By Claire Sachse

Need a morning coffee and croissant to go? Want to enjoy an afternoon cup of tea while chatting with friends? Perhaps you want to stroll in after dinner and enjoy a decadent pastry or ice cream for dessert, or maybe you need a place to host a church group for lunch?
Southern Delights & More offers a place for all those needs, and more. Located at 114 E. Rutherford St., this newly remodeled cafe has a vintage industrial look and feel, with exposed brick walls, restored original hardwood floors and beadboard ceiling, gleaming pastry cases, and seating for 35. Wifi is available to customers with the purchase of an item.
The store is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
With the personal motto “life is short, eat dessert first,” Maryland-native Linda Fitzgerald Howard and her husband Chris, from Landrum, opened the store August 8 and have been overwhelmed by the welcome they received from the town. The Howards also own Carolina Antiques & More, located three doors down.
“Landrum has been so embracing of us,” said Howard. “We can’t thank everyone enough for their support.”
For the sweet tooth, the shop features eight flavors of Bluebell ice cream, milkshakes, banana splits, and hot fudge sundaes. An assortment of cakes, pastries, chocolate, and Dottie’s Toffee are also available. Breakfast items include coffee, available with 57 flavorings, Novus brand of tea, croissants with ham and cheese or bacon and cheese, scones and bagels. Lunch items include sandwiches, Hebrew National hotdogs, chili, flavored lemonade, and fresh chicken, tuna and Greek salads.
Howard plans to partner with Olive and Then Some, a new gourmet olive oil store across the street, for ingredients, tastings and cooking demonstrations.