The 2023 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville’s Superlative Bathroom Awards
We see you Greenville.
Greenville’s bathroom culture is becoming en vogue not only in the private home but spreading quickly to our public establishments. We’re not claiming responsibility for the sudden influx of fashionable restrooms since we established The Flushies in 2017, but we’re not not claiming it either. 😜
We are humbled and honored to announce:
This year’s 2023 Flushies produced the most nominations and repeat nominations of former trophy winners ever.
And while we will forever search for the Cleanest Potty in Town, we discovered an array of new pretty porcelain princesses designed by everyone from entrepreneur and Group Therapy owner Matthew Hubbard to local design legend Kelly Ford of Ford Interior Design.
You read our minds and embraced your potties and our vision.
Thank you for recognizing that heading off to the restroom while enjoying the best of Greenville is indeed, also, part of the experience.
Let’s just say, it’s a natural fit.
The business.
🧻 Throughout the year TEAM OTGG keeps an ongoing list of restrooms nominated by YOU, our scouts, writers, and photographers. We visit them. We experience them.
🧻🧻 As we get closer to narrowing down the nominations, we reach out to the OTGG community and ask for more.
🚽🚽🚽 TEAM OTGG whittles down the nominations to a finalist list.
Final thrones are notified and scheduled for professional photography + digital enhancement sponsored by 📸 FishEye Studios.
🦩🦩🦩TEAM OTGG finds their inner Family Guy and cranks out clever “Best-of” Superlatives recognizing the special touches, meaning, and thought behind these bathroom assemblages.
The FLUSHIES are announced!!! Share the great news! Maybe we should throw a party?
Def BYOTP. 🧻🧻🧻
🏆🏆🏆 3D trophies are presented to those winners wanting to display this incredible honor at their place of business. Look for them on your next outing!
MOST OUT OF THIS WORLD
Location: Resident Diner, Travelers Rest
Muralist: Sunny Mullarkey
When the rocket fuel is nearing combustion, or you find yourself under alien attack, we’ve found a docking station ready for your moon landing.
BEST MESSAGING
Location: Hester General Store, Dacusville
Designer: Everett King Consulting
The signs are everywhere: the message on the floor to co-owner Katie Chaney’s daughter, the tile pattern representing gender neutrality, art honoring female figures, the comedic reference using the Hardware and Plumbing signs; and the whimsical pie wallpaper.
All of Hester General Store’s core beliefs are represented, leaving little to the imagination . . . in the best way.
MOST CONSISTENT
Location: Janina Ellis Studio, The Village of West Greenville
Designer: Janina Ellis
It’s blue. All of it. And we appreciate the color-match to the artist’s work within view of the vanity mirror. Consistency is key to staying regular.
MOST EDUCATIONAL
Location: Green Laundry Lounge, Greer
Muralist: Douglas Piper
Take a leak ‘n’ learn. A spicy bathroom experience complete with built-in reading material, Green Laundry Lounge’s latrines are an homage to the food you may have eaten before visiting. Pictured here are the ingredients for authentic Indian Pav Bhhaji Masala, with the spice mix recipe hand lettered on the wall opposite the toilet, for optimal viewing, of course.
MOST UNEXPECTED
Location: Swanson’s Warehouse, Greenville
Muralist: Martha McLeod
Welcome to the jungle! (In Axl Rose’s voice) When you need to answer nature’s call, spy a prowling lion within these lush surrounds. Add the old Greenville Women’s Club sign and the brass chandelier, and you have quite the number.
MOST SCANDALOUS
Location: Scoundrel, Greenville
Designer: Kenzie Kraebber
Kenzie Kraebber, manager, was the sole designer of the “You’re like really pretty” PG-rated restroom, shown here. Is there another? Yep… an “installation created with a selection of Scoundrel’s finest vintage French nudie magazines from the 60’s and 70’s” collected specifically for this purpose during a trip to Paris by Joe Cash, chef-owner.
Cash shares his thoughts behind Scoundrel’s second *R-rated potty as a way to “pull people out of their comfort zone and ask, ‘what’s going on here?’ and maybe it’s a little too far for some people and I understand that… we’ve toyed with covering it up or not.”
Pottier beware: the content warning sign on the door is a tad difficult to read in the low light and easy to miss if you’re really making a beeline.
THE REALEST
Location: Traveler’s Taproom, Greenville
Muralist: Matteo Miles
Not to downplay the stunning floral mural by one of our favorite local muralists, but the signs in Traveler’s Taproom restrooms keep it real. Please flush, and don’t do drugs (here), kids.
MOST ANDROGYNOUS
Location: A20 Market, The West End
Designer: Kelly Ford of Ford Interior Design
Tile-maker: Circles and Squares
From the Simpsons-like portrait wallpaper to the locally handmade tile, each carefully selected element in this new loo is worth a look-see. Crack open the door and take a peek.
BEST POTTY PARTY
Location: Group Therapy, Camperdown Greenville
Designer: Matthew Hubbard
Transport yourself to the 70’s with this discoteque hiding in both restrooms at Group Therapy for a serotonin boost. Activate the potty party by finding the bottom behind the elephant (in the room). Enjoyed and documented by unsuspecting guests, the light show earned itself a viral TikTok video.
Hubbard’s favorite features include a window to the parking lot and a safety sign with CODE signals to ask for help.
BEST VIEWER SUBMITTED RESTROOM IN THE UPSTATE
Location: Mailroom Barber, Overbrook Greenville
Designer: Ashley James
Woodwork: DM2 Furnishings
Photographer: Olivier Blanchard
We’re adding a new tradition to the Flushies this year, thanks to one supporter’s dropping this bit of news in our DMs: send us a killer image of the coolest restroom in the Upstate and you might be responsible for the 2024 Best Viewer Submitted Restroom in the Upstate.
Congrats, O. You’re really making a splash. 😉
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2024 Flushies, Off The Grid Greenville’s Bathroom Superlative Awards
