Little Secret pop-up will soon have a brick-and-mortar address at 1112 Woodside Ave. in Greenville’s City View neighborhood.
The location is currently Comal 864’s original restaurant, a spot it took over from Woodside Bistro in 2021. Comal 864 opened a second restaurant at 219 W. Antrim Drive in 2024.
“It feels full circle. The timing is right to pass the torch, and they’re the right concept for the space,” said Dayna Lee-Márquez, chef and owner of Comal 864. “I’m passionate about what they’ve brought from New Orleans and the people Conner and Christina are.”
Chef Conner Hinderks was chef de cuisine at Maypop in New Orleans. His partner, Christina Blackley, makes notable cocktails and previously managed the beverage program at both Tava and St. Roch Market in New Orleans. When the couple moved to Greenville a year ago, Blackley became bar manager at Bar Margaret while Hinderks launched a pop-up, which he named Little Secret, that brought pan-Asian fare utilizing local ingredients to The Community Tap, Wine House, Junto Coffee and others.
“We couldn’t love the Woodside neighborhood more,” Hinderks said. “The space is what we always envisioned. It’s like a Japanese izakaya with that long bar. It’s perfect for what we want to do. We hope to be folks’ everyday space, with great drinks and food.”
The concept will expand on a pop-up menu that’s been big on flavor with featured curries, noodle dishes with fresh herbs, dumplings, crudo, roast pork and other interesting proteins, along with New Orleans-inspired desserts. Blackley envisions playful cocktails utilizing forgotten or unexpected ingredients. She said she will also pour regional beers, stock a wall of natural wine and create drinks that pair with Hinderks’ bold flavors.
“We want to add to what Greenville already offers,” said Blackley, an Atlanta, Georgia, native. “Wining and dining, as a social construct, is super interesting to me. And anything that brings up core memories for millennials sounds like a good time.”
The couple became close with the Comal 864 crew in response to Hurricane Helene relief efforts in fall 2024. They worked alongside each other for weeks, feeding the Woodside neighborhood, many of whom were without power. What started as camaraderie grew into a collegial relationship supporting each other at events such as euphoria and Highlands Food & Wine. When Hinderks and Blackley looked for a permanent location, Lee-Márquez realized she could see Little Secret as the next chapter for Woodside.
Lee-Márquez said she is focusing on her growing brand at the new midtown location, which added a cocktail-bar concept, Escorpión, in May. The additive-free tequila bar has grown its bottle stock to nearly three dozen offerings. She is excited to have the time to develop daily features at the larger location and continue to plan events and community programming.
The combined teams will serve Comal 864’s annual Community Thanksgiving meal, a run-up to a final service Nov. 29. In the interim, Comal 864 will offer “OG specials” to celebrate the transition, such as a chorizo burger and frijoles especiales.
Little Secret plans to open for dinner by the end of January 2026.
