Velda and Jackson Hughes, Owners

Few couples love, respect and understand the specialness of Greenville more than Velda and Jackson Hughes. After all, they helped create it.

Velda has built one of the area’s most successful public relations and marketing firms, while her husband Jackson has literally helped build Greenville via his company, Hughes Commercial Properties.

Both have been recognized widely for their achievements, and now they can add Avenue to their sparkling resumes. Avenue represents a new level of elegance and beauty to a town that continues to achieve great things, thanks to people such as Velda and Jackson Hughes.

Carl Sobocinski, Restaurateur

It’s hard to go anywhere in Greenville without being tempted by one of Carl Sobocinski’s restaurants. Carl founded a culinary empire here in Greenville, Table 301 Restaurant Group, and over the past 20 years has spearheaded the company’s growth and development which now includes Soby’s New South Cuisine, The Lazy Goat, NOSE DIVE Gastropub, Passerelle Bistro, Papi’s Tacos, Highway 301 Food Truck, Southern Pressed Juicery, Jianna Modern Italian and Table 301 Catering & Kitchen.

Carl’s passion and philosophy is now being implemented in the extraordinary kitchen of Avenue. Table 301 Catering has formed a partnership with Avenue so that guests at an Avenue event won’t just have a spectacular venue to admire, but equally alluring cuisine. The unique menu options, the extensive wine list and the glorious cocktails are just another reason that Avenue is like no other event venue in town.

Rachael Greathouse, Director of Avenue

Rachael has been captivated by the Hospitality and Tourism industry since the 6th grade when her parents purchased a small marina in Deltaville, Virginia. From that time, she was completely sold. 

A graduate of Western Carolina University, she paid her way through college with industry jobs from white water rafting, waitressing, lodging, hotel, dock handing and specialty events. After graduation she worked as the Dining Room Manager and Special Events Coordinator for the exclusive Chattooga Club in Cashiers, N.C.

In 2010, Rachael fell in love with Greenville. After moving to S.C., she became the Private Dining Manager for High Cotton Greenville while starting her own company, Greathouse Events. Most recently, Rachael served as the Club Manager for the Chattooga Club, where she oversaw all club services and events. 

She has nurtured her hospitality education with continued training in the wine regions of Oregon, California, Washington State, and Blackberry Farms in Tennessee.

Rachael's love for the minuscule details and vision helps define what is really special about Avenue and the level of service and transparency it brings to Greenville’s community. Her knowledge of high-end events and hospitality shines in her work for Avenue. 

Greg Teal, Chef de Cuisine, Table 301 Catering | Avenue

Greg Teal knew he wanted to become a chef at age 10 when he went into his mother’s spice cabinet, tore out all of the spices, and began tasting and blending them together. Teal went on to study at Le Cordon Bleu in Atlanta in 2005, and upon graduating, worked at a country club in Dunwoody, GA. 

After family brought Teal back to Greenville in 2008, he worked in a myriad of different restaurants. The turning point in his career came when he began a job at the premier fine dining restaurant in downtown Greenville, Devereaux’s, and worked his way up to sous chef—reinforcing his desire to become a chef. 

In 2015, Teal joined Table 301 Catering as Chef de Cuisine where he oversaw menu development for the Table 301 Catering café space known as Table 301 Catering & Kitchen. In July 2019, Greg shifted his culinary focus to Avenue, where he oversees a staff in the venue's state-of-the-art kitchen, and prepares a modern farm-to-table experience that will bring joy to even the most discerning palate.

Hannah Hughey, Catering Director, Table 301 Catering | Avenue

Hannah grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where she learned the ropes of the event industry at a young age by assisting her mom who was an event planner. In 2020, Hannah graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Communications and joined the Table 301 team in 2021. Hannah’s extensive experience in the food and beverage industry dating back to her teenage years has given her a wide-ranging knowledge of events and hospitality and has prepared her for every occasion at Avenue.

Hannah’s favorite WOW was a wedding where the bride and groom had their first dance out on the terrace at golden hour. “Surrounded by all of their people, it was intimate and so full of love.”

Hallie Rae Jones, Assistant Director of Avenue

Hallie Rae fell in love with the event industry in 2018 and has not stopped pursuing it since. She had the opportunity to start young at Ashton Events in Lakeland, Florida at the age of 16 and continued working for them throughout high school.

In 2019, Hallie Rae moved to Greenville, SC to attend Furman University and pursued a communications degree. Although she was in Greenville, she never failed to step in and help Ashton Events on event days while home for the holidays.

Throughout her time at Furman, she also worked on the Furman University Student Activities Board; planning campus wide events, working with students, faculty, and large budgets. She eventually became chair of several committees and had the opportunity to be the point person for events like Homecoming week and last day of class celebrations.

In the summer of 2021, Hallie Rae was an Events Intern at The Rutherford Greenville, and in the summer of 2022, she was Assistant Event Planner to Laura Shannon, Owner of Ashton Events.

Hallie Rae’s love for planning, organization, detail, and people makes her an excellent addition to the Avenue team. We are excited to see big things as she begins her full-time career at Avenue.