Common Thread is part of a larger story, founded on the commitment of producing, providing and serving locally sourced foods to our guests through the community relationships we foster and grow.
and the story continues…
One of those relationships started directly between the founding partners of our sister restaurant, FARM in Bluffton, South Carolina. In 2013, founders Ryan and Joanne Williamson purchased a 5-acre farm outside of Bluffton. Soon after, Ryan began to sell produce to the restaurants at Palmetto Bluff. Through those purchases, a relationship began to form between Ryan and then Executive Chef at Palmetto Bluff, Brandon Carter. As this relationship continued to grow, so did Ryan’s desire to open a restaurant of his own. So, with the help of Chef Brandon, together they opened FARM in Old Town Bluffton in the Fall of 2016. As business continued to prosper, Ryan and Brandon were approached by long-time FARM guests and Palmetto Bluff residents Alan and Karen Sheriff on the possibility of opening another concept in Savannah.
And with those ideas in motion, Common Thread was born.
where it all started…
The Krouskoff House was built in 1897 by Soloman Krouskoff as a wedding present to his second wife, Matilda.
Solomon Krouskoff was born in Jaratschewo, Prussia in 1840. He then immigrated to New York City as a teen. As an adult, Solomon moved to Savannah, Georgia and opened several wholesale and retail millinery operations on Broughton and Drayton Streets, sellings some of the period's most fashionable women's hats and accessories. Krouskoff also had an affiliation with the real estate company developing the area around Thomas Square. Krouskoff also served as a Savannah City Alderman from February 1897 to January 1899.
At that time, Thomas Square was one of the first suburban neighborhoods in Savannah that had its own hospital, main square and trolley line. It became known as “Millionaires Row” as it housed primarily well to do families in Savannah. The Krouskoff House remained unique, since the home remained completely intact throughout its life and was not divided into apartments as so many of the surrounding homes were during the Depression.
At some point, the house became home to several antique dealers, including the Cobb’s Galleries. The Krouskoff House was purchased by Albert L. Cobb Sr. and his wife, Lila in 2001 to establish a base for his antique business, where it remained until being purchased in 2018 to establish Common Thread.