Rick Erwin Dining Group Acquires CityRange Steakhouse Grill, Adding Greenville and Spartanburg Locations

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Rick Erwin Dining Group has acquired CityRange Steakhouse Grill, bringing the locally founded restaurant chain’s Greenville and Spartanburg locations under the umbrella of one of the Upstate’s most established hospitality operators.

The deal, announced July 6, was for an undisclosed sum. CityRange, known for chef-inspired American cuisine, was founded in Greenville in 1998 and expanded to Spartanburg in 2005, building a following in both markets over more than two decades.

“This move creates opportunities for growth while maintaining the values and commitment to hospitality that CityRange has always stood for,” CityRange owner Cory Wilk said in a statement announcing the acquisition.

Rick Erwin Dining Group, founded more than 20 years ago by restaurateur Rick Erwin, operates a portfolio of fine-dining concepts across the Upstate. Erwin said the acquisition adds a proven, complementary brand to that portfolio rather than folding CityRange into an existing concept.

“CityRange has earned an outstanding reputation and loyal customer base,” Erwin said. “We see this as an opportunity to add a highly respected, complementary brand to our restaurant family.” The company said it plans to keep the CityRange name and invest additional resources into both locations to support future growth.

The acquisition lands amid a period of steady consolidation and investment in the Upstate’s restaurant and hospitality sector, a trend commercial real estate professionals are watching closely as retail and mixed-use developers court proven local operators to anchor new projects. Greenville and Spartanburg have both added significant office, industrial and residential development in recent years — from BMW’s continued expansion in Spartanburg County to new headquarters and mixed-use projects in downtown Greenville — driving demand for established dining destinations that can serve a growing daytime workforce and residential base.

For landlords and brokers, deals like the CityRange acquisition underscore the value multi-unit local operators bring to retail corridors in both cities. A well-capitalized group taking over an already-proven location reduces vacancy risk and can support stronger rent rolls in shopping centers and standalone retail buildings, particularly as national chains remain selective about new Upstate locations. Rick Erwin Dining Group’s expansion also reflects a broader pattern of regional hospitality groups scaling up through acquisition rather than ground-up development, a lower-risk path to growth in a market where construction costs remain elevated.

Terms of the transaction, including whether either CityRange location will be renovated or relocated, were not disclosed. Both restaurants are expected to continue normal operations under the new ownership.