeting. This reporter got an iced caramel latte, and it was simply delicious. Not to mention that their customer service is top-notch. Despite them being packed, they still took the time to formally greet each customer and politely converse with every person they could. Brick and Mortar Mercantile is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6:30 am to 3:30 pm, Saturday from 7 am to 3 pm, and Sunday from 8 pm to 2 pm. BY DANTE HUDNALL, CHS JUNIOR Lake Wylie, SC - CaroMont Health has opened a brand-new medical clinic in Lake Wylie, South Carolina. This state-of-the-art facility, located at 1200 Village Harbor Drive, is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 am or 8:00 am to 5 pm, depending on the practice. The clinic boasts three distinct practices under one roof: Women’s Health, Family Medicine, and Pediatrics. Each practice is staffed by a dedicated and skilled care team, ready to address a wide range of health concerns. In order to be more convenient for patients, the new clinic’s location is situated right across the street from a CaroMont Health specialty clinic and an urgent care facility.
The CaroMont Family Medicine Lake Wylie clinic is the center of this new healthcare initiative, with a team of 20 physicians specializing in 11 different areas of medicine. These healthcare providers are committed to delivering comprehensive care for individuals and families at every stage of life. Their services encompass acute illness treatment, preventive medicine, and disease management for conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma. The clinic also offers an array of services, including ADHD evaluation and treatment for patients over 13 years old, adult and child physicals, joint injections, newborn care, lab services, school and sports physicals, and telemedicine. The CaroMont Pediatric Partners - Lake Wylie practice is dedicated to the well-being of children from infancy through adolescence. The clinic’s providers offer a wide range of services, including well-child care, newborn care, adolescent care, sports physicals, immunizations, child counseling and therapy, and ADHD management. Additionally, CaroMont Women’s Health is focused on providing comprehensive obstetrical and gynecological services in an environment tailored to meet women’s specialized healthcare needs. The clinic offers services that encompass adolescent gynecology, breastfeeding education, cervical cancer screening, contraception, genetic testing, gynecologic and urogynecology surgery, in-office procedures, robotic surgery, and routine and high-risk obstetric care. For those interested in learning more about the healthcare options offered by CaroMont Health in Lake Wylie, they can contact the clinic at (803) 631-2858 or visit their primary location at 1200 Village Harbor Drive. BY JACKSON BARBER, CHS STUDENT IN MRS. MENDELSOHN'S ENTREPRENEURSHIP CLASS Clover, SC - Carolina Chocolate Company, located on 106 Kings Mountain St. Clover, SC, is the perfect fit for you and your friends. The shop is open Monday through Thursday from 2pm – 8pm, Friday 2pm – 9pm, Saturday 11am – 9pm, and closed on Sunday. The business is owned and operated by Alicia Griffith and her creative son Tyler Griffith. Carolina Chocolate was created around ten years ago and has been a success. Last summer they wanted to add something to the shop and decided on ice cream after the very familiar ice cream shop, Scoops, closed the doors for good. Their menu isn’t just your average ice cream shop; they go beyond the boundaries and have added countless sundaes, banana boats, and ice cream sandwiches. The list of yummy items just goes on and on. They focus on detail in their products, the quality, and overall experience. The great thing is their prices range from $3.75 - $10.00, so they have options for everyone. While Carolina Chocolate is not hiring at the moment, they are always taking applications. The vibe Carolina Chocolate was going for was “fun, chill, happy”, and boy did they hit that spot on. To wrap up my evaluation of Carolina Chocolate’s ice cream portion, I asked Tyler what their target audience is, and I got the response, “Everyone. Everyone loves ice cream”. When you go to Carolina Chocolate, whether you’re going for Alicia’s delicious gourmet chocolate or Tyler’s creative ice cream, you are going to be in wonderful hands. BY KATIE DOUGE, CHS STUDENT Clover Harvest is a community-driven farm-to-table local restaurant that opened May 4, 2023. I had the pleasure of dining and talking with the owners, Alison and John Paoloca. Alison and John moved to Clover from the Philadelphia area 3 years ago. They chose to open Clover Harvest because they felt like they were at a point in their lives where they were looking at what they wanted to do in the future and felt that with John's background in restaurants and Alison's love of wanting to provide healthier food options to the general public and connect local, small farmers to their community, it was a good option for them! The top-selling menu item is the Shrimp and Grits, which comes in close second with the Korean Chicken Sandwich and the Burger! Though John's favorite menu item is the ribeye. He enjoys it because it’s a cut of meat they get from some really good vendors, and it is great quality! John hopes that the community will encourage and support the business district in opening more small businesses. Alison would like to thank all of Clover and the surrounding area for welcoming them and Clover Harvest with open arms. They are so grateful and humbled by the amount of people who have come and supported them. It was extremely important to them to hire local talent as well; Lynsey Comalnder is the executive chef, and their team is all local to Clover. Ava Haese painted the beautiful tree mural on the inside of the building, and Tai Hobson painted the mural on the outside of the building. John and Alison said, “We are happy to create community inside our walls as well as outside our walls and bring folks to Clover!” Clover Harvest is a hidden gem located at 1007 Old North Main St, Clover, SC 29710. BY DANTE HUDNALL, CHS JUNIOR
PHOTOS BY WILL STOUT, STORE OWNER Clover's skateboarding fans have an excellent new spot for their passion, with a lively skate shop opening up downtown. And the Grand Opening is on Oct. 6. Choosing the Right Spot When we asked the owner, Will Stout, why he chose this location for his store, he said, "We picked this building because it's right on 321 and has easy parking. Plus, the rent was affordable. You can find us at 518 S Main St. in Clover, SC." Upcoming Fun This skate shop wasted no time getting started. The shop planned to host their first skate event on Saturday, September 23, at United Bank, but it was rained out. He built a pop-up skate park that can travel and be set up anywhere. However, there is good news, according to Will. “We have another pop-up on October 7th at the same place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.," he happily shared. Helping New Skaters This skate shop is all about being inclusive. It has started a program to help those who cannot afford the skateboarding gear. "We have a box in the shop where people can donate used boards, wheels, and other parts for those who can't afford them. We won't say no to any kid who wants to skateboard. If it comes to it, I'll even give them my own shoes and board," he promised. Pushing for a Local Skate Park This skate shop is not just about selling; they are also big on giving back to the community. Will is working hard to make a free public skate park happen in Clover. "We're leading the charge for a free public skate park in Clover. We've had meetings with the parks and rec department and 5th Pocket Skateparks to make sure we're doing everything right. The city needs to see that it's important to have a safe place for kids to skateboard and ride scooters, not just something nice to have. After all, you wouldn't play baseball in the street if you had a baseball field," he stressed. Lots of Cool Brands This shop has something for everyone, with a wide range of brands. "In our store, you'll find big brands like Vans, Volcom, and Thrasher, but we also support local businesses, like Boring Cloth, founded by Clover High School graduates. We also stock skateboards from companies like Baker, Independent, and Bones," Will shared. More Than Just Skateboards While skateboards are the stars, this shop offers many other items too. "Besides skateboards, we have shoes, shirts, hoodies, jackets, longboards, old-school skateboards, and skateboarding features like rails and ledges. And keep an eye out, because in the next year, we plan to add snow and surf gear to our lineup," he revealed. The new skate shop in Clover is not just about skateboards; it is about making the community better. With the events, work on the skate park, and the variety of products offered, it's set to become a hotspot for skaters and a positive force in the Clover community. Don't forget to swing by 518 S Main St. Clover, SC, and support this awesome addition to our town! |