About Us
The building where Sweet Caroline’s is located looks like a barn. The barn standing next to it is a historic Ohio barn built sometime between the 1830s and 1850s in Attica, Ohio. It was very carefully taken down by Jim Harris of Atwater, over a three-week stretch. As Don Worthington, wrote at The Herald back in 2013: “Each part of the Timber Frame was given a number so that the craftsmanship of these early Ohio farmers could be put back together… The task of reassembly fell to another Ohioan, Dennis Brion, who is Harris’ neighbor. So – in 10-day stretches – Brion and his workers have battled the South Carolina heat and humidity and one of the rainiest seasons on record to rebuild the barns just north of the McConnells post office on US 321” (“Rebuilding history one peg at a time”, by Don Worthington, The Herald, Rock Hill, SC, August 7, 2013).
Today, the two buildings, the barn and the one where Sweet Caroline’s is being built, have become the centerpiece of the Markets at McConnells, and complement the flea market that is open during spring, summer, and fall. As Don Worthington, explains in his article: “The flea market is owned by Larry Queen and Daryl and Ann Herbert of York. It has been a dream of Daryl’s for several years. The… two market sheds are already packed with vendors on the weekend. Items for sale range from farm produce to what’s just been pulled from the attic or garage…”.
In the Spring of 2020, Ron Williams of York decided to take over the restaurant. He knew all about restaurants in Rock Hill SC because he has been a professional in the food distribution business for many years now. He named it after his late mother, Caroline Williams, whose pictures from her childhood years can be found at the entrance of the restaurant. Ron was close to his mother and to name the restaurant after her was an easy call for him. Inspired by Neil Young’s all time classic song and the love of his mom for flowers he created a beautiful logo that you can see on the sign as you pass US 321.
As Ron explains, he wanted to have a restaurant where people felt like home. As he says: “I am from Rock Hill, and I wanted to make sure that I was part of a project that could turn out to be one of the best restaurants in Rock Hill SC. A place that people could call home. I wanted everybody who was trying our food to feel that our brisket, pulled pork and chicken was like they were eating at their grandma’s or mother’s house, and that is why everything – from french fries to our sauces – is made in house. I wanted for the restaurant to use fresh local ingredients, and Sweet Caroline’s to become the meeting point of people from the greater Rock Hill area.
The pandemic was in full force when we decided to open back in May 2020. Some called me crazy, but I believed so much in the project that I did not want to wait. My knowledge on the food industry – especially in our area – and my belief that good food and great service never fails, however difficult times are, were the main reasons that led me to take the decision and open this restaurant. And of course, I believed that at some point this would be over, and we would go back to our normal lives. Many things have changed during this pandemic. We all have been through dark times. Many people lost their jobs, students had to stay at home, people had to work from home. Our lives came upside down. But we had to go on. For ourselves, for our families and for our community. This is a great community, that saw the value of what we were bringing and helped us throughout our journey to offer the best BBQ in Rock Hill SC among all restaurants near Rock Hill SC.”
Ron together with an experienced team of professionals, both at the front and the back of Sweet Caroline’s BBQ really know how to provide a great dining experience. There is a great selection of wines, liquor, and beers for those that want to have a drink at the bar or while they are eating. Ron says, that he wants people to have a great time while they are at the restaurant and to build memories with their loved ones there. Ron believes that his mom’s positive energy is all around the place and this is one of the reasons why people keep coming back.
He concluded by saying: “As a family run restaurant, in a lovely community, we might not do everything right. Our customers know though that whatever their issue is, they can get in touch with either me or Steve – our GM – either by calling us or through our website and social media platforms and they know we will solve any issue they might have. As I told you, people who come to this restaurant feel like they are family!”
LARGE OR SMALL PARTIES? WEDDINGS? CATERING? WE GOT YOU COVERED! CALL SWEET CAROLINE’S AND WE WILL MAKE SURE TO ACCOMMODATE YOUR NEEDS
We do offer catering for small and large parties and weddings in Rock Hill SC. Please check availability of our restaurant area for your wedding reception. For booking or inquiries simply fill out the form. Let us know of the date that the venue is going to take place, the approximate number of guests, and any other questions you may have. We will get back to you to discuss your options as quickly as we can!
We have an established process to accommodate all needs, whether it’s a private party, small or large, or a wedding and we can make sure to have available for you, your favorite specialties from our menu.