Introduction
When I was sixteen, my massive family took a trip to Italy. I’m still not totally sure how we afforded it on my dad’s ministry salary, but I’m so glad we did! We stayed with a missionary couple and spent several weeks moving across Italy and Sicily—from church to church, joining local congregations.
Of course, we saw the traditional tourist spots like Rome, Pompeii, and Venice, but mostly we stayed in smaller towns and cities. I fell in love with the old world. Buildings were more than just practical dwellings—they were expressions of personality. The cookie-cutter churches and houses I was used to felt cheap and harsh compared to the rustic stone, tiled roofs, beautiful streets, and grand domes. The architecture felt like it cared about more than just passing code. There was meaning behind the choices, and it was a joy. Art. It was beautiful, intentional, and old—and I fell in love.
So when I heard Bridgeway Station was opening in the Mauldin area, I was naturally skeptical. Projects like this just don’t usually happen. Too often, people care more about money than aesthetics, and it’s expensive and ambitious to build what’s essentially an old-world European city square in a field in Upstate South Carolina. Not practical, but really cool! Exactly the kind of thing that usually doesn’t get off the ground.
But it did.
I don’t know why Bridgeway Station hasn’t yet cemented itself as a staple in the Upstate. I think it will eventually, and maybe this blog can help! Literally twenty minutes from downtown Greenville, there’s a spot that intentionally feels like an old European city. It’s cool, it looks old even though it isn’t, it has great restaurants, plenty of parking, access to a walking trail, and, of course, great coffee!
People today tend to prioritize function over form. We’ve lost a willingness to invest in form—but have we prioritized the wrong thing? I’m glad Bridgeway Station exists. I’m glad the developers were willing to take a risk and invest in this unique endeavor. I’m glad I can sit at a table, sip great coffee, and look out at a space that reminds me of Italy. And I’m glad to introduce it to you if you haven’t been here before!
But this blog isn’t primarily about aesthetics or architecture—it’s about coffee and trees!
Of the two Coffee cafe options at Bridgeway Station, Mercato is the best. It’s a drive from the typical work/date spots, but it’s so worth it!
On a harmonizing note, just like people are sometimes unwilling to pay more for form, many are put off by the extra work needed to clear the ground of the little spiky gumboils around Sweetgum trees. Frequently, these trees are simply removed, and I do understand why. But if you’re willing to endure the extra work, in the fall, these trees become art—vibrant, stunning, beautiful art.
So join me as we take an up-close look at Mercato Coffee and the Sweetgum tree!
☕ First Up: Coffee ☕
Mercato Coffee Scorecard
Overall Score: 90* / 100
(Average of all nine categories excluding Pour Overs)
|
Category |
Score |
|
Beans |
9.5 |
|
Drip Coffee |
8.5 |
|
Pour Overs |
– |
|
Espresso Drinks |
8.9 |
|
Non‑Coffee Options |
7.0 |
|
Food |
9.2 |
|
Vibe |
9.9 |
|
Seating |
8.9 |
|
Work‑Friendliness |
9.5 |
|
Parking & Access |
9.2 |
Menu
We are going to start with food here. Beyond a doubt, Mercato has the best pastry offerings of any coffee shop I’ve reviewed. It’s loaded with sweets, cookies, bagels, even donuts sometimes. They also have some genuinely good food/sandwich options. I like the fact that they split things between lunch and breakfast. The non-pastry food offerings here are not nearly as unique or even as tasty as Tandem or Barista, even while being more expensive. I wouldn’t travel here for just the food, but it’s still really good.
But what about the coffee? Well, it’s Methodical, which means it’s great! They don’t offer pour-overs, which is a bummer, but their drip is solid. They have a standard offering of espresso drinks and some really fun seasonal drink items. In terms of quality, even though it’s the same beans, the espresso drinks are just a smidge below what regular Methodical locations are. I am not sure why this is, but even saying that, they are still great!
As to non-coffee options, I feel like expanding the tea offering would be a smart business move, and I’m not sure why they haven’t. They do offer it, but given the European-inspired location and the partnership with Methodical, it just feels like there should be more.
Location and Workability
Here is where Mercato shines. It’s right on the corner at the front of Bridgeway Station, and it’s beautiful. There are spacious open windows which bring in lots of natural light, grand dark wooden doors with metal accents, street-café-style outdoor seating (which I love!), and lots of chairs. I think my favorite spot to work is a high table area that juts right up against huge windows that, during cooler months, can be opened. The ceilings are high—weirdly industrial—but high. The layout is spacious, even if it doesn’t really lean into a unified aesthetic. There are multiple spots with good outlets. There could be more, but I’ve never had an issue.
As far as parking, there is plenty of room in the lot nearby. Granted, sometimes it’s a bit of a walk depending on how full it gets.
Overall, the location is great, there is plenty of good parking nearby, and the workability is great.
Conclusion
Mercato has quickly become one of my favorite cafés in the area. They have great coffee, even compared to the other heavy hitters in the area, solid food offerings, a literal smorgasbord of pastries, plenty of seating for work, AND it’s in Bridgeway Station! My only minor critique is that I feel like there is an opportunity here to lean into the overall aesthetic of Bridgeway Station a little more and offer some more interesting old-world-inspired options. That being said, this is still one of the best overall places in the Upstate to get a coffee and get some work done!
Now onto trees!
🌳 The Sweetgum 🌳
If you’ve spent any time barefoot in the Upstate, it’s not unlikely that you’ve had an unpleasant run-in with a “spike grenade” as we used to call them as kids. Growing up in a wooded neighborhood with a lot of little boys, we would yeet those things at each other with vivacious malevolence. Well, what are they and where did they come from? Those are “sweetgumballs.” They are protected seed balls from Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua) trees. Apart from those spike balls, they can be identified by their signature star-shaped leaves, which are unmistakable, especially when they burst into vivid autumn colors—deep reds, purples, and oranges. This tree is everywhere, and frequently we get called in to remove it. Let’s take a look at this tree and get to know it a little more!
What Makes Sweetgum Unique?
The Sweetgum is native to the eastern United States, with a natural range stretching from Connecticut down to Florida and west to Texas (USDA Forest Service, 2016). It’s a deciduous (leaf-shedding) hardwood tree that can grow 60 to 100 feet tall in the right conditions. The leaves, shaped like five-pointed stars, give sweetgum a distinct silhouette, making it easy to identify even at a glance.
The tree gets its name from the aromatic resin it produces. Native Americans used this resin for medicinal purposes, and it also inspired the name of storax, a fragrant compound derived from sweetgum that’s used in perfumes and incense (Dirr, 2009).
Sweetgum’s fall foliage is one of its best-known features. Unlike maples or oaks, sweetgum leaves can turn multiple colors on the same tree—yellow, orange, red, and purple—offering a unique, multihued display (Burns & Honkala, 1990). This color variation adds to the tree’s popularity as a landscape choice in the South.
Those Spiky Seed Balls: Nature’s Little Hitchhikers
Perhaps the most recognizable—and sometimes notorious—aspect of the sweetgum is the aforementioned “gumballs.” These round, spiky seed pods mature in the fall and often fall to the ground, covering lawns and sidewalks. While they can be a nuisance for homeowners and pedestrians, these seed balls serve a valuable role in the tree’s reproduction and the local ecosystem.
Each seed ball contains dozens of tiny seeds that are dispersed by wind and water (Dirr, 2009). Wildlife such as squirrels and birds also feed on the seeds, contributing to natural seed dispersal. The rough texture of the seed balls may also help protect the seeds inside from predators until they’re ready to germinate (U.S. National Arboretum, 2015).
For many, these seed balls can be a pain to clean up, but they’re part of the tree’s life cycle and provide food and shelter for local fauna. In urban and residential settings, routine cleanup or planting sweetgums away from high-traffic areas can help reduce inconvenience.
Growing and Caring for Sweetgum Trees
The sweetgum is quite adaptable. It tolerates a wide range of soil types—from sandy loam to clay—and thrives in both acidic and neutral soils (Gilman, 1997). While it prefers full sun, the sweetgum can tolerate partial shade.
Sweetgums also have moderate drought tolerance once established, although young trees will need regular watering during dry spells. They grow relatively quickly compared to many hardwoods, often adding 2 feet or more annually under optimal conditions (Gilman & Watson, 1994).
Pruning is important to maintain the tree’s structural integrity, especially in urban settings. Sweetgums tend to develop narrow crotch angles—where branches meet the trunk—that can weaken over time and become prone to breakage during storms (Gilman, 1997). Regular pruning to remove weak or crossing branches will help the tree maintain a strong form and reduce risk.
Another consideration is sweetgum’s root system. It tends to have shallow, spreading roots that can interfere with sidewalks, driveways, and foundations if planted too close. Planning your tree placement carefully can avoid future headaches.
Considerations Before Planting
If you’re considering adding a sweetgum to your yard or neighborhood, keep a few things in mind:
- Seed Balls: As noted, the spiky seed pods can create cleanup work and may be a tripping hazard on sidewalks or patios.
- Root Spread: Plant at least 20 feet from sidewalks or structures to avoid root interference.
- Space: Sweetgums grow tall and wide. Make sure you have enough space to accommodate a mature tree.
- Maintenance: Regular pruning will keep your tree healthy and reduce damage risk during storms.
With these factors in mind, sweetgum is a resilient, beautiful, and ecologically valuable tree well worth considering for your landscape.
When to Consider Removing a Sweetgum Tree
By far the most common reason we get called out is simply due to the never-ending maintenance challenges. The spiky seed balls, while natural, are a nuisance, especially in high-traffic areas or places where children play. People want the tree gone just so they don’t have to deal with it anymore, and it’s hard to blame them. If that’s you, Dill Tree Care can definitely help. However, it is worth saying that even with that significant drawback, they do have some very real advantages, specifically in the fall when they just burst with color, and the fact that they are hardy trees that provide a great home for song birds. So think carefully before removing, but we totally get if you are just done with the spike balls.
Another common reason is the tree’s root system. Because sweetgums have shallow, spreading roots, they can sometimes damage sidewalks, driveways, sewage tanks, or other underground utilities if planted too close to these structures. Additionally, if a sweetgum tree becomes diseased, structurally unsound, or severely damaged by storms, removal prevents safety risks to people and property. Regular inspections by a tree care professional can help identify when a tree might need to come down.
Ultimately, the decision to remove a sweetgum should balance the tree’s benefits with any potential risks or inconveniences it presents in your specific landscape.
Care
Like all your trees, the Sweetgum requires regular care. Dill Tree Care can help assess the health of the tree and give it regular pruning to ensure it stays as healthy as possible, or we can simply remove it and finally get rid of those pesky “spikies.” Whatever your Sweetgum needs, Dill Tree Care can help!
Conclusion
Therefore, just as one must venture forth from the safety of familiar grounds to Bridgeway Station to enjoy the aged aesthetic and crisp flavors of Mercado, so too must one bear and forebear the toil of care to enjoy the sweetgum in all its multihued autumn grandeur. Take courage. Let not this labor or this venture daunt you—for the shade of that sweet tree, set aflame by autumn’s hallowed hand, and the pleasant scent of coffee mingling with views of another world, do well recompense your effort.
-Zac Johnson, Dill Tree Care
References:
- Burns, R.M., & Honkala, B.H. (1990). Silvics of North America: Volume 2. Hardwoods. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
- Dirr, M.A. (2009). Manual of Woody Landscape Plants. Stipes Publishing.
- Gilman, E.F. (1997). Liquidambar styraciflua: Sweetgum. University of Florida IFAS Extension.
- Gilman, E.F., & Watson, D.G. (1994). Liquidambar styraciflua. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Forest Experiment Station.
- U.S. Forest Service (2016). Sweetgum. Retrieved from https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/liqsty/all.html
- U.S. National Arboretum (2015). Sweetgum Tree Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/plant-collections/tree-collections/sweetgum.html
