Another small wave of closures across South Carolina and Tennessee
As 2025 came to a close, a quiet wave of departures swept through the Southeast, leaving familiar dining rooms dark in South Carolina and Tennessee. The Palmetto State lost two taco staples, with Greer’s Tipsy Taco and Simpsonville’s Main Street Willy Taco both shuttering their locations. Tennessee saw similar exits, ranging from the definitive New Year’s Eve closure of Savannah’s Yan Yan Restaurant to the unannounced end of West Knoxville’s steakhouse Ivory’s Pearl & Prime, marking a final goodbye for these local gathering spots. This email was originally sent out on Jan 14th, 2026.
Welcome to this week’s Southern Last Call. Down here, the best restaurants have never been just about the food—they’re about the “hey, how’s your mama?” greetings, the worn-in booths, and the recipes passed down through generations. On Wednesdays, we’re paying tribute to the latest institutions closing their doors across the South. From the Gulf to the Appalachians, these are the kitchens that fed our communities, the landmarks that defined our towns, and the stories that deserve one final toast before the lights go out. Read more here.
