Addy Sulley

In the quiet, early morning hours of Monday, February 24, 2025, at his home overlooking downtown Greenville, where he'd spent nearly 30 years operating Addy's Dutch Cafe & Restaurant, Addy Sulley, an early pioneer of today's vibrant restaurant community was given "last call" and went Home. Great friends who assisted him in his final days of a formidable battle with cancer were with him. Addy treasured his many friends throughout the years, but those who helped him through the rough days and nights during his brave battle are held in the highest esteem. Addy's relatives all live in The Netherlands, and they extend their heartfelt "thank you" to those friends who became Addy's family.
A very young-at-heart 67-year-old, Addy was born on April 25, 1957, in Almelo, The Netherlands. He was the second son of the late Martha Van der Kemp and the late Heinzgunter Sulley. Addy was named after his grandfather (Addy) who owned a cafe in Amsterdam. Early in life, Addy developed an independent streak, a creative mind, an aversion to accepted "rules", a quest for adventure and stubbornness of the type reserved only for donkeys and Dutchmen. In other words, the perfect ingredients for a future successful restaurateur.
But first, Addy joined his father in the textile industry. His father was well-known for his machine and process innovations, and he held many patents. Addy learned a lot, not only from his father, but from Europe's ranking textile elite. In the late 1970's, Addy's father moved his company to Travelers Rest, South Carolina. Not long after, Addy began coming over from The Netherlands to work three-month stints. Addy worked as a designer and programmer for the machines that made high-end bedspreads, drapes, and other home furnishings. Most notably, Addy designed and made a high-end bedspread and bedroom ensemble for Cher. He fell in love with the people he worked with, and he fell in love with Greenville. After several years working in textiles, a restlessness set in, as he felt he had yet to fulfill his calling.
When he first saw the building on E. Coffee St., it reminded him of buildings in Amsterdam and he began thinking about opening a café. Growing up, Addy loved to cook with his mother. Particularly, she taught him how to make many delicious soups. Over the course of a couple of years while working paycheck to paycheck to repair and refurbish the building and buy equipment, Addy's Dutch Cafe & Restaurant opened its doors on June 1, 1990. The 14-ft. wide "shotgun" bar and dining room was packed with a mass of people, and crowds spilled out in the street as well. Luckily, the Fire Marshall didn't work that night! In short, Addy's was a great success... and it stayed this way for many years to come.
Addy's Dutch Cafe quickly became noted for its tasty "comfort food" dishes and especially for the soups, most often prepared by Addy himself using his mother's recipes and guidelines. He LOVED to cook, and particularly, he loved to cook for others. (Ironically, in recent years, Addy cooked special soups for people being treated for cancer). Also, Addy's Dutch Cafe offered live jazz every night and organized several early Jazz Festivals on a closed-to-traffic and staged E. Coffee Street. So many people in Greenville have fond memories of that time in the 1990s when they were regular customers of Addy's. Many lifelong friendships began there, and many met their spouses at Addy's bar. "Meet me at Addy's" seemed to be the mantra of that time.
Almost any night, you could find Addy at his restaurant, "yucking it up" with his customers (and having a Heineken). When Addy entered the dining room, you knew it because you could hear his big, booming voice complete with a thick Dutch accent, greeting a customer, or you could hear his loud "cackle-of-a-laugh". He had a special talent for remembering people's names, even if he had met them only briefly before. That, along with his "superpower" of making you feel like the only person of interest in a crowded room, created an ever-expanding group of dedicated Addy fans. Women found this focused attention, in combination with his tall, good looks and Dutch charm irresistible. Men loved to hang out with him, laugh and tell funny stories. Addy always had new, funny commentary and jokes, although his thick Dutch accent made it nearly impossible to understand what he was saying. No worries. Addy always laughed the hardest at his own jokes, so all you had to do was laugh when HE did...and it seemed not to matter because it was always uplifting to laugh with Addy...the joke really didn't matter. Addy just made everyone FEEL better. It's a sure bet that Addy probably never knew most people didn't understand half of what he said. Addy communicated on a higher level. He touched the soul.
Quietly and without fanfare, Addy helped many people throughout the years when they needed a helping hand or just someone to listen to their troubles or perhaps offer them some advice or a second chance. Addy was a big believer in second chances, probably being the recipient of a few of his own. It's amazing how many people have mentioned recently in conversation how Addy helped them out in their darkest times and how much gratitude they have that he cared about them. He never talked about the people he helped---just kept it to himself.
In 2009, Addy opened Hans & Franz Biergarten on Hwy, 14 & Pelham Rd. Known for great German food and beers in a casual, open-air biergarten atmosphere, Addy once again created a place with a friendly, upbeat atmosphere and dedicated clientele. You could always find Addy on Friday afternoons with his very special group of friends, some he'd known for decades, sharing beers and swapping stories, jokes and sharing the type of comradeship that is becoming increasingly rare. He thoroughly enjoyed the company of his Friday group.
Another feature of Addy's life was his love of animals---especially cats! One of his favorite cats was Mimi, a small yellow tabby cat he inherited from his father after he passed in 2005. Mimi adored Addy and slept beside him every night until she crossed the Rainbow Bridge several years later. Also, at Hans and Franz, there were many homeless cats (some say feral; Addy said homeless). Addy bought huge bags of cat food and cases of canned food for years, feeding them on a regular schedule. On the days the restaurant was closed, he would still go to "work" just to feed the cats. On particularly cold nights, Addy set up heaters in a safe area outside to keep the cats warm.
Surviving are Addy's son, Roche and daughter, Marie Claire. He considers them both his greatest achievements. Roche and his wife, Joyce, gave Addy two beautiful granddaughters, Léa and Jackie. Addy and Jackie share the same birthday...April 25. Also, Addy's sister, Anet, and her husband, Jos, as well as Anet's sons, Tim (Regien), Jordie (Vera), Ruben, daughter, Marjoniek (Huub), and Eric's daughter, Martha, and son, Nigel. All reside in the Netherlands and Belgium. Addy is preceded in death by his brother, Eric.
Cremation will be held in a private ceremony.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to your favorite charity.
The main memorial event, Addy's Celebration of Life, will take place at Hans & Franz on April 25, 2025. Please watch Facebook posts in the next few weeks for details.
Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Addy with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".