Profile: Luna Rosa's Jeni Blyth

“If you sit at my bar you’re probably going to get a history lesson,” says well-known Greenville bartender Jeni Blyth.

And with that, it’s clear some things haven’t changed over the last few years: Blyth (pronounced Blīth) still rocks her signature hot pink hair. She still loves a daiquiri more than any other cocktail. And her well-documented passion to see Greenville’s bar scene grow is wholly intact.

But here’s what you might not know: Blyth joined the Luna Rosa Gelato Cafe family as beverage director and recently moved into the general manager role at at the 123 S. Main St. location; she married her longtime love, Gene Hipps, Jr., who also works at Luna Rosa; and she became a “bonus parent” to his two sons.

While she fell in love with her new roles, personally and professionally, she admits her creative output took a hit during the last two difficult years in hospitality. One major factor? Luna Rosa moved to its new (and much larger) South Main location not too long before the pandemic halted all plans for solidifying its bar program as a downtown staple. As a result, Blyth spent most of her energy helping keep the restaurant afloat rather than spending time playing behind the bar. Another was that liquor reps and companies pulled back in-person meetings, and it was difficult to get her hands on new products.

“I’m struggling to find inspiration,” she says.

During the pandemic closures, Blyth dedicated hours to furthering education to keep her bar knowledge growing and expanding at a pace it would have had she continued to host and attend industry events. Which, as it turns out, is what she’s now working on establishing the Luna Rosa bar as — the place to host industry educational events.

She’s also fully embraced mentoring her young staff as a way of impacting the future of Greenville’s hospitality culture. Blyth says a main tactic is through providing an environment that encourages the employee and manager relationships that will lead to true mentorship.

“Having someone new behind the bar and giving them ownership and watching them grow is so rewarding,” she says.

Fun facts

Pets? Two cats, two dogs: Mini was the second rescue dog from Aloft’s pet adoption program; other pup is Murphy; Odin was a quarantine kitty; and Dory (“just keep swimming” was a family pandemic motto) came from the Greenville Humane Society to keep Odin company.

Happy place? “Being the bonus parent is the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

Best advice ever received? Slow it down a notch. It’s lunch and dinner, not life and death.

(Rare) downtime activity? Netflix and chill

Always in stock at home? “Daiquiri Ice” Baskin-Robbins ice cream