A cheesecake bakery born from a family's NICU journey is opening its third Upstate location this week, this time in the Downtown Airport area with direct access to the future Swamp Rabbit Trail extension. Mak & Cheesecakes will hold a soft opening Wednesday through Thursday from noon to 9 p.m. and Friday from noon to 10 p.m. at 301 Airport Road, Suite H, in Greenville, with a full grand opening set for Saturday from noon to 10 p.m.
The bakery announced it is opening a third location in the Upstate, according to FOX Carolina News. “What started as a dream has turned into something bigger than we ever imagined,” the bakery said, thanking customers for showing up, telling friends, sharing posts, and eating cheesecake over the years. The new spot joins existing stores at 510 SE Main Street in Simpsonville and 401 Augusta Street in Greenville.
Opening-week freebies are part of the draw. The first 10 people in line will receive free cheesecake for a year — one free slice every month for 12 months, validated by a secured punch card. The first 15 people in line will get Mak & Cheesecakes swag bags, and staff will randomly select ticket numbers throughout the day to award free 6-inch cheesecakes.
From a Tricycle Cart to a Third Storefront
The bakery's roots trace back to founder Lisa Forbes, who spent three years perfecting her New York-style cheesecake recipe before launching the business, according to 6AM City. She later sold slices from a cheesecake tricycle. The name Mak & Cheesecakes honors Forbes and her husband Curtis's eldest son, Makai, as detailed by the Post and Courier.
By February 2025, the bakery had a two-year-old storefront in Simpsonville, and it opened a second location on Augusta Street in Greenville on February 15, 2025, the outlet notes. The Augusta Street shop added digital self-ordering kiosks and outdoor patio space.
A High-Traffic Spot Near the Swamp Rabbit Trail
The new Airport Road store sits inside The Junction @ Downtown Airport, a roughly 42,000-square-foot development with direct access to the future Swamp Rabbit Trail extension, according to a LoopNet listing. Other tenants in the center include White Duck Taco Shop and Cohesive Coffee, placing the cheesecake shop amid a cluster of dining destinations along the trail corridor.
The area around the airport includes dining and leisure-related businesses. Hangar 28 Kitchen & Events opened at the airfield's South Ramp in July, replacing the long-running Runway Café, as Hoodline previously reported. Mak & Cheesecakes' arrival adds another name to that stretch of Airport Road.
On the menu, customers can build their own cheesecake slices with a choice of five crusts and 18 toppings, plus specialty items like The Lil Bro, a cookie sandwich filled with cheesecake, 6AM City reports. The menu has included salted caramel.
Regulation and a Booming Local Food Scene
In July 2024, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture took over retail food-safety oversight from DHEC, according to Charleston Business Magazine.
The expansion adds another business to Greenville County's local dining and retail scene.
Mak & Cheesecakes is using opening-week giveaways to attract early customers. The promotions offer early-bird perks to build interest from day one.
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