No Place Like Home

It’s a common story: a person leaves their small town to attend college, chase a dream career or feel like they’ve somehow made their mark on the world. As the person changes, the town they left behind changes, too. Somewhere along the way, that person finds their way back, seeing their hometown with entirely new eyes—and a newfound passion to bring their skills and knowledge to create positive change.

Get to know these South Carolinians who returned to their hometowns to open businesses and contribute to a deep-rooted sense of community. As it turns out, there really is no place like home.

Mary Alex Kopp

With its Gothic-style opera house, collection of late-19th-century buildings and quaint shops and cafes lining the downtown area, historic Newberry harnesses all the charm of a quintessential small town.

This is where Mary Alex Kopp, Vice President and Chief Public Relations Officer at disability-led organization Able South Carolina, lives with her family. Kopp initially left her hometown of Newberry for college but the economic downturn during the Great Recession led her to return. It wasn’t until she worked as the Tourism and Events Manager for the City of Newberry's Parks, Recreation, and Tourism department that she discovered the many aspects of community that make this town special. “I’ve stepped back into something that people really care about and that they want to preserve,” Kopp says.

Explore Newberry to enjoy fair trade specialty coffee with homemade syrups at Genesis Hub, sandwiches and milkshakes at Laila’s Place, and craft cocktails and live music at Bar Figaro.

Rob Masone

South Carolina Chef Ambassador Rob Masone had been away from his hometown of Rock Hill for awhile — opening a restaurant, cooking for high-ranking military officials and foreign dignitaries, and globe-trotting to appear in an international Iron Chef-esque syndicate show. When he returned, he was surprised to discover that Rock Hill had developed into a thriving community.

“Rock Hill had so much more to offer than when I was a kid,” he says.

Masone ultimately opened Kounter, a Southern comfort food restaurant in the very same five-and-dime where the 1961 Civil Rights protest occurred at the then-segregated McCrory’s lunch counter. Patrons can sit at the original pink-Formica counter that bears the names of those student activists who courageously stood their ground against injustice. Here, you can reflect on the past while savoring Masone's take on comfort food with a modern twist. “Comfort food, to me, is anything that brings you back to your childhood,” he says.

Darla Moore

Darla Moore established herself as the ultimate Southern businesswoman. After her success on Wall Street, the Lake City native landed on a 1997 cover of Fortune, which dubbed her one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business. She was also one of the first women admitted to Augusta National Golf Club.

Eventually, this financial powerhouse-turned-philanthropist moved back to Lake City part-time to open Moore Farms Botanical Garden on her grandparents’ land and to start ArtFields, best known for its annual arts competition. An area that was once one of the country’s largest tobacco markets is now enjoying a new era of economic growth with the botanical garden and a renowned arts scene. Stroll through Lake City to explore colorful public murals, trendy eateries, locally owned boutiques and modern hotels.

Sarah Simmons

As the founder of CITY GRIT Hospitality Group—a 2023 James Beard Outstanding Restaurateur Finalist and the owner-operator of Il Focolare pizzeria and smallSUGAR cafe in Columbia—Chef Sarah Simmons has a full plate. Early in her career, Simmons made her mark on New York City and was named one of the 100 Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company magazine, which called her “the chef cooking up the most exciting dining experience in New York,” a nod to her inventive culinary salon pop-up dinner parties. Her Southern restaurant Birds & Bubbles on Manhattan’s Lower East Side opened to numerous accolades, but in 2015, Simmons turned her attention back to her home state.

As well as the company's lineup of successful restaurant concepts, it also has its non-profit arm, Feed the City. “We’ve been heads down focused on a vision for the next generation restaurant group—one built on equity, inclusivity, fairness and opportunity,” says Simmons. Initiatives include community feeding, a hospitality workforce development program and providing livable-wage jobs for employees, demonstrating that feeding people extends well beyond the restaurant and into the entire community.

Featuring a variety of great stories and exciting trip ideas, the 2025 South Carolina Vacation Guide makes planning your next getaway to the Palmetto State easy. Request your free copy or download the guide today.