LYMAN — A new food truck serving smoked barbecue ribs, chicken, pulled pork and brisket has arrived on the Spartanburg County food scene.
McCoy’s BBQ opened in Lyman at 125 Spartanburg Highway on July 2.
“I’m out here all night so that it comes fresh off the smoker for my customers,” said owner Edward McCoy, a Spartanburg native.
He always loved food but never saw himself making a living from barbecue. At family dinners, his aunt made him try her dishes and rate them before they were served.
While living in Fredericksburg, Va., McCoy became friends with a neighbor from Texas who taught him how to smoke meat. The two barbecued together and hosted cookouts. In 2010, they bought an old, handmade smoker and converted an RV into a food truck.
“When the two came together, the technique that he had and the southern flavors that I brought to it, it just made a beautiful thing,” he said.
He moved back to Spartanburg County to be closer to family.
McCoy said his favorite meats to smoke are pork and brisket. It takes him around 12 hours to cook a 12-pound brisket, and he serves heavier cut of ribs that take around four hours. McCoy uses hickory wood for a clean, smoky taste that is not overpowering.
Customers can choose a sweet tomato-based sauce, mustard-based sauce, or a vinegar-based sauce to go on their meat. For sides, McCoy offers smoked macaroni and cheese, southern style green beans, hickory smoked barbecue beans, coleslaw or fries.
“It touches my soul for people to love what I’ve put so much hard work and love into,” McCoy said.
McCoy’s BBQ also does catering. On the business’s website there’s a tool that allows customers to put in a head count, select their meat items and receive a price quote. The food truck is open Friday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
SPARTANBURG — When Olivia Skelton opened Purple Sunrise Spa, she didn’t know what to expect being a first-time business owner.
The Cowpens resident had worked for a spa in Greenville and in retail. By the time she turned 24, she decided to pursue her dreams and open her own business catering to women’s health and wellbeing. In July 2021, Purple Sunrise Spa opened at 210 Westgate Mall Drive.
“I just didn’t want to work any corporate jobs anymore,” she said. “I just wanted to do something more. I started with no clients and now have over 1,000. I love the people we get here. We created a place where women feel safe, confident and beautiful here.”
Skelton’s family relocated to South Carolina from Michigan when she was 12 after her dad got a job in the state. She’s grown to love the city but still misses the snowy winters in Michigan.
Her focus is centered on expanding her business, which now has three employees. She spent six months prior to opening renovating the building when it had no power. She built a following during the process by promoting her endeavor on social media.
It paid off with her business fully booked with appointments during the first few months.
“The business is still growing, and I hope to have my own building eventually,” Skelton said. “We are looking to hire two more employees.”
When she opened, Skelton said she wasn’t sure about herself. However, her confidence has grown with support from her clients.
Kara Lee of Spartanburg is a Purple Sunrise Spa client and supports the owner’s business.
“Olivia is a huge inspiration to everyone around her and the environment she has created for her clients,” Lee said. “This spa is like no others. Olivia makes every single human feel welcomed, relaxed and it’s so different than any other spas I’ve been to.”
Nicole Gantz is among the massage therapists who work at the spa. She has been a massage therapist for two years. Each of the massage rooms are decorated with different themes.
SPARTANBURG — Robots are coming to BMW’s Spartanburg manufacturing plant, but not at the cost of any human jobs.
California-based AI robotics company Figure announced Jan. 18 that it signed a commercial agreement with BMW Manufacturing to “deploy general purpose robots in automotive manufacturing environments.”
BMW spokesman Steve Wilson said in an email Friday that there is no timetable for when the robots will be deployed. He added that no job losses will occur because of the robots and that there will be no changes for BMW’s associates.
“Companies that invest in innovation such as this are more sustainable, become more productive, and have a competitive advantage,” Wilson said. “Innovation, digitalization, and sustainability are key success factors for our future.
BMW and Figure will pursue a “milestone-based approach.” After the initial phase where Figure will identify use cases to apply the robots in automotive production, the robots will begin staged deployment at the BMW manufacturing site in Greer.
At its 8-million-square-foot Spartanburg County campus, BMW Manufacturing employs 11,000 workers. It is the largest U.S. automotive exporter by value with a total export value of almost $9.6 billion, and more than 1,500 vehicles are assembled at the plant daily.
Figure founder and CEO Brett Adcock said the potential of general purpose robotics is untapped.
“Figure’s robots will enable companies to increase productivity, reduce costs, and create a safer and more consistent environment,” Adcock said.
The companies will also jointly explore other topics in advanced technology such as artificial intelligence, robot integration, robot control and manufacturing virtualization.
BMW CEO Robert Engelhorn said the use of “general purpose robot solutions” has the potential to make productivity more efficient.
Wilson said that the carmaker is investigating several tasks across the plant to help improve safety and ergonomics.
864-527-0464
Service Areas
