Bridgeway Station — Attraction in Mauldin

I got an email from Google saying this place that I had added to Google Maps had gotten 1,000,000 total views. I do remember adding this place to the map, but also seem to recall it was subsequently removed, then added back later by someone else. My memory could be flawed though, and since I did get that notification, I'll go ahead with a currently-relevant review.

When I first heard about this new mixed-use community 5 years ago, I was skeptical it would truly integrate the home/work/retail paradigm into people's lives. There have been many such places built, but all too often people who live in mixed-use communities end up commuting somewhere else to work. They may also need to go elsewhere for basic shopping. One thing this place is lacking is a food market; a moderately-priced grocery on premises is a must for earning a top rating; one with a pharmacy would be best.

Bridgeway Sta. does in fact have a good number of on-premise potential employers. The retail businesses are skewed toward higher-end restaurants, which isn't ideal for affordability access. Originally the intention was for the place to resemble an 1800s Southern Village, but instead it's developed into a place with Italian Renaissance ambience. There is even a replica of Michelangelo's "The Me" (ha-ha!). This may contribute to an overall ethos of exclusivity instead of affordability.

[Next 4 paragraphs written before learning of the sculpture breaking during installation--see update at end] One very good thing that appears to have happened, but it's not certain: A plan to install an 85-foot high mess-tangle of concrete and stainless steel purported to be a "sculpture" on the grassy area alongside I-385 has not been carried out. It was originally scheduled for 2020, then an article in the Greenville Journal in 2022 said it had been delayed and would probably not be completed for a couple of more years. Now in 2025 it still has not been, but there has been no official word about it.

Have these plans have been scrapped? it would behoove the management of the place (Hughes Investments) to announce it if so. There has been understandable backlash toward the development among people in the nearby neighborhoods—Ricelan, Bridges Crossing, Woodland Village—who have experienced upheaval in the immediate vicinity of their homes. To know that they were ALSO supposed to have a monstrous eyesore imposed upon them that would be very difficult if not impossible to avoid seeing (driving north on I385 it would be impossible not to see it while focused on the road), but that in fact, that WON'T be happening, could foster goodwill among them.

The negative public response to the sculpture is predictable, based on the response to another sculpture by the same artist, placed in Ossining, NY in the 2010s. It's only half the size of the one planned for here. Ossining is 50 miles north of NYC, where bizarre & provocative art is as well-received as it is anywhere in the world. The town funds its own sculpture park; the people there are receptive to experimental art. But when this piece was placed in a riverfront-park area, local reaction was overwhelmingly negative.

Why would the people of Mauldin/Greenville be any less negative about another piece that is only different from that one by being twice as tall and massive (85 feet)? Most likely their reaction would be even worse. That may be why there has been almost no mention of it in all the voluminous media coverage of Bridgeway Sta.

UPDATE: I just found out, through TikTok no less, that they tried to install the sculpture, and it broke! OH SWEET KARMA!! Actually that isn't too surprising--another sculpture this sculptor had installed on the grounds of a museum in New Orleans ended up being to heavy for the soil, and it fell down. It was lying on its side for months before finally being moved to a university campus.

This is a splendid development for the entire community! Celebrate Greenville/Mauldin/Simpsonville--dance jubilantly upon...

Stunning atmosphere. Terrible experience. This is only my second time coming. I had a terrible experience the first time. I didn't leave a review since it could've been a fluke. Not a fluke. The service at every place is terrible. There are actually 2 of 4 different places since my last visit. (Not in addition to. Instead of.) Slim terrible options. I just paid 16.00 for a beer and slice of pizza that has for sure been sitting out all day. I had to stand there for awhile while the associates chatted in the next door food booth. There is a sign that says baked potato bar. No menu. When asked it's just a potato with bacon and cheese. That's not exactly a baked potato bar. The bartender at the pub told me the seltzer was like a Baja Blast. It's yellow. And nothing at all like a Baja blast. It's just kind of silly. Every associate in the "food hall" is on thier phone and does not have any interest in doing thier job. Both visits. There is a hot chicken booth but food is sitting in a warmer under the counter. Food in the food hall is just overall subpar. Maybe the actual restaurants are better but I usually stop at these food halls for the options. Bridgewater really is lacking there. The brewery stank so bad last time (not from beer, from mildewy mop water) that we couldn't stay in there. Last time they gave me the wrong drink and still charged me quite a bit....so I just skipped it entirely this time. Just realllllly overall unimpressed. I think these developers need to step up the game here before they end up with a project that is abandoned and bleeding money. I would so much rather go to Vaughns in Simpsonville. Atmosphere is as visually appealing but it's good and there is way better food options with a way better staff. It is such a shame that this place...

I went to Bridgeway station for the first time last week. Unfortunately, it will be my last.

Bridgeway Station describes itself as a dining, shopping, and entertainment community. What I witnessed, however, was a public park or children's playground. Even as late as 8:30pm on a Saturday, there were as many children under 10 at Bridgeway as there were adults. Were most of these children supervised or well behaved? No.

We witnessed kids kicking soccer balls, throwing footballs, and riding scooters without concern for their own safety or the safety of others. Footballs knocked into full drinks which spilled, and one even knocked into a drink which spilled into another child's stroller. Children were jumping, climbing and doing gymnastics off of the concrete platform in front of the large outdoor TV. This is a huge safety concern and financial liability for the owners as I'm sure a parent would be happy to sue for any injury. We even witnessed a verbal altercation between an inebriated adults over one child's behavior.

I don't have a problem with small children wanting to play, but this is neither the venue or time of day for those sorts of activities. This recklessness drives away potential patrons who might want to enjoy a calm, casual night out. This also causes more work for the poor cleaning staff who have to come around and clean up all of the mess left behind as a result.

There need to be specific rules and business hours put in place to prevent this type of thing and limit Bridgeway Station's own liability. Otherwise, people will be driven away. On the other hand, if you're the type of parent who likes to let their child run amok unsupervised while you put a few back at Bridgeway Brewing, this may be the EXACT venue you've been...