OCTOBER 6 , 2017 | VOL. 6 ISSUE 40
Roots Rockers
RJ Rockers’ Mark Johnsen and Clay McDonough return to their F&B beginnings with The Silo Plus:
Your Guide to Spartanburg’s Dining Scene ALSO INSIDE //
STATE OF THE PORT | A HOTEL IN DOWNTOWN GREER? | FINISHING MOVES Photo by Will Crooks
Mark Your Calendars
november 11&12, 2017 Kate Furman’s studio
WEEKEND HOURS Friday, Nov. 10th 6:00 – 9:00 P.M. (select studios only)
Saturday, Nov. 11th 10:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Sunday, Nov. 12th Noon – 6:00 P.M.
ABOUT THE EVENT
SOMETHING ON THE SQUARES
Greenville Open Studios allows you to experience the life of local artists at work in their studios for one full weekend, November 11–12.
12 X 12 EXHIBIT
This free, self-guided tour is a unique experience to engage with our community’s incredible talent, learn about artistic processes, enhance or begin your art collection and become inspired.
MORE INFORMATION Metropolitan Arts Council 16 Augusta Street Greenville, SC 29601 @macARTScouncil #MACopenstudios
Make MAC your first stop the week before or the weekend of Open Studios. An exhibit of 12 x 12 inch works from the 145 participating artists will be on display in our gallery from November 4 – December 15.
Jo Carol Mitchell-Rogers
Visit our Instagram @macARTScouncil for a chance to win $500 towards artwork in the exhibit!
Presented By
TOP-OF-MIND AND IN THE MIX THIS WEEK
| THE RUNDOWN
VOLUME 6, ISSUE 40 Featured this issue: Spartanburg’s Inland Port shattering expectations.............................................4 Reconsidering our views of trade jobs..................................................................... 23 Business lessons from the DNC hack...................................................................... 24
Tommy Pike Customs recently outfitted a new customized Ford F150 that will be used to recruit officers for the Greenville Police Department. The vehicle will be taken to job fairs, trade shows, on college campuses, and any high visibility areas to help recruit. Photo by Justin Nix
WORTH REPEATING
TBA
“The facility in Greer has been export-driven. That surprised us. I think we all expected it to be import-driven.”
VERBATIM
On returning to work
Page 4
“Big picture, we love this concept because it enhances the experience for our customers. Initially, we looked at doing a food truck. … This is much cooler.” Page 11
“I see thousands of positions go unfilled across the country because people aren’t attracted to working for a plumbing or HVAC company. However, these companies need accountants, marketers, logistics, HR representatives, and yes, tradesmen.” Page 23
Due South Coffee is relocating to Hampton Station.
“It’s a myth that only poor people or those who haven’t planned well for retirement are going back to work.” Nicole Maestas, an economist and associate professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School, on a study she authored that revealed 40 percent of Americans ages 65 and older who are currently employed were previously retired 10.6.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
State of the Port:
What you need to know TREVOR ANDERON | STAFF
tanderson@communityjournals.com
Growth in the Upstate’s manufacturing sector continues to be a boon for the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA). During SCPA’s ninth annual State of the Port meeting last week, Jim Newsome, the agency’s president and CEO, said the Inland Port in Spartanburg County completed a record 120,000 rail lifts during the 2017 fiscal year. In 2013, when the facility launched operations, Newsome said he thought it could complete 100,000 moves by its fifth year. But growth among the facility’s primary users, including Spartanburg County-based BMW Manufacturing Co., Greenville-based Michelin North America, and discount retailer Dollar Tree’s distribution center near Cowpens, has accelerated its output. And the Inland Port has exceeded initial expectations by 20 percent a full year ahead of schedule. “There’s no substitute to big manufacturing,” Newsome said. “We had a good feeling that [the Inland Port] would be successful, but we had no idea what kind of volume it would do.” 4
UBJ | 10.6.2017
The BMW Effect
The Inland Port in Spartanburg County completed a record 120,000 rail lifts during the 2017 fiscal year. The Inland Port enables goods to be shipped 212 miles by overnight rail between the Port of Charleston and the Upstate. It sits on 50 acres of a 100-acre site SCPA owns near the corner of the J. Verne Smith Parkway and the East Poinsett Street Extension. The site is about 5 miles north of Germany-based luxury automaker BMW’s 5 millionsquare-foot assembly plant.
BMW was the Inland Port’s primary customer a few years ago, but the automaker accounts for less than half of the facility’s business today, Newsome said. The plant is BMW’s largest in the world in terms of volume and the production hub of its light truck models, including the X3, X4, X5, X6, and soon-to-be X7. About 70 percent of those vehicles are shipped to 140 markets around the world. And 80 percent of the plant’s exports leave South Carolina through the Charleston Harbor. The plant’s production has increased more than 36 percent from 301,519 vehicles in 2012 to 411,171 in 2016. That translates into about 60,000 more vehicles leaving the Port of Charleston each year compared with when the Upstate’s Inland Port started four years ago. “The facility in Greer has been export-driven,” Newsome said. “That surprised us. I think we all expected it to be import-driven.”
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
| NEWS
Newsome said BMW has even expanded its Semi-Knocked Down (SKD) and Completely Knocked Down (CKD) operations, located in a facility developed by Illinois-based CenterPoint Properties on land owned by the Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport beside the Inland Port. Those operations enable the automaker to ship vehicle kits to emerging markets around the globe for final assembly. “We’re very excited about the future of Greer,” Newsome said.
Inland Improvements
Newsome said the Inland Port is continuing to attract interest from manufacturers in the Upstate and neighboring states. SCPA has a few changes planned for the facility that are expected to improve its operation. In June, SCPA’s board adopted the largest financial plan in the agency’s history. During the 2018 fiscal year, it provides for $262.3 million in capital expenditures, including $5.3 million to improve the Inland Port. SCPA said those improvements include a relocation of its chassis storage and maintenance operations, which should open up a large area at the facility for an additional rubber-tire gantry crane. The agency will pave space for the chassis operations on property it owns between International Commerce Boulevard and J. Verne Smith Parkway. Part of the contract for the chassis relocation includes studying site activities that would be necessary if or when SCPA decides to expand the Inland Port based on market demand. “Essentially, through the chassis relocation and other activities we’re increasing efficiencies within our existing footprint,” SCPA said in a statement.
Going Deep
SCPA said the Port of Charleston handled a record 2.14 million 20-foot equivalent container units (TEUs) in 2017, an increase of 10 percent compared with the previous fiscal year. Approximately 23 percent of that container volume was moved via intermodal rail, the agency said. According to a 2015 economic impact study by the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, port operations have a $26.8 billion annual economic impact and support 94,500 jobs in the Upstate. The manufacturing industry, which represents the primary user base of the port’s facilities, including SCPA’s Inland Port in Spartanburg County, encompasses more than 15 percent of the region’s economy, the study said. Capital expenditures during SCPA’s 2017
BMW was the Inland Port’s primary customer a few years ago, but the automaker accounts for less than half of the facility’s business today.
fiscal year amounted to $180 million, including $107.1 million for the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal construction, $42.5 million for Wando Welch Terminal improvements, and $30.4 million for other projects, Newsome said. Earlier this month, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced its Charleston District awarded the first construction contract for the $529 million Charleston Harbor deepening to Illinois-based Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Co. It is the first of two contracts that will be required to deepen the harbor’s existing entrance from 47 to 54 feet. SCPA said it hopes to award the second contract by the end of the 2017 calendar year. The entire deepening project will be financed by $300 million in funds already set aside by the state’s General Assembly, with the federal government expected to supply the rest of the funds. In addition to the entrance work, the project
will bring the harbor’s main channel depth from its current 45-foot depth up to 52 feet. The deepening will enable the Port of Charleston to accommodate larger, heavier container ships transiting the recently expanded Panama Canal to call on East Coast ports. Newsome said SCPA accommodated some of the biggest ships ever to call on the port during 2017, and now routinely works 13,000- to 14,000-TEU vessels. The deepening could help the port serve ships made to carry up 22,000 TEUs. He said SCPA could see 5 percent container growth in 2018. “This state has really punched above its weight in terms of attracting cargo,” Newsome said. “The biggest catalyst for deepening is the deployment of big container ships. At the end of 1999… we saw the first 8,000-TEU container ships. We’re seeing 22,000-TEU container ships now. That kicks off a lot of 13,000-, 16,000-, up to 18,000-TEU ships that can come to the 10.6.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
U.S. East Coast. All those dimensions challenge a port. It means we have to invest a lot of money to handle them.”
Next Year and Beyond
Just One Person
Wednesday, November 15, 2017 7:15 AM—7:45 AM Optional Pre-Program Networking
8:00 AM Program (doors open at 7:45 AM)
TD Convention Center 1 Exposition Drive, Greenville, SC
Newsome said 2018 would be a significant year for SCPA. Remaining investments under the capital plan include $86.3 million in upgrades to the Wando Welch Terminal, $54 million in construction of the Hugh K. Leatherman Terminal, $32.2 million for the construction of a second Inland Port in Dillon County, $25 million for the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project, and other improvements. Newsome said the Inland Port in Dillon County, which is expected to open during spring 2018, would be anchored by California-based Harbor Freight Tools’ distribution center in Dillon. He said he believes the facility will be able to serve customers in the surrounding area of South Carolina and up along the Interstate 95 corridor in North Carolina. “It probably won’t be as big as Greer, but we think it’s going to do very well,” Newsome said. During the next five years, he said SCPA will focus on five areas: ensuring the port works well, investing heavily in new and existing infrastructure, continuing to grow its cargo base, driving intermodal efficiency, and enhancing the effectiveness of its workforce. Last Monday, SCPA broke ground on its new $35 million, 84,000-square-foot headquarters in Mount Pleasant. Newsome said SCPA is developing plans for an inner-harbor barge to move containers between the Wando and Leatherman terminals. The agency said the barge would reduce local truck traffic and utilize the Leatherman Terminal’s direct access to the proposed Navy Base Intermodal Facility in North Charleston. According to the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), the Port of Charleston saw 45 percent TEU growth between 2011 and 2016, which was the highest out of the nation’s top 10 container ports. Charleston ranks No. 9 overall among the nation’s largest ports behind Los Angeles, Long Beach, New York/New Jersey, Savannah, Seattle-Tacoma, Norfolk, Oakland, and Houston, according to AAPA data. Newsome said SCPA and the State of South Carolina plan to invest more than $2 billion in port and port-related facilities by 2021 to “fulfill the requirements of a modern port in today’s big-ship environment.”
Volvo’s Turn
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Last week, Volvo announced its plan to invest an additional $520 million in its Berkeley County plant and 1,910 more jobs, bringing its total impact to more than $1 billion and 3,900 jobs. The automaker said the plant will be the global production hub of the all new S60 sedan, which is expected to begin rolling off the assembly line in 2018. The additional investment will bring production of the next-generation XC90 to South Carolina by 2021. The plant is anticipated to produce 100,000 vehicles per year. In June, appliance manufacturer Samsung said it would invest $380 million to bring a state-of-the-art plant to Newberry County and create nearly 1,000 jobs by 2020. Newsome said both investments will add volume to the Port of Charleston.
UBJ | 10.6.2017
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
| NEWS
2.5 MILES FROM DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE 220 ACRES 4,700 FT OF FRONTAGE ON THE GREENVILLE HEALTH SYSTEM SWAMP RABBIT TRAIL
The site, which has sat vacant since 2013, was formerly home to Cone Mills and later Union Bleachery and was once one of the largest denim producers in the world.
DEVELOPMENT
US Finishing & Cone Mill site hits the Greenville market ARIEL TURNER | STAFF
aturner@communityjournals.com Approximately 220 acres of property available for development at the former U.S. Finishing & Cone Mill site has hit the Greenville market, according to Avison Young senior vice president Rob Howell. “There is no other available parcel anywhere near this scale in this proximity to downtown,” Howell says. “In the right hands, it could be on par with the impact CU-ICAR has had on the Greenville community.” The property at Old Buncombe and West Blue Ridge roads, two and a half miles from downtown Greenville, is divided into four parcels – Swamp Rabbit & Creek Parcel at 116.76 acres, Blue Ridge Parcel at 19.6 acres, Dry & West Pond Parcel at 40.08 acres, and Former Plant Parcel at 35.53 acres. The Swamp
Rabbit and Creek Parcel includes 4,700 feet of frontage on the Greenville Health System’s Swamp Rabbit Trail. The property is an ideal location for a high-impact mixed-use site, including multifamily, single-family, retail, office, and light industrial, Howell says. “We are casting a very wide national net for someone to take the whole property,” Howell says. Because of the particular complications of the site, the ideal buyer is an experienced developer with a track record of working with county, state, and federal agencies, particularly involving properties with environmental challenges. In addition, Clemson University’s Master of Real Estate Development program has convened an interdisciplinary team to assist a
future development buyer in site visioning, should they desire. Formerly home to Cone Mills and later Union Bleachery, the facility was one of the largest denim producers in the world. Beginning in 1903, the site had been used for various manufacturing operations and was the center of the mill village that surrounds it. After a fire at the plant in late 2003 and the subsequent shuttering of the textile operation, the property has lain dormant. According to Environmental Protection Agency records, the site was placed on the Superfund program’s National Priorities List (NPL) in 2011 because of contaminated surface water, groundwater, and sediment resulting from facility operations. EPA and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) have investigated 10.6.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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OAD INGS R UR SPR SULPH
Because of the particular complications of the site, the ideal buyer is an experienced developer with a track record of working with county, state, and federal agencies, particularly involving properties with environmental challenges.
CHERRYDALE
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W. PA RK ER
site conditions and taken steps to clean up the site in order to protect people and the environment from contamination. The October 2011 cleanup action resulted in removing the burnedout buildings and installing fencing to secure the site and discourage trespassing. The action finished in April 2012. To EPA’s
knowledge, contaminated groundwater has not affected drinking water supplies. Many areas of the property may qualify for No Further Action with the EPA but will have to be determined. The EPA issued the following statement in regards to their cooperation with the future devel-
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oper of the site: “Returning Superfund sites back to beneficial use is a high priority for the Environmental Protection Agency, and EPA will continue to work with enterprising individuals and organizations to bring new opportuni-
ties to communities impacted by Superfund Sites. The U.S. Finishing/Cone Mills site in Greenville, S.C., has a very high potential for redevelopment and return to beneficial use as an asset for the community.”
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UBJ | 10.6.2017
POINSETT HIGHWAY
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INVESTMENTS
TRUST
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
| NEWS
MANUFACTURING
Michelin North America files lawsuit against Tire Mart Inc.
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Greenville-based Michelin North America has filed suit against Tire Mart Inc., a Missouri-based manufacturer of radial tires for ATVs, UTVs, light trucks, and SUVs. The suit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, alleges that the company’s Braven Ironside tire infringes Michelin’s design patent covering the BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2 tire. “Michelin will aggressively defend its intellectual property and the expertise of our employees,” said Scott Clark, chief operating officer for Michelin North America and head of the company’s passenger tire unit. Michelin North America employs more than 22,000 people and operates 19 manufacturing plants. The company designs, manufactures, and sells tires for airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, and other types of vehicles. It also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps, and road atlases. –Andrew Moore
FINANCE
First Reliance to acquire Greenville-based Independence National Bank Florence-based First Reliance Bank announced Sept. 25 that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Independence National Bank, which is headquartered in Greenville. The acquisition, which is currently valued at about $11 million, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2018, according to a press release. Independence has $90 million in assets, $76.1 million in deposits, and three branch locations. The combined company is expected to have about $532.9 million in assets, $369.3 million in gross loans, $432.4 million in deposits, and 11 banking offices in South Carolina. It also plans to open a loan production office in Winston Salem, N.C., in October. “We welcome our new customers and associates created by this merger and look forward to serving them with excellent customer service and our brand of banking,” said Rick Saunders, president and CEO of First Reliance, in a statement. “First Reliance has always been a strong community partner in all our markets, and we are excited to support the communities in Greenville.” –Andrew Moore
REAL ESTATE
Greer working with developer on hotel deal Greer officials must be pretty excited about a developer’s plan to build a hotel somewhere in the city, judging from the code name they’ve assigned – Project Kaboom. At the moment, they’re keeping tight-lipped about the plan as they negotiate a development agreement with the developer. The only information they’ve released so far is contained in an ordinance that Greer City Council was scheduled to vote on at first reading Sept. 26. The ordinance says the developer intends to build a hotel with at least 100 rooms and invite other developers to build commercial/retail facilities on adjacent property. The city’s contribution would include a 300-space municipal parking garage. Plans outlined in the ordinance call for the city to lease 90 parking spaces to the developer for 30 years. Neither the developer nor the proposed location is disclosed. Greer Mayor Rick Danner declined to provide details, as did Reno Deaton, executive director of the Greer Development Corp., the city’s economic development organization. –Rudolph Bell 10.6.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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NEWS |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
INSURANCE
Herlong Bates Burnett Insurance acquired by AssuredPartners Inc. AssuredPartners Inc. recently announced the acquisition of Herlong Bates Burnett Insurance in Greenville. Herlong Bates Burnett Insurance is a full-service insurance agency providing business, personal, health, and life insurance products from a variety of trusted companies. The staff of 10 will continue operations under the leadership of president Michael Herlong and vice president and COO Tom Bates. The agency currently reports approximately $1.2 million in revenues. AssuredPartners Inc., headquartered in Lake Mary, Fla., and led by Jim Henderson and Tom Riley, acquires and invests in insurance brokerage businesses across the United States and in London. –Ariel Turner
ENERGY
More VC Summer fallout as 250 jobs leaving Laurens Two hundred and fifty people are set to lose jobs with the closure of a pipe fabrication facility in Laurens. The facility, operated by Chicago Bridge & Iron, or CB&I, had supported the construction of the VC Summer nuclear project near the Midlands community of Jenkinsville. That work disappeared when utilities SCE&G and Santee Cooper abandoned the project this past summer. The layoffs in Laurens are scheduled to start in mid-November and continue until March 30, Prentis Martin, manager of the pipe fabrication plant, said in a Sept. 15 notice to the South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce. He cited “the lack of available work and high overhead costs” as reasons for the closure.
A company spokesman in the Houston area, however, said “general economic reasons” were behind the closing. “After careful evaluation, CB&I has decided to close the facility strictly for general economic reasons as part of an overall review of our backlog of work,” spokesman Gentry Brann told the Upstate Business Journal. He said the facility continues to provide fabrication services for the construction of a different nuclear plant near Augusta, Ga., just across the South Carolina line. “This was a decision based on our overall workload after reviewing projects across the country,” Brann said. “The nuclear work for both projects was scheduled to be completed by early next year, so this decision is due to longer-term needs.” Johnathan Coleman, executive director of the Laurens County Development Corp., the county’s economic development organization, said his office would do everything it could to pair displaced workers “with the multiple opportunities available in the area.” –Rudolph Bell
RETAIL
Blossom GVL opens at Main + Stone Greenwood-based Blossom Shoes & Such is opening a second location, Blossom GVL, at the Main + Stone retail hub at the corner of North Main Street and East Stone Avenue, next to Two Chefs Café & Market, Drift Float Spa, and Jī-(rōz). The store will be open to the public Oct. 7 at 10 a.m. The boutique, locally owned by Kimberly Stephens and Mason Dunlap, offers a variety of on-trend ladies’ footwear, from Sam Edelman to Matisse, as well as handpicked selections of accessories from both established brands and up-and-coming designers. “Even though we are proudly based in Greenwood, we are thrilled that we developed such a strong customer base here in Greenville,” says Dunlap, owner and operator of Blossom GVL. “Technology and social media allowed us to grow our network of clients, and we realized that there was a high demand in the Greenville community for the lines we carry, our aesthetic, and our one-of-a-kind customer service.”
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
To celebrate the grand opening on Oct. 7, Blossom GVL is offering a free gift with purchase to their first 50 customers, the ability to register for a free pair of shoes (two chances to win), and mimosas from 10 a.m.–5 p.m. “We are thrilled to open the sister store to our Uptown Greenwood location,” Stephens says. “We plan to offer similar styles and price points, but with a fresh approach for our Greenville market.” –Ariel Turner
SPORTS
Southern Conference Cross Country Championships will be held Oct. 28 in Spartanburg For the first time since 2008, and only the second time in 90 years, Spartanburg County will host the Southern Conference’s Cross Country Championships on Oct. 28. The event, hosted by Wofford College, will be held at the corporate headquarters for Spartanburg-based Milliken & Co.
| NEWS
SoCon spokeswoman Haley Shotwell said 20 teams – 10 men’s teams and 10 women’s teams – will compete in the championships. Each team will include nine athletes. With coaches and fans added to the mix, the event could bring several hundred visitors to Spartanburg. “We’re looking forward to having our championships here in Spartanburg and know that the Wofford staff will do a great job of hosting,” said SoCon’s Commissioner John Iamarino in a statement. The event will begin at 10 a.m. with the women’s race, followed by the men’s race at 10:45 a.m. Admission is free and open to the public. An awards ceremony will be held after the men’s race. The Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB) said it will partner with SoCon and Wofford to run the event and will give away free items to attendees. “We are excited about this partnership with Wofford College and the Southern Conference to bring the Southern Conference Cross Country Championship to Spartanburg,” said Chris Jennings, executive vice president of the SCVB, in a statement. “This is a great addition to the exciting and growing lineup of sports events that bring thousands of people to our community every year. We look forward to welcoming all the athletes, coaches, support personnel, family members, friends, and other supporters who will come to Spartanburg for this event.” Furman University has won the past four championships. The Paladins were selected as the preseason favorites by the league’s coaches, according to SoCon. The SoCon championship is the second large sports tourism event to be announced for Spartanburg during the past week. During the past week, local officials announced Spartan Race will stomp through the county during the Carolina Beast and Sprint weekend Nov. 4 and 5. That event will be held on more than 700 acres of land adjacent to the University of South Carolina Upstate and Milliken & Co.’s headquarters. It promises to bring 10,000 competitors to the Upstate, netting Spartanburg and the surrounding counties millions of dollars in economic impact. –Trevor Anderson
HEALTH CARE
Goes green at red lights. Gets red-blooded at green lights.
FirstLight Home Care of Greenville expands services across the Upstate
the engine at red lights to save fuel. DYNAMIC SELECT lets you
FirstLight Home Care, a provider of nonmedical home care, announced the expansion of its services to Clinton, Easley, Fountain Inn, Laurens, Piedmont, and Simpsonville. The Greenville office, owned and operated by local residents Jim and Jenny Vaughn, will continue to serve their Greenville residents as well. FirstLight Home Care serves area seniors, adults with disabilities, new mothers, those recovering from surgery, and other adults in need of assistance. FirstLight caregivers help with many needs – from personal hygiene and household duties such as cooking, cleaning, and running errands, to mobility assistance and dementia care. “Jim and Jenny recognized a growing need in the neighboring cities of Greenville for the brand of service FirstLight offers and stepped up to the challenge,” said Jeff Bevis, CEO of FirstLight Home Care. “We’re confident the service provided by Jim, Jenny, and their team of caregivers will fill the needs of the communities they serve. This will be a great addition to the greater Greenville area.” Since opening its first franchise location in 2010, FirstLight Home Care has experienced steady growth and is now operating more than 240 locations in 33 states throughout the U.S. –Ariel Turner
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Sourdough & Co. signs lease for fourth Upstate location
CARLTON MOTORCARS www.CarltonMB.com (864) 213-8000 2446 Laurens Road Greenville, SC 29607
Sourdough & Co. has signed a lease for a fourth location in the Upstate, this time at 5000 Old Spartanburg Road, Taylors. The property is a 1,900-square-foot vacant bank pad with an existing drive-thru. Ryan Robertson and John Cannon of SVN Blackstream represented the landlord and tenant, respectively. Sourdough & Co., a San Francisco-based fast-casual chain, is scheduled to open its first Upstate location in early November in the 1,680-square-foot former Firehouse Subs at 219 Pelham Road, Greenville. Two other locations will quickly follow suit — in Duncan, 2109 E. Main St. at 1,500 square feet, and Spartanburg, 1725 John B. White Sr. Blvd. at 2,600 square feet, which will also include the franchise office. The Taylors location should open later this year. The chain currently has eight stores in California. –Ariel Turner 10.6.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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COVER |
R J ROCKERS & THE SILO
Clay McDonough and Mark Johnsen Photo by Will Crooks. 12
UBJ | 10.6.2017
R J ROCKERS & THE SILO
| COVER
HELLO SILO
The RJ Rockers team unveils their latest restaurant concept WORDS BY TREVOR ANDERSON
Spartanburg’s RJ Rockers Brewing Co. is tapping into its roots while seeding future growth. The beloved local craft brewer on Friday, Sept. 29, revealed details of a more than $1 million expansion of its downtown space that will lead the venture back to where it all started 20 years ago – with food. RJ Rockers’ investment will carve out 3,800 square feet of existing brewery space at 226-A West Main St. for a new 100-seat restaurant named The Silo, an appropriate name given the grain silo outside. “It feels great, because what we’re about to do is what I’ve wanted to do since the beginning, but it wasn’t legal,” said Mark Johnsen, who founded RJ Rockers as a brewpub in 1997 in the building currently occupied by Delaney’s Irish Pub at 117 W. Main St. in downtown Spartanburg. “Thanks to the support of the community and changes in the regulations, it’s possible,” Johnsen added. “We couldn’t be happier to be where we’re at and are looking forward to being a part of the growth of downtown.” The Silo is anticipated to open in December and will add about 15 jobs to downtown Spartanburg’s food industry, which is undergoing an evolution due to an explosion of new eateries and food-related businesses during the past 17 months. Aesthetically speaking, the space will flow with the industrial feel of the building, which was constructed more than a half-century ago as a Dodge dealership.
The interior will feature exposed brick, concrete floors, recycled wood, metal fixtures, poured concrete bar, comfortable seating, and a private dining room that can accommodate up to 25 people. An outdoor patio with ample seating will surround the brewery’s prominent grain silo on the east side of the building. Construction is already underway. Spartanburg-based Dunbar Construction is the general contractor. Spartanburg interior designer Sandra Cannon, who has worked on various local projects, including the redevelopment of the historic Drayton Mill, will put her keen eye to work for The Silo. Head chef Clay McDonough, a transplant from Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, who moved to Spartanburg one year ago initially to practice law, will lead the operation of The Silo. McDonough said he grew up about an hour outside of New Orleans. He attended the University of Mississippi and worked in what he described as a “really cool, small, experimental” restaurant. He started as a dishwasher and eventually worked his way up to running the kitchen. “That experience was invaluable,” McDonough said. “I grew up very fast in that environment.” Johnsen said McDonough was serving as the leader of the brewery ownership’s run club. “He heard about what we were planning and asked if he could throw his hat into the ring,” Johnsen said. “He came back to us with a full menu. Many of those items you will see when
we open. He was the obvious choice to run this thing.” The Silo will have a plethora of conceptual tie-ins to RJ Rockers’ beer operations, which currently stand at between 8,000 and 10,000 barrels of production annually and distribution in the Carolinas, Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia. A good example is the restaurant’s name. “Our silo is a working silo that stores grain,” McDonough said. “The whole idea is that the silo feeds the brewing operation. Now, it will feed the restaurant. And the restaurant will feed the community. The community will feed us.” And then there’s the food. McDonough said he plans to use spent grain and “sugar water” from the brewery’s beer brewing processes to craft food items that carry the flavor profiles of RJ Rockers’ beers. The menu will feature “hand-to-mouth shareable plates,” including Smoked Trout and Horseradish Terrine, and Upstate Poutine (fries with Clemson blue pimento cheese, caramelized onion gravy, and Son of a Peach pepper jelly) for $9. Heartier “knife-and-fork plates” like the OpenFaced BBQ Biscuit and Shrimp and Sweet Potatoes on Charred Corn Risotto will be available for $13. McDonough described the restaurant’s food offering as being similar to the brewery’s beer lineup, which includes staples, seasonal favorites, and “small-batch” items. The chef said the restaurant’s target audience will be “anyone who would come to a brewery.” 10.6.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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R J ROCKERS & THE SILO
But he said the eatery will be family-friendly. RJ Rockers Tap Room and brewing operation will remain open during construction, Johnsen said. Another area where the restaurant promises to be nontraditional is its centralized ordering system. Via the system, customers can order whenever and from wherever they want to by flagging down any one of the “roaming servers” moving between the restaurant and Tap Room spaces. The idea aims to give diners the freedom to socialize and explore. McDonough said servers would be as knowledgeable about the food as the brewery’s employees are about the beer. “The brewery will not change with the addition of The Silo,” said RJ Rockers owner John Bauknight in a statement. “This is an enhancement to our current offerings, providing a relaxed, honest beer and food experience at the source. There are no facades and no strict rules about how to enjoy your time here. You’re in charge. We won’t tell you where to sit, what to eat, or when to leave.” RJ Rockers leaders said they are excited about the position of the brewery and the restaurant in downtown. They expect the new $20 million AC Hotel under construction across the street will add a whole new dimension to the city’s hospitality scene, and are excited about other prospects that could bring more restaurants to the western end of downtown. “The city has such a great amount of momentum right now,” Bauknight said. “Going forward, we’re going to be able to contribute an even more significant amount of tax revenue that the city can use to invest in other things that improve the quality of life for local residents. It’s a great time to be in business in downtown Spartanburg.” Johnsen’s vision for a vibrant downtown brewpub started in the early 1990s. The U.S. Army veteran was stationed in Germany after Desert Storm, where he fell in love with beer. He then learned the craft of brewing while serving with the National Guard in Idaho. In 1997, he made the decision to start up his own brewpub. But in 2002, he decided to leave food behind to pursue beer. He sold his stake in the restaurant and moved his brewing operation to a building off Interstate 85 Business in Spartanburg County. In 2007, Bauknight and his business partner and fellow Wofford College graduate Nick Wildrick acquired RJ Rockers. Two years later, RJ Rockers relocated its brewery to downtown. The operation immedi14
UBJ | 10.6.2017
An outdoor grain silo, located on the east side of the brewery, served as the inspiration for the new restaurant name. Photo by Trevor Anderson.
ately began breathing new life into an area of downtown that had been in decline for years. New developments, including Main Street Pub, Cribb’s Kitchen, Little River Roasting Co.’s Coffee Bar, and Hub City Bookshop, opened in fairly quick succession.
A local effort to rebrand the western end of downtown as the Grain District took root. And then the regulatory landscape shifted. Bauknight was heavily involved in the passage of the state’s Stone Bill in 2014. The bill paved the way for breweries in South Carolina to sell
R J ROCKERS & THE SILO
food and brewpubs to increase their production and sell to distributors. Before the legislation was passed, breweries could only make (albeit in unlimited quantities) and distribute beer, but not serve food. Brewpubs could serve food, but were only able to make 2,000 barrels of beer per year. There was also the 2013 Pint Bill, which enabled South Carolina breweries to serve a total of 48 ounces of beer, or four pints, to a customer for on-site consumption in a 24-hour period, as opposed to a few 4-ounce samples. Johnsen said downtown momentum, regulatory changes, and the brewery’s continual growth and rising popularity as a local attraction encouraged RJ Rockers to add a food component. “Big picture, we love this concept because it enhances the experience for our customers,” Johnsen said. “Initially, we looked at doing a food truck. … This is much cooler.”
| COVER
“The whole idea is that the silo feeds the brewing operation. Now, it will feed the restaurant. And the restaurant will feed the community. The community will feed us.”
An artist’s rendering of The Silo’s exterior showing a new patio that will provide ample outdoor seating. Photo courtesy of RJ Rockers.
The Silo’s interior will feature exposed brick, concrete floors, recycled wood, metal fixtures, poured concrete bar, comfortable seating, and a private dining room. Photo courtesy of RJ Rockers.
10.6.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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FEATURE |
SPARTANBURG RESTAURANT ROUNDUP
HUNGRY HUB CITY
in the
WORDS BY TREVOR ANDERSON
What restaurants have just opened and what’s coming next to Spartanburg
Poke by Pokenori photo by Will Crooks. 16
UBJ | 10.6.2017
SPARTANBURG RESTAURANT ROUNDUP
A
visit to downtown Spartanburg on an empty stomach isn’t a good idea these days. The Hub City’s urban center has experienced an explosion of new, mostly locally owned eateries and food-related business during the past 17 months, the likes of which it hasn’t seen in a generation, perhaps longer. And patrons who choose to put the community’s epicurean boom to the test will find no shortage of dining spots that will satiate their taste buds without draining their bank accounts. Seven restaurants have opened in downtown since May 2016, and nine more under construction are expected to begin operating in the coming months. A spate of multimillion-dollar investments near Morgan Square and a change of ownership for several prominent buildings during the past two years could attract at least eight more eateries to downtown by 2018. “Anytime you see the level of investment we are having in homegrown restaurants, it’s a positive and exciting sign,” said Jansen Tidmore, executive vice president of Spartanburg’s Downtown Development Partnership. “As we often discuss quality of life, food is the most tangible contributor that comes top of mind for increasing that quality, and Spartanburg continues to bolster its great downtown offerings.”
| FEATURE
“The expansion of existing restaurants and the partnerships for new ventures demonstrate that downtown Spartanburg continues to rise and is becoming the living room of our community,” Tidmore added. “The quality of these ventures will allow us to continue to build our Spartanburg story in recruitment efforts.” The growth of downtown Spartanburg’s restaurant scene has been built on a foundation of stalwart spots, including Cribb’s Kitchen, The Lime Leaf, The Crepe Factory, Wild Wing Café, Monsoon Noodle House, Delaney’s Irish Pub, Groucho’s Deli, Hub Diggity, Health in Hand Juice and Smoothie Bar, Cakehead Bakeshop, Growler Haus, Renato in Centro, and others. Developers and commercial brokers said interest in downtown, particularly from outside investors, is currently dominated by eateries. “We’re seeing a lot of interest in downtown from restaurants,” said Andrew Babb, a broker with NAI Earle Furman. “I think they have been attracted by the activity and momentum building around key developments in downtown. I expect that will continue. Every building on Magnolia Street [between West Main and St. John streets] has been sold to willing owners. I think it’s just a matter of time before we begin to see growth in that area.”
HERE’S A RUNDOWN OF THE MANY NEW PLACES WHERE FOODIES CAN GET THEIR FIX NOW ABBOTT’S FROZEN CUSTARD
HENHOUSE BRUNCH
In March, Mark Khoury, a native of Rochester, N.Y., decided to bring his favorite childhood treat to downtown Spartanburg. Abbott’s Frozen Custard is located in a more than 1,500-square-foot space at 100 E. Main St. on the ground floor of the Palmetto Building between Groucho’s Deli and the Two Doors Down boutique. The store serves pies, cakes, novelty desserts, sundaes, sandwiches, and, of course, more than 100 flavors of Abbott’s Frozen Custard, which has been wooing patrons since 1902.
Greenville-based chef Malcom Garrison and his wife, Lexie, hadn’t yet gone through their nuptials when they announced plans in October 2016 to open a new concept, HenHouse Brunch. By December, the couple opened the restaurant in the space formerly occupied by Baguette & Co. in Spartanburg developer Royce Camp’s new building across from City Hall. They were wed a few months later, and their eatery, which features a range of homemade breakfast items, has so far had a happy marriage with downtown.
DOWNTOWN DELI & DONUTS
HUB CITY SCOOPS
Spartanburg chef Elizabeth Evans decided in August 2016 that she wanted to get back into the restaurant business with a café-style eatery unlike anything that previously existed in downtown. She chose a space in downtown’s historic Bijou building, which years earlier had been renovated to resemble a European-style market. Downtown Deli & Donuts features a variety of vibrant, healthy breakfast dishes, a lunch menu with fresh and wholesome entrees, and, of course, gourmet donuts.
In June 2016, Spartanburg entrepreneurs Kathy and Mike Silverman increased their investment in downtown by opening their ice cream shop, Hub City Scoops. The store is in a 1,900-square-foot space in the Bijou building at 147 E. Main St. It features 28 flavors of premium ice cream from the Chocolate Shoppe based in Madison, Wis. With freshly made waffle cones, milkshakes, ice cream cakes, and more, Hub City Scoops is a popular after-dinner destination and a great a place to beat the heat.
100 E. Main St.
147 E. Main St.
201 Wall St.
147 E. Main St.
10.6.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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FEATURE |
SPARTANBURG RESTAURANT ROUNDUP
Fabian Mata opened Nacho Taco in August 2016 as a way to honor his Mexican heritage. Photo by Will Crooks
LEMONGRASS KITCHEN
NACHO TACO
Successful Thai, Pan-Asian, and Japanese restaurants have for a decade or more populated Spartanburg’s downtown food scene. But in November 2016, the city added its first Vietnamese eatery to the mix. Tony Nguyen and his wife, Thang Bui, who were born in Vietnam but met in California, opened Lemongrass Kitchen in the former Café Around the Corner’s dining room space at 121 Dunbar St. The restaurant’s menu features authentic pho and bun dishes, as well as Vietnamese coffee and tea. It’s a cozy place that punches above its weight on the flavor scale. Lemongrass was recently voted No. 1 on a list of the South Carolina’s 10 best pho restaurants by AmericanTowns Media.
Fabian Mata’s love for great food and drink started at an early age. In August 2016, the young entrepreneur opened this new restaurant honoring his Mexican heritage, without taking it too seriously. Located in a former wine bar space in a ground-level space off North Spring Street, Nacho Taco takes casual dining to another level with elevated dishes and craft beer.
121 Dunbar St.
MEZCAL TABERNA MEXICAN 141-143 E. Main St.
In May 2016, Janneth and Isidro Tamayo announced they planned to open their upscale Mexican restaurant on the ground floor of the historic Lundy Building across from Morgan Square. According to its website, Mezcal is “a celebration of traditional Mexican cuisine.” For lunch and dinner, customers can sample from a menu that includes a wide selection of salads, tapas items, sides, entrees, and desserts. The restaurant’s bar has a selection of craft beers, wines, and vibrant cocktails. 18
UBJ | 10.6.2017
129 N. Spring St.
POKENORI
119 N. Church St. In June, Nicole Sophabmixay and her nephew, Benny Chen, opened Pokenori, a restaurant serving poke, a traditional Hawaiian dish featuring featuring cubes of raw fish. The 2,700-square-foot restaurant’s interior blends modern and industrial-chic styles with the historic character of the building. Sophabmixay and Chen said the eatery’s light fixtures were imported from a variety of different vendors in Taiwan. The restaurant also features a blend of custom-made furniture, including a family-style dining table lined with stools made by Kevin Belue of Spartanburg-based K Riley Designs. Pokenori’s main counter is comprised of a concrete top with a stacked stone tile façade. The floor is a mix of poured concrete and brick. The restaurant also has an accent wall beside the main kitchen area featuring chalk art that has been sealed so it can’t be erased.
THE STANDARD: A REFINED KITCHEN, PI-SQUARED PIZZA 1802 Drayton Road
These two new eateries are not in downtown, but they deserve a mention based on the energy and activity they have brought to efforts to redevelop the historic Drayton Mill into a vibrant mixed-use community. The Standard is a new concept by Greenville restaurateur Rick Erwin featuring tasty upscale, but affordable, cuisine. Pi-Squared Pizza is a Detroit-style pizzeria founded by entrepreneur Karen Rampey. The Standard is located in the mill’s former company store, and Pi-Squared is in a former warehouse space that comprises the Drayton Marketplace, the commercial portion of the development. Both restaurants are favorites of residents of the adjacent 289-unit luxury apartment community Drayton Mills Lofts. But they are doing their part to attract new visitors to Drayton.
SPARTANBURG RESTAURANT ROUNDUP
| FEATURE
OTHER DOWNTOWN EATERIES COMING SOON BLUE MOON SPECIALTY FOODS 130 S. Church St. Owner: Chris Walker Target opening: Fall 2017
In June, Spartanburg businessman Chris “Wishbone” Walker announced his plan to expand his homegrown enterprise Blue Moon Specialty Foods. Walker purchased the nearly 4,000-square-foot building previously occupied by A Arrangement Florist at 130 S. Church St. Blue Moon’s offerings include almost 100 items, including seasonings, sauces, dips, dressings, spreads, salsa, pimento cheese, compound butters, quiches, pies, casseroles, sides, beverages, meal kits, and special gift packages. The company’s wholesale business has grown to about 30 locations across South Carolina. But the new space will enable downtown patrons to stop in for a bite, or grab something to take home or back to the office.
BOND STREET WINES
145 W. Main St. Owner: Jeff House Target opening: Fall 2017 Jeff House, owner of Charlotte, N.C.-based Bond Street Wines, announced in May he planned to open a retail wine shop in a 625-square-foot space on the ground floor of the former Carolina Gallery building at 145 E. Main St. across from Morgan Square. The store will feature about 250 wines from all over the world, an offering of craft beers, light fare, teas, and charcuterie. House said he plans to host wine dinners that will be held at Renato’s initially. Wine tastings will be held on Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m. The owner will offer free delivery and could have wine by the glass and wine flights.
THE FARMER’S TABLE
149 S. Daniel Morgan Ave. (relocating) Owners: Joel and Lenora Sansbury Target opening: Early 2018 The popular farm-to-table eatery that sprouted in downtown Spartanburg a few years ago is expanding. In September, Joel and Lenora Sansbury, owners of The Farmer’s Table, said they will relocate their restaurant to a 5,000-square-foot space formerly occupied by Zarza Eclectic Cuisine in the Gilbert & Son Co. Building at 149 S. Daniel Morgan Avenue. The Sansburys, who opened their popular dining concept almost six years ago, said they made the
Lump Crab Cakes at The Standard. Photo provided.
decision to move because they have outgrown their original 2,500-square-foot location in the Farmer’s Marketplace shopping center. The couple said their menu will remain pretty much unchanged. Dishes will still be crafted from fresh ingredients sourced from about 20 local farms and food businesses, including Great Harvest Bread Co., Happy Cow Creamery, and Little River Roasting Co. They plan to be open for dinner a few nights per week. A dinner menu will feature delicious seasonal items, the Sansburys said. The restaurant will serve beer and wine, even on Sundays. Lenora Sansbury said the couple plans to make some modifications to the new space, including expanding the kitchen and creating a private dining room. The whole restaurant will be available for rent on weekends for events, such as wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, and office parties.
FR8 YARD
125 E. Main St. Owner: Hub City Hospitality Target opening: Late 2017 Probably one of the most anticipated eateries under construction in downtown will not be a typical restaurant, but a vibrant outdoor beer garden surrounding a cluster of buildings made from recycled cargo containers. The concept will be owned and operated by the group behind the popular Willy Taco restaurants in Spartanburg and Greenville. FR8 Yard will occupy one-third of an acre of previously vacant property at 125 E. Main St. beside the Sparkle City Mini Putt.
THE KENNEDY
221 E. Kennedy St. Owners: William Cribb, Raj Patel Target opening: Late 2017 Spartanburg chef William Cribb, with the help of his business partner Raj Patel, is going back to his roots with a new eatery that harkens back to the first 30-seat restaurant he opened in 2010 at 121 N. Spring St. The Kennedy will be in the 2,200-square-foot building previously occupied by Renato’s. The dining spot will feature smaller dishes crafted from fresh, local ingredients. Its menu will be innovative and consistently updated depending on what is in season. Cribb’s younger brother, Jamie Cribb, who cut his teeth at Wild Olive on Johns Island near Charleston, will serve as The Kennedy’s chef de cuisine. The food will be complemented by a selection of wines, craft beers, and cocktails.
LEVEL 10
AC Hotel, 225 W. Main St. Owner: Rick Erwin Dining Group Target opening: Late 2017 Greenville restaurateur Rick Erwin revealed in June that he planned to deepen his investment in Spartanburg with a new restaurant on the top floor of the new $20 million, 10-story AC Hotel under construction at the corner of West Main Street and Daniel Morgan Avenue. Level 10 will be a high-end concept modeled after Good Food in Montford in Charlotte, N.C. Led by chef Brian Lindsay, the restaurant will have a small menu of seasonal tasting-style portions of fresh pastas, 10.6.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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SPARTANBURG RESTAURANT ROUNDUP
The FR8 Yard, an outdoor beer garden surrounding a cluster of buildings made from recycled cargo containers, is targeting a late 2017 opening. Rendering from McM illan Pazdan Smith
seafood, and maybe one steak dish. The 5,500-square-foot eatery will open to an outdoor bar and private dining areas that offer breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
MIYAKO SUSHI GROUP
118 Magnolia St. (relocating) Owner: Josh Lee Target opening: Late 2017 In September 2015, Josh Lee announced his intention to carve out a new future for his popular sushi restaurant in downtown. The owner purchased the former Magnolia Street Pawn Shop building beside the existing location it has been in since its inception in 2000. The owner decided to completely demolish the vacant shop to make way for new construction that will include a 5,000-square-foot dining room on the ground floor and a 2,800-square-foot bar and 2,000-square-foot patio upstairs. The new location will have seating for more than 260 customers. The rooftop bar will be called Bar 1884 in honor of the year the original building was constructed.
SPILL THE BEANS
174 E. Main St. Owners: Abram and Heather Curtis Target opening: Spring 2018 Abram and Heather Curtis announced recently 20
UBJ | 10.6.2017
they will open a Spartanburg location of their popular Main Street Greenville coffeehouse-creamery, Spill the Beans. The couple signed a lease on 2,500 square feet on the ground floor of the historic Aug W. Smith building near Denny’s Plaza. The location is expected to open in the spring of 2018. The Curtises are the first business owners to ink a deal with Greenville-based Blue Wall Real Estate. Blue Wall is pouring $10.5 million into a renovation of the building to transform it into a mixed-use facility with 45 apartments upstairs and retail-restaurant space on the first floor.
STONER’S PIZZA JOINT
256 N. Church St. Owner: Stoner’s Pizza Joint Target opening: December 2017 Georgia-based pizzeria chain Stoner’s Pizza Joint signed in early September on the 1,400-squarefoot former Sake Grill at 256 N. Church St. beside the Spartanburg County Employee Health Clinic, across the street from the Spartanburg Marriott. Drew Ciccarelli, co-owner and head of franchise development for Stoner’s, said the company will renovate the space during the next few months, with the store expected to open in early December. The restaurant will have some dine-in seating, as well as takeout and delivery services. Its menu features pizzas, sandwiches, salads, calzones, stromboli, wings, lasagna, and desserts.
PROMISING FUTURE DOWNTOWN RESTAURANT LOCATIONS Aug. W Smith Building | 174 E. Main St. Owner: Blue Wall Real Estate Montgomery Building | 187 N. Church St. Owner: BF Spartanburg 198 Main & Morgan | 198 W. Main St. Owner: Royce Camp Abby’s Grille | 149 W. Main St. Owner: Bill Barnet Liberty Street Development | North Liberty St. Owners: Jimmy Gibbs and Andy Cajka Kimbrell’s Building | 127 W. Main St. Owner: Sean McEnroe McClellan’s Urban Eatery/Pierre’s 253 Magnolia St. Owner: Sander Morrison The Farmer’s Table (becoming available in January) 401 E. Kennedy St. Owners: JP and Lamar Baehr
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS IN THE UPSTATE
THE BURGESS COMPANY ANNOUNCES THE FOLLOWING TRANSACTIONS: Bill Burgess and Grayson Burgess were the agents in the lease of 3,556 SF of office space at Roper Mountain Business Center in Greenville by RMBC TIC Rollup LLC to Essex Homes Southeast Inc. Grayson Burgess was the agent in the lease of 2,000 SF of salon space at 838 Powdersville Road in Easley by Garrett Properties to Yellow Jasmine Salon. Grayson Burgess was the agent in the lease of 1,093 SF of retail space at 7 W. Stone Avenue in Greenville by Om Sairam LLC. Bill Burgess and Grayson Burgess were the agents in the lease of 830 SF of office space at the Piedmont Center in Greenville by Piedmont Center Owner LLC to Stair & Company CPAs, PA.
Bill Burgess and Grayson Burgess were the agents in the lease of 1,078 SF of office space at the Piedmont Center in Greenville by Piedmont Center Owner LLC to JusticeWorks Behavioral Care. Bill Burgess and Grayson Burgess were the agents in the lease of 1,298 SF of office space at the Piedmont Center in Greenville by Piedmont Center Owner LLC to Cooke Insurance and Financial Services. Bill Burgess and Grayson Burgess were the agents in the lease of 900 SF of office space at 1901 Laurens Road in Greenville by 1901 Laurens Road Associates to Madison Square Bridal of Greenville. LEE & ASSOCIATESGREENVILLE ANNOUNCES THE FOLLOWING TRANSACTIONS: Kevin Bentley was the agent in the lease of 17,000 SF at 366
keynote speaker
J.C. Cooper Road in Fountain Inn by Curtis E. Cooper, trustee of the Curtis E. Cooper Revocable Trust dated Jan. 28, 2015, to TRIGO, The PIC Group. Kevin Bentley was the agent in the lease of 16,000 SF at 308 Pennsylvania Ave. in Greer by Able Holdings LLC, to Units Mobile Storage of Greenville Inc. Randall Bentley was the agent in the sale of 33,933 SF at 126 Corporate Drive in Simpsonville by Beck Investment Properties LLC to Peter and Martha LLC. NAI EARLE FURMAN ANNOUNCES THE FOLLOWING TRANSACTIONS:
industrial property at 961 Berry Shoals Road, Duncan, by ATA Properties LLC to 1524 Roper LLC. Hunter Garrett, John Staunton, and Parks McLeod Jr. were the agents in the lease of 30,000 SF of industrial space at 1102 Old Stage Road, Simpsonville, by Triangle Warehouses LLC to Progressive Packaging Inc. Jimmy Wright and Ted Lyerly were the agents in the lease of 2,614 SF of retail space at 2243 Augusta St., Greenville, by Harry Bobotis, DMD, to SC Olive Works LLC.
Towers Rice Jr. was the agent in the lease of an 18,000SF industrial property at 265 Buds Drive, Cowpens, by B&N Properties LLC to Tekna Fill Inc.
John Stathakis II and W. Scott Jones were the agents in the lease of 3,000 SF of office space at 494 Garlington Road, Greenville, by Creek and Company LLC to Advisors Insurance Company.
Kevin Pogue the was the agent in the lease of an 80,000-SF
W. Scott Jones and John Stathakis II were the agents
what
CONNECTING OUR FUTURE KICK OFF EVENT
when
OCTOBER 18TH from 9:30A - 2:30P
CARLA BAILO Assistant Vice President for Mobility Research & Business Development, Ohio State University
| DEALMAKERS
where
TD CONVENTION CENTER
6 Breakout Sessions • Register by October 13th • Individual Ticket Price: $35 (includes lunch) An effort to create a regional vision for transportation, mobility, and connectivity in the ten county upstate, led by Ten At The Top.
Visit www.connectingourfutureupstatesc.org for more infomation and to register to save your seat. 10.6.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
21
DEALMAKERS |
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS IN THE UPSTATE
in the lease of 3,453 SF office space at 1116 S. Main St., Ste. D, Greenville, by NNPO Properties LLC to Southern Om II LLC.
Drew Stamm and Rusty Hamrick IV were the agents in the sale of 421 AC of land located at Smith McGee Highway, Hartwell, Ga., by Teton Partners Russell LLC to Guy Stark.
Alex Campbell was the agent in the lease of 9,466 SF of office space at 501 Memorial Drive Ext., Greer, by Vimaljit Maur to Radiant Research Inc. Kevin Pogue was the agent in the lease of a 20,071-SF industrial property at 130 Old Airport Road, Roebuck, by SDB Properties LLC to Global Public Safety LLC. Towers Rice Jr. and John Baldwin were the agents in the lease of a 20,093-SF industrial property located at 2 P and N Drive, Piedmont, by Piedmont Grove LLC to List Company Inc. Andrew Babb was the agent in the sale of a 12,480-SF retail property at 134 Magnolia St., Spartanburg, by Marie Martin, to Daniel Park.
October 13 - 15
John Baldwin was the agent in the sale of 21.37 AC of land located at 1491 E. Poinsett St. Ext., Greer, by David M. Milam Living Trust to Pinestone Warehouse LLC.
Friday Saturday Sunday
John Powell was the agent in the sale of approximately ±7,000-SF office property located at 304 N. Main St., Anderson, by Regions Bank to Carolina Alliance Bank. COLLIERS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES THE FOLLOWING TRANSACTIONS:
Towers Rice Jr. was the agent in the sale of 37.32 AC of land located off Powdersville Road, Easley, by Hugh H. Smith to Robinson Memorial Gardens Inc.
Lyn Tyner was the agent in the lease of 6,600 SF at 1021 Old Stage Road, Suite A, in Simpsonville, by WWB7 LLC to Carolina Greenscape Management LLC.
John Gray Jr. and Drew Stamm were the agents in the sale of a 20,400-SF industrial property at 1075 S. Batesville Road, Greenville, from Tal Batesville LLC to Distribution Court LLC.
Lyn Tyner was the agent in the sale of a 7,000-SF multi-tenant retail building located at 3525 Highway 153 in Piedmont to Hellas Properties LLC.
Andrew Babb was the agent in the sale of a 13,887-SF retail property located at 186 E. Main St., Spartanburg, by Cara
downtown greenville,
SC
FALL for TUNES. FALL for TASTE. FALL for TAPS.
Thursday Night Kick-Off Concert
Lynn Cannon to Bellwood Lane Construction.
6:30 PM - 10:00 PM 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM NOON - 7:00 PM
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UBJ | 10.6.2017
Garrett Scott and Brockton Hall were the agents in the lease of 60,000 SF of industrial space at 5257 Chesnee Highway in Spartanburg, by A&L Properties 2 LLC SC to CCI Enterprises LLC. Scott Burgess and Lance Byars were the agents in the lease of 1,741 SF at 1143 Woodruff Road, Suite J, Greenville, by Burgess Investments LLC to Deka Lash. Scott Burgess and Lance Byars were the agents in the lease of 1,750 SF at 219 Pelham Road, Suite C, Greenville, by JPM Investments LLC to Sourdough and Co.
Frank Hammond was the agent in the lease of a 3,200-SF restaurant at 4504 Highway 81 N in Anderson by Whiteford’s Inc. to Papa’s & Beer.
Scott Burgess and Lance Byars were the agents in the lease of 1,983 SF at 15 S. Main St., Ste. 6, Greenville, by CAPROCQ Greenville LLC to Sully’s Steamers.
Frank Hammond was the agent in the sale of a 1,680-SF office building at 109F Regency Commons Drive, Greer, by Unique Developers LLC to Capital Advisory Services LLC.
Scott Burgess and Lance Byars were the agents in the lease of 1,800 SF at 702 Fairview Road, Suite 106 in Simpsonville, Martin Family Limited Partnership, L. P. to Lee Spa Nails S.C.
Richard Barrett and Brannan Hudson were the agents in the lease of 2,097 SF of flex space at 111 Smith Hines Road, Ste I, Greenville, by Thomas Centre LLC to Outdoor Solutions Inc.
Scott Burgess and Lance Byars were the agents in the lease of 3,600 SF at Falls Park Drive, Ste. 101, Greenville, by Riverwalk Land LLC to Orangetheory Fitness.
Richard Barrett, Brannan Hudson, Garrett Scott, and Brockton Hall were the agents in the lease of 15,400 SF of office and manufacturing space at 130 Corporate Drive, Spartanburg, by Peter Wiseman to Industrial Integration LLC.
Scott Burgess and Lance Byars were the agents in the lease of 1,321 SF at 1143 Woodruff Road, Ste. I, Greenville, by Burgess Investments LLC to Pet Wants.
Richard Barrett and Brannan Hudson were the agents in the lease of 1,950 SF of office space at 228 Adley Way, Ste. 225, Greenville, by The Kingman Family Limited Partnership to Matt Henderson & Associates. Givens Stewart and Richard Jackson were the agents in the lease renewal of 13,060 SF of
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industrial space at 52 Pelham Davis Circle, Greenville, to Bahnson Inc
Scott Burgess and Lance Byars were the agents in the sale of 3608 Pelham Road, Greenville, by TNT Group Pelham Road LLC to Clean Eatz Franchising LLC.
VOICES FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, HEARD HERE
Beyond First Impressions Changing our perceptions of trade jobs is the first step to filling workforce gap
RETIREMENT
SALE BEGINNING OCTOBER 4TH
By KATIE SULLIVAN Director of Marketing, Corley Plumbing Air Electric
Seven years ago, I started in inside sales at a plumbing and electric company wondering, “How can I possibly grow in this job?” I didn’t even want to interview. Thankfully, someone persistently kept this opportunity in front of me. My plan was to stay for a few months until I could find something “better.” Within days of being at Corley Plumbing Air Electric, I recognized I was someplace special that cared and invested in the professional development of every person. My perception of the trades almost cost me a life-changing opportunity. Many believe that trade jobs are dirty and dangerous, that they require little skill or thinking, and that they offer virtually no career advancement. Pop culture depicts trade workers as bumbling, poor, lazy, uneducated, and rude. These stereotypes couldn’t be further from the truth, as I learned early on. The skilled trades offer financial and job security without crippling student loan debt. These roles require specialized training, problem-solving, creative thinking, effective communication, and exceptional customer service skills. Skilled tradesmen are often people who have an entrepreneurial spirit without the ability to take on the risks. Their days are varied, physical, and filled with challenges. Workers have to remain motivated, as their work is often thankless and goes unnoticed. After all, who sees the wires and pipes hidden behind the walls? I see thousands of positions go unfilled across the country because people aren’t attracted to working for a plumbing or HVAC company. However, these companies need accountants, marketers, logistics, HR representatives, and yes, tradesmen. This lesser view of the trades has created a culture where vocational programs, including those at our Greenville County Schools’ career centers, see decreased matriculation. Technical colleges have to cut programs that would offer opportunities for veterans, young adults, and others looking for fulfilling careers to gain the certifications they need to secure skilled positions. With a decrease in a trained workforce, small businesses like ours are unable to find qualified workers. This decline has brought forth a resurgence of apprenticeships. Five years ago, Corley started a registered program with Apprenticeship Carolina. We committed to offering paid, full-time, on-the-job training;
| OPINION
Pop culture depicts trade workers as bumbling, poor, lazy, uneducated, and rude. These stereotypes couldn’t be further from the truth, as I learned early on. 100 percent paid-for education; and benefits to individuals who wanted to pursue a career in the trades. Since inception, we’ve had seven graduates of our program, who at the time of graduation, all accepted offers as full-time technicians. So, how do we fix this cycle across the country? First, start by demonstrating respect for the work that these men and women do to keep us safe and comfortable. Tradesmen are the reason we can charge our phones, flush our toilets, and stay cool during those humid South Carolina summers. Our entire infrastructure is the result of skilled tradesmen. Yet we sporadically thank them and even less often show our respect. When you see a service truck, stop and say, “Thank you.” Admire and recognize the work they are doing in our community. Second, encourage children to explore the trades. It might not be their career path, but allow it to be an option. Teach them to appreciate the training and education that goes into learning a skill. The skilled trades deficit developed over decades. While I hope to see this gap shrink during my career, I know it will only happen if we start today to imagine the possibilities the skilled trades offer. 10.6.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
FINE MEN’S CLOTHING SINCE 1979
38 years in business. Locally owned.
530 HAYWOOD ROAD GREENVILLE, SC HOURS: MONDAY - FRIDAY 9:30-6, SATURDAY 10-3
864.297.5610
FORWARD |
WHAT ’S NEXT FOR THE UPSTATE, AND HOW WE’LL GET THERE
Cyberwar What companies can learn from the DNC hack By BELTON ZEIGLER partner, Womble Carlyle Sandrich & Rice
In summer 2015, the spies of a foreign country gained access to a private company’s domain name – pick any company you like, or several, since we don’t know which ones or how many. And within those domains, they created false email accounts, booby-trapped web pages, and developed hidden conduits for stolen information. After carefully building their “infrastructure” within those legitimate websites to mask the origins of their communication, they entered the computer systems of one of our country’s largest political parties. Or so the story goes. But how did they do it? Using unauthorized email accounts developed within the private company’s domain, fraudulent web pages, and stolen information, these individuals lured Democratic National Committee officials into loading software onto their system that gave the hackers control of those computers. Through that computer access, they stole – and eventually published to the world through various surrogates – hundreds of emails. The publication of those emails (along with emails from other sources) caused a sensation in the political world. Today, business owners, CEOs, partners, and shareholders know more than we care to know about cybercriminals. These are the people who steal our identities and credit card numbers. Slow down our systems. Lock up our computers and demand ransom for the keys. But what if corporations weren’t simply inconvenienced by cybercriminals? What if we inadvertently became a part of a multi-country or multi-organization cyberwar, while remaining completely unaware of our accidental participation? Sounds like a plot from a Tom Clancy novel, perhaps. But the reality is we might be. That has been a key message of the FBI and Department of Homeland Security in their report on the 2015-16 hack of the DNC. According to these agencies, this particular theft was not the act of private criminals or of misguided activists but the calculated act of a hostile nation. Since then, that report has been questioned, and understandably so, since a massive leak from a major organization is a complex analysis. There were most likely other 24
UBJ | 10.6.2017
thefts by other parties, including organizations, hostile individuals, and perhaps even inside leakers. But the most important part of the report is not precisely who did what, but that it indicates that it was the hackers’ access to private third-party domains that gave them the information and resources they used to disguise themselves as legitimate actors in order to breach and steal their way into a major organization. We can surmise, then, that one day in summer 2016, the CEOs of one or more unsuspecting private organizations received a surprise visit from the FBI. Agents told them that they were unwitting accomplices in another country’s hacking a major political party’s computer systems.
It would have been the cyber equivalent of coming home one day to be told that Russian spies had been working out of your house for months, maybe years, reading through your personal papers and pretending to be members of your family...
One can only imagine their incredulity. It would have been the cyber equivalent of coming home one day to be told that Russian spies had been working out of your house for months, maybe years, reading through your personal papers and pretending to be members of your family, tricking others into trusting them based on your good reputation, receiving packages of stolen secrets at your front door – and you never knew a thing.
For that reason, the bulk of the FBI and Homeland Security report details the actions that private businesses, educational institutions, and others can take – at once – to ensure that they are not serving as “stooges,” to use a phrase from the last Cold War. The report contains several lists of software signatures, domain names, and other identifying information that IT administrators can run immediately against system logs to see if there are any tracks leading back to foreign governments on your system. That is one step that any responsible corporation can take immediately. If your IT administrator is on the ball, he did this as soon as the report was issued. But it doesn’t hurt to check. The report also contains a guide to simple steps that every company should take to ensure that it has minimally adequate protections against cyberspies and cybercriminals. 1. Monitor system traffic across firewalls. 2. Patch software regularly. 3. Enforce robust password standards. 4. Train employees not to click on links from unknown parties. 5. Segment networks and limit privileges and access – especially administrator privileges. Make sure that a single breach doesn’t create unlimited exposure. 6. Audit your IT assets and eliminate unnecessary modems and interfaces. 7. Have a third party conduct a cybersecurity audit of your organization, help you identify the gaps you should patch first, and create a plan for doing so. When the report was issued, experts sniffed at these suggestions as pedestrian. But there was nothing special about the techniques used in the DNC breach; they were well-known and well-understood. Unfortunately, the mundane defenses to their techniques are not universally applied by corporations and other private organizations. In the cyber realm, weakness breeds weakness. The resources and pathways that hostile governments and other malicious actors need to breach sensitive governmental targets are often found in less sensitive targets – the systems of ordinary businesses, private organizations, and educational institutions. The DNC hack shows that the failure of any of us to effectively secure our computer domain resources weakens us all.
PLAY-BY-PLAY OF UPSTATE CAREERS
HIRED
HIRED
APPOINTED
APPOINTED
| ON THE MOVE
APPOINTED
SHARON LAUER
CASEY FINNEN
PAMELA VAUGHN
CHARLES MICKEL
LYNN HARTON
Joined the Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM) as a full-time project manager. Her primary focus will be working to meet goals set for the college/career ready high school graduation outcome area in SAM’s cradle-to-career work in education. Lauer began her post-secondary education by earning a technical certification and then earned her bachelor’s of business administration degree from Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.
Joined the High Spirits Hospitality team as the event director for The Old Cigar Warehouse. In that role she will be available as a wedding director and is responsible for planning company-produced events, such as the Tacos ‘n Tequila Fiesta. Finnen is a graduate of Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C. She formerly worked in Charleston as a catering director at Cru Catering.
Joined the Upstate Forever board of directors. Vaughn is the environmental and regulatory compliance manager at FUJIFILM Manufacturing U.S.A. Inc. in Greenwood. In this key position within the organization, she is responsible for the site’s environmental and regulatory compliance, preservation, and stewardship. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from Tennessee Technological University.
Joined the Upstate Forever board of directors. Mickel serves as president of RSI Holdings Inc. and manager of Capital Deployment LLC and various other entities. His business activities include investments, acquisitions, finance, property sale and asset management, and venture capital. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial management from Clemson University (1979) and an MBA from the University of South Carolina (1981).
Named chairman of the board of the Peace Center’s board of trustees. Harton serves as the president of United Community Banks Inc. and is the president and chief executive officer of the company’s $11.2 billion asset subsidiary bank, United Community Bank. He attended Wake Forest University and has more than 30 years of experience in the banking industry. He has previously served on the Peace Center board and executive committee.
VIP PHILLIP KILGORE The Greenville Chamber’s leadership has elected Phillip A. Kilgore to chair its board of directors in 2019. Kilgore has served on the Chamber’s board for the past five years, and on its strategic cabinet as vice chair of business advocacy. He will serve as chair-elect throughout the next year, as Greenville Technical College President Dr. Keith Miller chairs the Chamber’s 2018 board of directors. As chair-elect, Kilgore will chair the board of advisors, a group of business and organization leaders that meets quarterly to review business community progress and needs, and plan specific Chamber initiatives. Kilgore is a shareholder with Ogletree Deakins, a national labor and employment law firm based in Greenville. He has been with Ogletree since 1986 and has seen it grow from 40 lawyers to more than 800.
NONPROFIT The Peace Center board of trustees has elected 11 new members. They are Paula Bikulege, Sandy DeLapp, Bruce Holstien, Kris Kapoor, Melinda Lehman, Ben O’Hanlan, Carlos Phillips, and Cary Weekes. They will serve three-year terms. Newly elected ex-officio trustees – who will serve one-year terms – are George Fletcher, Butch Kirven, and Jil Littlejohn. CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions, & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
OCTOBER TOWN HAS ARRIVED! AVAILABLE IN GREENVILLE: Barnes & Noble - 735 Haywood Rd. Barnes & Noble - 1125 Woodruff Rd. Community Journals - 581 Perry Ave., Village of West Greenville OR ONLINE: towncarolina.com
10.6.2017 | upstatebusinessjournal.com
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#TRENDING |
INFORMATION YOU WANT TO KNOW
THE WATERCOOLER Social Chatter
RE: CEO AND PHILANTHROPIST MARK KENT DIES “A fine gentleman and a kind soul. Mark was one of a kind and will be duly missed by Greenville and the Upstate.”
John Malik
“Mark was a great business leader in the Upstate, but a better person.”
John Boyanoski
RE: NEW ACTIVE SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY PROPOSED FOR AUGUSTA STREET “The article mentions some criticism as not fitting in? I don’t see that. Worried there would be seniors close to town? The area looks to have a mix of everything, and this would seem to help ‘pull’ development out of the already overwhelmed downtown while at the same
TOP 5:
time enlarging the West End. So where’s the downside? I might want a top floor unit there myself!”
Scott Lees
“IMO this development would be more appropriate for the large vacant spot where the former Scott Towers was demolished — where Augusta and Dunbar streets intersect — just a few blocks down. It is not appropriate for the location currently proposed at Augusta/ Woodfin.”
Paul Rountree
RE: PEDAL CHIC TO BEGIN SELLING OWN LINE OF BIKES, MOVE TO RIVERPLACE “Congratulations! I just discovered your store during Artisphere this year. Women have gone out of their way to compliment me on the clothes when I’ve worn them. Best wishes for continued success! –A fan from California.”
JoAnne McLain
Carol Stanek
RE: HOW STEWART SPINKS TURNED A FAILING SHELL STATION INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE EMPIRE
“Can’t wait till my new Kent – Pedal Chic bike gets here. Ride on!”
“What a generous family.”
“Great job to Pedal Chic! True dedication and passion for growing her business. Congratulations, Robin Bylenga!”
Bob Morris
Vicki Smith Fissel
Stephanie Sams Page
E 39
ER 29 , 2017
| VOL. 6 ISSU
SEPTEMB
P REVVED U d m behin -son tea e pir her-and The fat ty Spinx em the migh
DIGITAL FLIPBOOK ARCHIVE
The layout of print meets the convenience of the Web. Flip through the digital editions of any of our print issues, and see them all in one place. upstatebusinessjournal.com/ past-issues
1. CEO and philanthropist Mark Kent dies
2. How Stewart Spinks turned a failing Shell station into a convenience store empire
3. New active senior living community proposed for Augusta Street
“Great people!”
OVE DE // ALSO INSICHIC IS ON THE MRM • PEDAL R UTILITY REFO • TIME FOBE STORY • THE OO e Spinks and Stev ks Stewart Will Croo Photo by
GET THE INBOX 4. CitiSculpt submits plans for hotel, multifamily project at Agfa site
CONNECT 5. Pedal Chic to begin selling own line of bikes, move to RiverPlace
We’re great at networking. LINKEDIN.COM/COMPANY/ UPSTATE-BUSINESS-JOURNAL FACEBOOK.COM/ THEUPSTATEBUSINESSJOURNAL
*The Top 5 stories from last week’s issue ranked by page views
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UBJ | 10.6.2017
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EVENTS YOU SHOULD HAVE ON YOUR CALENDAR
| PLANNER
DATE
EVENT INFO
WHERE DO I GO?
HOW DO I GO?
Thursday
Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Forum and Re-entry Job Fair
TD Convention Center 1 Exposition Drive 8 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Cost: $45 investors, $60 general For more info: bit.ly/2f0Dzfz; 864-239-3748; kbusbee@greenvillechamber.org
Tuesday
10/17
Greenville Chamber of Commerce’s Diversity & Inclusion Summit
TD Convention Center 1 Exposition Drive 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
Cost: $100 investors, $125 general admission For more info: bit.ly/2uDPySZ; nwhite@greenvillechamber.org
Wednesday
Endeavor’s Collaborators & Cocktails: David Oakley, president/ creative director, BooneOakley
Endeavor 1 N. Main St., 4th floor 5–7:15 p.m.
Cost: Free for members, $30 for preregistered guests. No walk-ins. For more info: Endeavor@EndeavorGreenville.com
Saturday
10/21
Piedmont SCORE‘s Comprehensive Small-Business Startup
Greenville County Library, Hughes Main Branch 25 Heritage Green Place 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Cost: $39, $15 students For more info: bit.ly/2fpcoI4
Wednesday
MARKETING & ADVERTISING VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES
10/25
Upstate Business Journal’s Business on Tap
Stella’s Southern Brasserie 340 Rocky Slope Road 5:30–7 p.m.
Cost: Free
ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Thursday
What Every Small Business Needs to Know to Free up Capital for Growth and Expansion
Spartanburg Chamber of Commerce 105 N. Pine St., Spartanburg 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Cost: Free, registration required For more info: solutionsunlimitedsc.com/ section179-seminar; 864-599-8678; heather@suics.com
ART & PRODUCTION VISUAL DIRECTOR
Thursday
Endeavor’s Collaborators & Cocktails: Kenn Sparks, head of U.S. corporate communications, BMW Group
Endeavor 1 N. Main St., 4th floor 5–7:15 p.m.
Cost: Free for members, $30 for preregistered guests. No walk-ins. For more info: Endeavor@EndeavorGreenville.com
PRESIDENT/CEO
Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com
UBJ PUBLISHER
Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com
10/12
EDITOR
Chris Haire chaire@communityjournals.com
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Emily Pietras epietras@communityjournals.com
DIGITAL OPERATIONS MANAGER Tori Lant tlant@communityjournals.com
STAFF WRITERS
Trevor Anderson, Rudolph Bell, Cindy Landrum, Andrew Moore, Ariel Turner
10/18
David Rich drich@communityjournals.com
John Clark, Maria Hall, Donna Johnston, Stephanie King, Rosie Peck, Caroline Spivey, Emily Yepes
Will Crooks
LAYOUT
10/26 11/2
Bo Leslie | Tammy Smith
OPERATIONS Holly Hardin
ADVERTISING DESIGN
Kristy Adair | Michael Allen
CLIENT SERVICES
Anita Harley | Jane Rogers
UP NEXT
IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF UBJ? WANT A COPY FOR YOUR LOBBY?
OCTOBER 13 THE DESIGN ISSUE
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
UBJ milestone
UBJ milestone jackson Marketing Group’s 25 Years 1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Kristi Fortner
HOW TO CONTRIBUTE STORY IDEAS:
1988
>>
NOVEMBER 3 CRE ISSUE
Chairman larry Jackson, Jackson marketing Group. Photos by Greg Beckner / Staff
Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years By sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com
Solve. Serve. Grow. Those three words summarize Jackson Marketing Group’s guiding principles, and according to owner Larry Jackson, form the motivation that has kept the firm thriving for the past 25 years.
events@upstatebusinessjournal.com
NEW HIRES, PROMOTIONS, AND AWARDS:
Jackson graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in video and film production and started his 41-year career in the communications industry with the U.S. Army’s Public Information Office. He served during
Vietnam, where he said he was “luckily” stationed in the middle of Texas at Fort Hood. He left the service and went to work in public affairs and motorsports at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. After a stint at Bell and Howell, where he was responsible for managing Ford’s dealer marketing and training, the entrepreneurial bug hit and he co-founded Jackson-Dawson Marketing Communications, a company specializing in dealer training and product launches for the auto industry in 1980. In 1987, Jackson wanted to move back south and thought Greenville would be a good fit. An avid pilot, he
learned of an opportunity to purchase Cornerstone Aviation, a fixed base operation (FBO) that served as a service station for the Greenville Downtown Airport, providing fuel, maintenance and storage. In fact, when he started the Greenville office of what is now Jackson Marketing Group (JMG) in 1988, the offices were housed on the second floor in an airport hangar. “Clients would get distracted by the airplanes in the hangars and we’d have to corral them to get back upstairs to the meeting,” Jackson said. Jackson sold the FBO in 1993, but says it was a great way to get to know Greenville’s fathers and leaders
>>
with a majority of them utilizing the general aviation airport as a “corporate gateway to the city.” In 1997, Jackson and his son, Darrell, launched Jackson Motorsports Group. The new division was designed to sell race tires and go to racetracks to sell and mount the tires. Darrell Jackson now serves as president of the motorsports group and Larry Jackson has two other children and a son-in-law who work there. Jackson said all his children started at the bottom and “earned their way up.” Jackson kept the Jackson-Dawson branches in Detroit and others in Los Angeles and New York until he sold his portion of that partnership in 2009 as part of his estate planning. The company now operates a small office in Charlotte, but its main headquarters are in Greenville in a large office space off Woodruff Road, complete with a vision gallery that displays local artwork and an auditorium Jackson makes available for non-profit use. The Motorsports Group is housed in an additional 26,000 square feet building just down the street, and the agency is currently looking for another 20,000 square feet. Jackson said JMG has expanded into other verticals such as financial, healthcare, manufacturing and pro-bono work, but still has a strong focus on the auto industry and transportation. It’s
AS SEEN IN
Got any thoughts? Care to contribute? Let us know at ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
2003 motorsports Division acquires an additional 26,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space
1998 1998 Jackson Dawson moves to task industrial Court
also one of the few marketing companies in South Carolina to handle all aspects of a project in-house, with four suites handling video production, copywriting, media and research and web design. Clients include heavyweights such as BMW, Bob Jones University, the Peace Center, Michelin and Sage Automotive. Recent projects have included an interactive mobile application for Milliken’s arboretum and 600-acre Spartanburg campus and a marketing campaign for the 2013 Big League World Series. “In my opinion, our greatest single achievement is the longevity of our client relationships,” said Darrell Jackson. “Our first client from back in 1988 is still a client today. I can count on one hand the number of clients who have gone elsewhere in the past decade.” Larry Jackson says his Christian faith and belief in service to others, coupled with business values rooted in solving clients’ problems, have kept
2009 Jackson Dawson changes name to Jackson marketing Group when larry sells his partnership in Detroit and lA 2003
2009-2012 Jackson marketing Group named a top BtoB agency by BtoB magazine 4 years running
him going and growing his business over the years. He is passionate about giving back and outreach to non-prof non-profits. The company was recently awarded the Community Foundation Spirit Award. The company reaffirmed its commitment to serving the community last week by celebrating its 25th anniversary with a birthday party and a 25-hour Serve-A-Thon partnership with Hands on Greenville and Habitat for Humanity. JMG’s 103 full-time employees worked in shifts around the clock on October 22 and 23 to help construct a house for a deserving family. As Jackson inches towards retirement, he says he hasn’t quite figured out his succession plan yet, but sees the companies staying under the same umbrella. He wants to continue to strategically grow the business. “From the beginning, my father has taught me that this business is all about our people – both our clients and our associates,” said his son, Darrell. “We have created a focus and a culture that strives to solve problems, serve people and grow careers.” Darrell Jackson said he wants to “continue helping lead a culture where we solve, serve and grow. If we are successful, we will continue to grow towards our ultimate goal of becoming the leading integrated marketing communications brand in the Southeast.”
2011 Jackson marketing Group/Jackson motorsports Group employee base reaches 100 people
2008 2012 Jackson marketing Group recognized by Community Foundation with Creative spirit Award
pro-bono/non-proFit / Clients lients American Red Cross of Western Carolinas Metropolitan Arts Council Artisphere Big League World Series The Wilds Advance SC South Carolina Charities, Inc. Aloft Hidden Treasure Christian School
CoMMUnitY nit inVolVeMent nitY in olV inV olVe VeMent & boarD positions lArry JACkson (ChAirmAn): Bob Jones University Board chairman, The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center board member, Gospel Fellowship Association board member, Past Greenville Area Development Corporation board member, Past Chamber of Commerce Headquarters Recruiting Committee member, Past Greenville Tech Foundation board member David Jones (Vice President Client services, Chief marketing officer): Hands on Greenville board chairman mike Zeller (Vice President, Brand marketing): Artisphere Board,
Metropolitan Arts Council Board, American Red Cross Board, Greenville Tech Foundation Board, South Carolina Chamber Board
eric Jackson (Jackson motorsports Group sales specialist): Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board
November 1, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 21
20 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal November 1, 2013
ideas@upstatebusinessjournal.com
EVENTS:
1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993
1990 Jackson Dawson acquires therapon marketing Group and moves to Piedmont office Center on Villa.
NOVEMBER 1, 2013
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Copyright ©2017 BY COMMUNITY JOURNALS LLC. All rights reserved. Upstate Business Journal is published weekly by Community Journals LLC. 581 Perry Ave., Greenville, South Carolina, 29611. Upstate Business Journal is a free publication. Annual subscriptions (52 issues) can be purchased for $50. Postmaster: Send address changes to Upstate Business, P581 Perry Ave., Greenville, South Carolina, 29611. Printed in the USA.
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