The Mason Jar Restaurant is here to stay
Cranking up a restaurant from scratch is not a cakewalk. Now that Eddie Marini, his wife, and three children have paid their dues in full, their new restaurant, called The Mason Jar, plans to stay in downtown Greer.
When Marini opened the restaurant in 2022, people used to walk by. He got busy remodeling the front, adding large TV screens, enhancing the menu, and increasing staff.
Customers started entering the restaurant in ever-increasing streams. Income has tripled, and the future looks good.
Marini plans to add locations and hire more staff.
It’s been a long, hard grind from working at various bars and restaurants in New York City to opening his own place.
Marini’s father was a chef for Harris of London, and he later owned a restaurant.
He set his goal by observing his father's trajectory. After graduating college, he had no job. So he passed out his resume on Ocean Drive in Florida until a restaurant hired him. They had 80 servers, so he worked his way up from one shift to two, and finally to full-time.
Marini’s Jamaican and Puerto Rican ancestry makes him uniquely versed in a variety of cuisines.
After moving to New York, he started bartending at the famous Plaza Hotel, where Home Alone was filmed.
His arrival in the Upstate coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic.
On May 13, 2022, he opened The Mason Jar to a nightmarish ordeal of disasters and repairs, including damaged ceilings and walls.
Marini reached a point where he considered giving up, but he pressed on, and he is glad he did.
Marini marvels at the improved prospects. He has 8 cooks and a staff of 24.
Business is so brisk that this large team is direly needed. The restaurant is open 7 days a week, closing only on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Check out their menu at themasonjargreer.com. Entrees include hand-pressed burgers, wings, wraps, and craft cocktails. Marini takes no shortcuts and has no frozen patties. He uses Angus beef burgers on brioche buns, boneless chicken in a dozen sauces, and entrees like chicken and waffles or shrimp and grits; special salads round out the upscale fare. Specials change each week.
See the online schedule for Music Bingo and karaoke night.
The Bar
Sports fans gather to view college and NFL games with their friends, old and new.
Check out their full drink menu of whiskey and spirits.
As the owner, Marini wears many hats. He is a therapist, a counselor, and a confidant. He loves making new friends and invites you to drop by.
