Sweet Tea Station
Brewing Community, Comfort & Christmas Cheer in Reidville
If you’ve spent any time in the little town of Reidville, you already know the charm hits you the moment you arrive. And at the heart of that charm—quite literally—is Sweet Tea Station, a cozy coffee bar and market serving up handcrafted drinks, locally roasted beans, Southern gifts, and the kind of small-town warmth that keeps people coming back day after day.
What many people don’t realize is that Sweet Tea Station is also home to its very own coffee roastery, Ole Station Roastery, tucked right inside the building. Together, these two family-run brands have become a beloved staple in the Upstate, offering everything from daily lattes and holiday treats to small-batch beans now found in stores across the Carolinas.
A Historic Space With New Life
Sweet Tea Station’s story begins long before espresso shots and holiday lattes. The original shop opened in January 2018 as a 600-square-foot home décor and gift boutique. “We were home décor and gifts then,” owner Sabrina Hodges shared. “Fast forward to December of 2023, after we added the Coffee Bar and extended our shop to the space next door.”
The building itself carries its own legacy. Housed inside a 1940s service station, the property once served as the heartbeat of Reidville—a place where neighbors gathered to start or end their day. “Our small town shop was a thriving business in Reidville when it opened in the 1940’s,” Sabrina said. “It has served the community well for over 50 years in some capacity.”
Today, rocking chairs, seasonal décor, and friendly faces restore that same spirit. Their goal has always been simple:
“We have always wanted our customers to feel like this is a little taste of home—relaxing, warm, and welcoming.”
Reviews say it best:
“Best coffee in town!”
“The Christmas drinks rival Starbucks.”
“The owners are super kind and the atmosphere is so cozy.”
Small-Batch Roasting With Big Heart
The roastery side of the business began with passion and a little leap of faith. “Ole Station Roastery was born out of a passion for coffee and making GOOD coffee,” shared head roaster and co-owner Darryle Hodges.
Once the Coffee Bar took off, Darryle realized roasting their own beans was the next step. “It became evident that we needed to roast our own beans. So Darryle bought a roaster and began learning the art of roasting coffee beans.”
By October 2023, Ole Station Roastery officially opened in-house.
Today, they offer seven roasts, all named for places or memories meaningful to their family and community:
• Oak Island Roast
• Reidville Roast
• Sugar Tit Roast
• Palmetto Sunrise
• Afterdark
• Nightcap
• Sweet Tea Station Blend (served as their espresso)
Their most talked-about roast? Sugar Tit—not for sweetness, but for the story. “People think it’s sweet,” Sabrina laughed. “Sugar Tit is actually a community just down the road from our shop. The story of the name is always a top topic.”
Their motto says it all:
“It’s all about the BEAN.”
As Sabrina put it, “It’s truly about the bean and how it is roasted and the attention paid to making sure it tastes good. No one wants bad coffee!”
Expanding Across the Upstate
Ole Station Roastery coffee is now sold in an impressive—and growing—list of local retailers:
• Sweet Tea Station (Reidville)
• Sugar Tit Distillery (Reidville)
• Happy Cow Creamery (Pelzer)
• KernelTime Popcorn Shop (Duncan)
• 1878 Butcher’s Block (Landrum)
• The Nest Artisan Market (Tryon, NC)
• The Maker’s Market Coffee Shop & Classes (Inman)
• Country Boy Meat Center (Woodruff)
• Greenville Street Market (Pendleton)
• The Palmetto Bean (Greer)
• Southern Image Boutique & Brew (Taylors)
• City Scape Winery (Pelzer)
• Harvest Kitchen (Greer)
And they’re not slowing down anytime soon.
“Partnering with other businesses who carry our coffee is important,” Sabrina told us. “Small businesses have to support each other. Big box stores have lots of exposure that we don’t always have available. It’s critical to keep sales revenue local.”
A Cozy Holiday Stop
This time of year, Sweet Tea Station truly shines. Their Coffee Bar serves:
• Lattes
• Matcha
• Americanos
• Chai
• Cortados
• Cold Brew
• A variety of teas
• And of course… their signature Sweet Tea, a community favorite.
Pair that with twinkling décor, festive mugs, and holiday pastries, and you’ve got the perfect place to pause during Christmas shopping or treat yourself after school drop-off.
Supporting local is core to their identity. “We pride ourselves on local items that are made in our Upstate communities,” Sabrina said. “Helping other small businesses showcase their items has always been very important to us.”
Events That Bring People Together
This fall, Ole Station Roastery hosted their 1st Annual Jeeps & Java, a dream event for Darryle, who frequents Jeep meet-ups across the state. “It was super exciting to host his own event,” Sabrina shared. “It was a fun community day and plans are already underway for our October 2026 event.”
The shop also pops up at markets and events across the Upstate, often offering tastings, classes, and coffee education.
Where Neighbors Become Family
Reidville is one of the fastest-growing towns in South Carolina, bringing in new residents daily—and many of them walk straight through the front door of Sweet Tea Station.
“Locals and visitors enjoy the hospitality, great service, and GREAT coffee!” Sabrina said. “Residents are the heart and soul of what we do. So many customers are truly friends and like family.”
The Hodges family means that literally. “Owning our business is truly a family affair,” Sabrina explained. Their youngest daughter, Kassidy Dibert, works as a barista, while their oldest daughter, Blake Painter, serves as marketing and media director for the roastery.
And yes—you’ll almost always see Sabrina or Darryle behind the counter.
“It is not unusual for us to be working the shop and coffee bar at some point daily,” Sabrina told us. “Customers love talking with us and knowing that we truly care about their experience in our shop. Our staff is very engaging, and that makes them feel like family.”
Her favorite invitation sums it up perfectly:
“Stop by, Sip & Shop, take a bag of beans home with you… and Come Back Soon!”
Visit Sweet Tea Station & Ole Station Roastery
Location:
Sweet Tea Station Coffee Bar & Gifts
7325 Reidville Rd, Reidville, SC 29388
Located in the historic 1940s Reidville service station
Home of Ole Station Roastery
Hours:
Mon–Fri: 7am–1pm
Sat: 8am–1pm
Sun: Closed
Follow Along:
@sweetteastationcoffeebar
@olestationroastery
Facebook: Sweet Tea Station Reidville
Roastery website: olestationroastery.com
How to Purchase Coffee:
• In-store at Sweet Tea Station
• Online at olestationroastery.com
• At local retailers across the Upstate
• Wholesale options available