Heather Greene
Founder
Five Questions with Heather
1. Lillian’s feels incredibly personal. What inspired you to create it, and what did you hope people would experience when they walked through the door?
I was inspired by the space first. There was something special about this little corner of the neighborhood. So much history had already lived within those walls, and I felt a responsibility to honor it while creating something new.
But the bigger inspiration was allowing myself to finally trust my instincts. Throughout my career, I’d spent years helping bring other people’s visions to life. Lillian’s was the first place where I gave myself permission to be vulnerable, to stop worrying about what a restaurant should be and instead create one that reflected who I am, what I believe in, and the kind of community I wanted to build.
I wanted to create a place that felt genuine. A place where hospitality came first, where local farmers, artisans, and small businesses were celebrated, and where neighbors could gather over coffee, dinner, or a glass of wine. I believed that if we stayed true to those values, people would feel it the moment they walked through the door.
Just as importantly, I wanted to create a place where our team could shine. Hospitality is deeply personal, and I believe people do their best work when they’re trusted to bring their own personalities, creativity, and talents to the table. I wanted Lillian’s to be a place where our staff feels seen, supported, and encouraged to be their authentic selves, because when they do, our guests feel it too.
Looking back, opening Lillian’s wasn’t just about opening a restaurant. It was about creating a place where our guests, our staff, and our neighborhood could all feel like they belong.
2. Hospitality has been your career for decades. What does true hospitality mean to you, and what do you hope every guest feels when they leave Lillian’s?
To me, true hospitality isn’t something you see, it’s something you feel.
I was fortunate to learn hospitality long before I ever worked in a restaurant. My grandparents and my parents lived it every day. They paid attention to the smallest details, stocked their pantry with their friends’ and family’s favorite foods in the hope they might stop by, and made sure everyone who walked through the door felt welcome. They took care of their neighbors, were deeply involved in their communities, and believed in giving back whenever they could.
At the time, I didn’t realize those everyday moments were teaching me what hospitality truly meant. Looking back, I feel incredibly blessed to have been raised in a family where caring for others wasn’t something special, it was simply how we lived.
That’s the feeling I hope we create at Lillian’s. It’s remembering someone’s favorite table or drink. It’s noticing the little details before they’re ever asked for. It’s creating an environment where our team connects with guests while also giving them the space to connect with the people, they’re sharing a meal with. Finding that balance is what great hospitality is all about.
3. Lillian’s is built around supporting local farmers, makers, artists, and small businesses. Why is investing in your community so important to you, and how does it shape the decisions you make every day?
I come from a family of farmers, ranchers, and the people who supported them. I know how hard it is to make a living from the land, and I understand the challenges small businesses face every day. So much of their success depends on things they can’t control, weather, the economy, rising costs, and sometimes just plain luck.
Charleston is a special place because of the people who pour their hearts into it. Whenever we can, we choose to support local farmers, artisans, makers, and fellow small businesses because I believe strong communities are built when we invest in one another.
4. Lillian’s is more than a restaurant—it’s a coffee shop, neighborhood market, wine bar, gathering place, and event space. Why was it important to create a place where people could stop in for anything from a cup of coffee to a special dinner?
If we truly wanted to become the neighborhood’s gathering place, we needed to be part of people’s everyday lives—not just their special occasions.
I love seeing the same faces throughout the day. Someone might grab coffee in the morning, meet a friend for lunch, stop in for happy hour, and come back for dinner another week. We like to say Lillian’s evolves as the day evolves—from casual mornings to an elevated dinner experience in the evening. We hope there’s always a reason to stop by.
5. Looking ahead, what do you hope Lillian’s means to the neighborhood five or ten years from now? What legacy are you hoping to build?
I hope Lillian’s becomes one of those places that’s woven into people’s lives.
Life moves quickly, and the world is always changing. I hope Lillian’s can be one of those rare places that feels familiar, a constant where people know they’re welcome, where traditions are created, and where every visit feels a little like coming home.
Five Rapid-Fire Questions
Coffee or wine? Wine
Favorite local business to support (besides Lillian’s)? GrowFood Carolina
What’s always in your shopping basket at the market? Milk
Favorite way to spend an afternoon in Charleston? Outside. Give me a patio, good company, something delicious to eat, and a glass of wine, and I’m happy
Finish this sentence: “The best neighborhood restaurants are…” welcoming.
One Last Question…
What do you hope people say about Lillian’s when they’re telling a friend where to have dinner?
I hope they tell their friends that Lillian’s feels like their neighborhood restaurant, even if they’re visiting for the first time. That the food was fresh, thoughtful, and delicious, the hospitality was genuine, and the experience felt effortless. I hope they tried something new, lingered a little longer than they planned, and left feeling like they’d found a place where they truly belong.