Bill and Molly Savitz retiring from Grill

Bill and Molly Savitz recently talked about the Village Grill, which is slated to close its doors on June 28. (Staff photo by Henry E. Green)

Bill Savitz grew up in Abbeville, and graduated from Abbeville High School in 1976.

His wife Molly is from San Francisco.

Together, they are saying goodbye to a venture which has been a large part of their lives for years -- the Village Grill.

The restaurant will close its doors on June 28, after more than three decades as a fixture on the Abbeville scene.

Bill and Molly are retiring, and they have good reasons for doing so.

"We're going to spend time with our family," said Molly.

Bill concurred -- he and Molly want to spend more time with family and "to focus on our health."

Molly has a son and daughter-in-law, and they have a four-year-old daughter.

"I have a daughter as well," said Bill.

Bill took a look down the long vista of years.

"We opened in 1992," he said. Molly began working at the Grill in 1995.

"I've worked in restaurants all my life," Bill said. "It's all I've ever done since I was 16."

He has worked in restaurants from Hilton Head to Atlanta to Greenwood.

"I always wanted my own restaurant," he said.

His wish came true. The Village Grill opened in a space formerly occupied by a cloth shop owned by Belk Simpson.

Fast forward to 2025, and Bill notes that there are "interested parties" who might be interested in keeping the Grill going.

"Our hope is that someone will come in and continue" the restaurant, said Bill, who noted that for the foreseeable future, he and Molly want to continue to live in Abbeville.

He is immensely grateful for the Village Grill experience.

"I want to thank Abbeville and the surrounding communities for their support for the last 32 years," he said.

He paid tribute to his "incredible staff" -- past and present.

"I owe you my deepest gratitude. It would not have been possible without you."