Today we’d like to introduce you to Cynthia Markovich.
Hi Cynthia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
For as long as I can remember, hosting and entertaining guests has been one of my most enjoyable hobbies. While my son was in high school, I held a part-time job to support and be present for him during a time when off days were nonexistent in his schedule! Between basketball, baseball, band practice, choir practice, and more, my house became where all the kids gathered- and I loved it. I loved entertaining them, hearing the sound of their laughs, and watching them grow into the men and women they are today. After he went to college, I decided to fill my time in ways that brought me joy- entertaining others. So in 2006, a close friend and I took a leap of faith and opened a local coffee shop in Greer, SC. I combined my love for two things- coffee and community. I wanted this coffee shop to represent how it once felt to have my house full of talking, laughing, loving, creating friendships, and entertaining people. All the other coffee shops had similar atmospheres- quiet, filled with people hard at work, studying, or taking some quiet time for their selves. While all those things are much needed, I wanted to bring a different atmosphere to my coffee shop.
Through marketing, vendor events, and word of mouth, our shop grew and multiplied. We met wonderful people and made amazing friends and connections until a business opportunity fell into our laps one day. After some time and consideration, we decided to step into this next opportunity for our business and opened our following location in the Greenville Health System Eastside. While working there, we saw firsthand how simple a cup of coffee and small lunch could be to a smile to a healing patient’s face. We saw the community being built in our small business, which only fueled our fire to continue to grow. As our time in the medical industry ended in 2014, we began looking at new locations that would allow us to grow our business, but I wanted to bring an advanced and new atmosphere to the business. During our time in business together, we took a lot of trips down to Charleston. While visiting, I fell in love with the historic district of the city and the repetition of preserving the old architecture. I noticed that instead of tearing buildings down and building new ones in their place, the city did an excellent job of placing a modern twist on these historical buildings. I wanted to do the same thing and preserve a piece of Greer’s history. During our search for the new location, I used this as a driving factor, and we found the restaurant that we are currently in today. That is when The Bleu Porch began. During this time, my business partner relocated, and that is when I became the business’s sole owner. We worked hard renovating this small house for 2 years before opening in 2016; the rest is history!
Let’s dig deeper into the story – has it been an easy path, and if not, what challenges have you overcome?
Any business owner could agree with me when I say the road to success in this industry is anything but smooth. You step into a world of complete service to others from the beginning. Learning the ins and outs of what must be done to produce a successful restaurant can be difficult at times but very rewarding in the end. Putting everything you have into a new business is never a smooth road, but the reward is worth it with hard work, faith, and a good community.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Our small business was built on the importance of community. We offer our Lunch Menu Monday-Friday and our Brunch Menu on Sundays. We specialize in homemade comfort foods that you get to enjoy while dining in an aesthetic, historic old home in Greer, SC. A few of the things that we are known for are our house-made Quiche, Chicken Salad, and Banana Pudding. While we always keep our staples available to our customers year-round, we introduce new items weekly! One of the most important things we want our community to know is how much we appreciate them. We come in every morning with fresh ingredients to prepare their favorite lunch items and give them a place to gather.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some changes you expect to see over the next five to ten years?
While we want to continue growing, we also want to make sure and preserve the heart of The Bleu Porch. We want to keep our business here and in Greer, preserving historical buildings, supporting local vendors, and giving back to our community!
Contact Info:
- Website: thebleuporchkitchenmarket.com
- Instagram: @thebleuporch
- Facebook: The Bleu Porch Kitchen and Market
