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Two years after opening, a Greenville deli and bakery is closing. Clayton’s Deli announced it would close after service Saturday.
The neighborhood eatery in the heart of the Overbrook community also housed The Pound Cake Man, a bakery known for its vast array of pound cake flavors.
Jeff Bennett, the owner of The Pound Cake Man and co-owner of Clayton’s Deli, announced that while the food truck and special-order services will remain in operation, the physical storefront will be shutting down.
“Bennett mentioned on January 9 that there was certainly an increase in sales following Fall For Greenville this year. However, it still wasn't sufficient to counteract the prevailing challenges.”
In the spring of 2022, Bennett partnered with his son, Austin, to launch Clayton’s. This venture allowed them to combine their culinary and baking talents in a single location.
Bennett began his pound cake venture in 2016 with the introduction of his food truck. In 2018, he took a significant step by establishing a physical bakery in Clemson.
The success of Bennett's pound cakes inspired the creation of a bakery and deli in Greenville, a venture he embarked on with his son.
Clayton's menu featured robust sandwiches and innovative salads, all infused with a charming diner atmosphere.
The eatery offered a variety of dishes including patty melts, fried chicken sandwiches, and a fried tomato BLT, as well as a delicious vegan portobello melt featuring portobello mushrooms instead of meat.
In the last few months, Clayton's has introduced pizza to its menu, utilizing the pizza oven and recipes sourced from the previous Overbrook favorite, Pizza Purists.
The restaurant introduced trivia nights and weekly promotions to attract more customers. According to Bennett, it was making progress, but it still fell short of addressing the other obstacles they faced.
“It has a rich history. This was the original site of Strossner’s,” Bennett mentioned. “However, the design doesn't quite fit with what we envision for Clayton's. It was likely more space than we actually require.”
