Today we’d like to introduce you to Dana Lowie.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Keeping it close to home…I grew up in the Upstate, went to UGA, then landed in Greenville where I began a career in graphic design. In the early 1990’s, I vacationed in Seattle with Steve Taylor. That incurable “coffee bug” took a big bite, so we brought it back home. Like many visitors to the coffee capital of the US, we set out on a quest to bring Seattle-style coffee to Greenville.
December 31, 1992 – First Night Festival
…Steve and I opened an outside coffee cart named Pony Espresso, located just across the street from us now. The chilled New Year’s Eve crowd wanted hot chocolate & mochas. Friends and family, 9 in all, took turns making frantic trips to the nearby grocery for more milk. After that jump into the fire, Steve operated the cart during the weekday mornings while working evenings at the local newspaper. I continued as a graphic artist for a small downtown firm and teamed up with Steve on weekend evenings at Pony Espresso. We met many new friends & learned a lot about coffee along the way.
Wheels Were Spinning
The next step was to find a permanent indoor location. Dana and Steve shared their dream with a fellow cyclist, Cathy Anderson, who wanted to open a retail bakery, so the three created a plan. We found a great location at the corner of Main St. & Coffee St, in the underground level of the Cauble Building.
May 1, 1995:
Coffee Underground (the name made sense) opened the doors to a lively crowd. Luckily it was just the right time, as Greenville craved this new option to the bar scene. As you entered, you saw the existing cozy seating area. We named an adjacent room “the gallery” and local artists filled the walls. The third room was transformed into a theater, where you could see improv shows & independent films.
Over the Years:
After about a year, Cathy decided to pursue other business ventures We expanded the menu and began table service in the evenings. A few years later, Steve took off to the Big Apple. It was a little daunting at first to go it alone, but the staff and I found a rhythm.
In 2000, I purchased the property where we are still located, and we began roasting our own coffee beans. In 2007, we grew underground by acquiring an adjacent unit, and now have a big kitchen and more seating in our cozy Red Room. Smooth sailing for a long while, then the bug to expand came crawling around. In 2018, We (along with my husband Jarvis) opened Coffee on Stone and World Piece Pizza on Stone Avenue. In 2023, we finally decided that it is best to just stay focused on Coffee Underground. We did some upgrades to our bar, cafe seating and Blue Room (formerly the red room). In 2025, we celebrated our 30-year anniversary with a big party, and received a proclamation plaque from Mayor Knox White. Cool!
The CU Team and I continue to successfully operate CU while making more fun memories. Important ingredients in our success are the CU staff, great coffee, great experiences and of course, great customers!. We are happy to be considered a downtown landmark, and thankful for another successful year. Here’s a toast to many more happy years for you and for CU.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth for the most part. We are fortunate and our success is not taken for granted. Our success allowed us to open other businesses, even though we decided to eventually just stick with the one true love…Coffee Underground.
Then of course, there was the Covid experience shared by the world. It was a hard hit in 2020, but we recovered quickly and with full force. Since we are underground, we did have flooding from hurricane Helene in 2024, but we were lucky to not experience the devastation that so many endured.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a one of a kind, locally-owned and operated coffee shop and cafe located in Downtown Greenville SC. Hot Coffee…Cool Vibe! is our catch-phrase. Our atmosphere is unique since we are literally underground, at basement level. Our ceilings are low with exposed beams and soft lighting, which makes for a cozy experience.
In addition to 2 seating rooms and a meeting space, we have a theater performance room. The weekly schedule consists of Open Mic Comedy, Alchemy Improv Comedy, Wits End Poetry, then random movies and music shows.
Our in-house roasted coffees are delicious and fresh. We roast to a medium roast level and brew the coffee strong. The espresso blend is smooth for sipping yet bold enough to make tasty lattes. We offer 12 varieties of coffees from around the world. Our coffee menu consists of traditional espresso and cappuccinos, plus many specialty flavored lattes (hot, iced or frozen). For those who are not in the mood for coffee, we offer teas, smoothies, shakes, beer, wine and cocktails (think Irish Coffee or Espresso Martini). Yum!
Our food menu offers many tastes, from all-day breakfast, to sandwiches, salads and appetizers. We make it all from scratch and we don’t skimp on quality ingredients. To top it off, we make our desserts in-house. What goes better with a good cup of coffee than a piece of our famous strawberry cake, a slice of chocolate mousse cake, specialty cheesecake or peanutbutter pie?! Enjoy!
What’s next?
My future plans for CU and myself are not complicated. We just plan to keep on keeping on, improving where we can and having fun all the while.
Pricing:
- Base coffee menu prices range from $3-$6
- Frozen beverages range from $5-$6.50
- Desserts range from $4-$9
- Food prices range from $5-$13
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.coffeeunderground.info
- Instagram: coffee.underground
- Facebook: Coffee Underground
