Breweries in the state continue to grow since the “pint law” passed more than a decade ago. Seven new breweries have opened in the state this year. Page 12
Gather GVL ranked among the best food halls in the country. Page 6
Technically tomatoes are a fruit, and we honor the value and taste of South Carolina tomatoes. They’re the best. You get savory and sweet in one beefsteak, Duke’s-slathered sandwich.
But this is about our favorite fruit that is unquestionably a fruit: Peaches.
Late summer is about the best time to get South Carolina-grown peaches. They’re plentiful and exceedingly delicious this time of year. The peach industry in the Palmetto State isn’t just about great eating, though. It’s also one of the major agricultural drivers in South Carolina.
In short, South Carolina is the real peach state. Aside from what Georgia might want to put on airs about, they did likely, possibly, perhaps have the first documented peach tree land on North American shores on a Georgia Sea Island. We appreciate them doing that because it’s been a cash crop in South Carolina for well over 150 years and counting.
The peach industry has been struggling lately in both South Carolina and Georgia. As you can imagine, that’s increased prices for the sweet, fuzzy fruit and caused the sector to take a hit in overall value.
Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which recently issued
its annual report on peaches, show that South Carolina and Georgia have both seen a reduction over the last year in peach production, with 30,500 fewer tons of peaches grown from 2021 to 2022 in the two states. While the Palmetto State produced 20,000 fewer tons of peaches in 2022 compared to the previous year, farmers saw a 9.6% increase in the price of peaches. That still resulted in a nearly $20 million decline in the overall value of the state’s peach crop.
Georgia, by comparison saw a reduction of 10,500 tons and experienced a price increase of 26.6%, which resulted in an decrease of $4.8 million in overall value.
1,251,360,000
Pounds of fresh peaches produced in the U.S. in 2022, worth an estimated $663.2 million.
134,800,000
Scan QR code for a selection of South Carolina peach recipes from Old 96 District, a group of 11 tourism areas in the western part of the state.
Across the U.S., peach production was down 9.4% in 2022 and the average price per ton was up by 12.9%.
Peach production is down in Georgia and South Carolina, but the Palmetto State continues to grow tens of thousands of tons more peaches than the Peach State.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, May 2023
-22.9%
From
Pounds of fresh peaches produced in South Carolina in 2022, worth an estimated $107.8 million.
$1,600
Price per ton of peaches in South Carolina in 2022, which was more than 50% higher than the national average and fourth highest in the nation among peach-producing states.
1571
The year the first documented peaches came to North America by way of China. Researchers have pinpointed St. Simon’s Island, Ga., as the place the peaches first landed.
233
Number of peach packing houses in South Carolina in 1935, with 3 million peaches being commercially grown in Spartanburg County alone.
15,500
Acres of peach-bearing land producing in South Carolina in 2022. Georgia had less than half that number for the year.
20
Number of quarts of peach preserves you can get from one bushel of peaches. That’s about 2.5 pounds of peaches to make one quart of peach preserves.
Sources: Clemson University Cooperative Extension, U.S. Department of Agriculture
2021 to 2022, peach production fell by 20,000 tons in SC.
Amassive new student housing tower in downtown Columbia opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, July 31.
The Standard is a new 17-story, 678-bed student housing tower at 1401 Assembly St. in Columbia’s Arsenal Hill neighborhood. National real estate development and investment firm CRG handled the project along with Landmark Properties, the national’s largest student housing developer, design-builder Clayco and architecture firm Lamar Johnson Collaborative.
A massive new student housing tower in downtown Columbia opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Monday, July 31.
The Standard is a new 17-story, 678-bed student housing tower at 1401 Assembly St. in Columbia’s Arsenal Hill neighborhood. National real estate development and investment firm CRG handled the project along with Landmark Properties, the national’s largest student housing developer, design-builder Clayco and architecture firm Lamar Johnson Collaborative.
An actor known as a superhero and a super spy got a taste of a Charleston-based vodka and decided it was, well … super. Good enough, at least, to put his money where his tastebuds are.
Jeremy Renner, a two-time Oscar nominee known to Marvel movie fans as Hawkeye, and as Jason Bourne fans as the star of the series’ fourth film, is a new owner in Sweet Grass Vodka.
Renner made the announcement July 23 via Instagram from his home in Reno, Nevada, where he has been recovering from a Jan. 1 snowplow accident.
“I’m so grateful for the progress I’ve made since the start of this year which allowed me to move forward with my interest in Sweet Grass Vodka,” Renner said in a news release from Sweet Grass Vodka. “Their mission is rooted in community and shared experience, which is why the second I tried it, I knew I wanted to become a part of it.”
Plans are underway for a cross-country appearance and bottle signing tour.
“Jeremy understands the purity and craftsmanship of our vodka intrinsically,” Jarrod Swanger, CEO of Sweet Grass Vodka, said in the release. “We are so grateful to share ownership of our brand with someone who resonates with our passion and vision to create the best vodka on the planet.”
Swanger and his wife Alicia founded the 100% potato vodka company based on her Polish family recipe. Sweet Grass Vodka is sourced locally in South Carolina with no artificial ingredients or gluten, the company says.
Sweet Grass Vodka was recognized by Forbes when it won a Master Award in three separate categories for Organic, Micro-distillery and Smoothest as well as “Best Premium Distillery. Most recently, Sweet Grass Vodka won a gold medal at the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
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Ajury found a Greenville resident guilty of uttering counterfeit securities two weeks after another jury found her guilty on three counts of wire fraud.
Robin Lee Johnson, 51, was found guilty of six counts of uttering counterfeit securities, according to a news release from the U.S. Justice Department, U.S. Attorney’s Office for South Carolina.
Senior U.S. District Judge Henry M. Herlong Jr., presided over both trials and will sentence Johnson after the U.S. Probation Office prepares a presentence report, the news release stated. Johnson faces a statutory maximum of 10 years on the securities case and 20 years on the wire fraud case.
Evidence presented to the jury during the first trial, July 11-12, showed that Johnson operated Global Staffing Solutions, a business that purported to provide temporary employees to local companies. Johnson sold Global’s accounts
receivable, representing money due from providing the temporary employees, to Capital Business Funding, a local factoring company. Factoring is a financial transaction and a type of debtor finance in which a business (Global) sells its accounts receivable to a third party (Capital) at a discount, the release said. The invoice factoring company seeks to collect on the invoices it has purchased.
“It was a part of the scheme that Global did not actually provide temporary employees to multiple businesses; however, Johnson represented to Capital that Global’s accounts receivable were valid and legitimate,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in the release. “Capital received multiple fraudulent emails and other documents from Johnson indicating that the workers had been provided and that Global was due money from Capital based on the factoring arrangement. Before her scheme was uncovered, Johnson obtained $406,289.04 from Capital based on fraudulent documents submitted.”
Evidence presented during the second
jury trial July 26 showed that Johnson obtained and deposited six counterfeit checks totaling $185,533.16. The checks purported to be from National Funding, a lending company based in San Diego, Calif., according to the release.
Johnson knew of National Funding because she was on its mailing list and received marketing materials with the company’s name, address and business purpose. The account number on the counterfeit checks belonged to a law firm in Ohio. Prosecutors alleged Johnson deposited four of the counterfeit checks in her Bank of America account and quickly dissipated the funds through large cash withdrawals and transfers to other accounts. Once the fraud was discovered, Bank of America stopped payment of the final two checks (totaling $75,000) and closed Johnson’s account because of fraud, according to the release.
This case was investigated by the U.S. Secret Service and the Greenville County Sheriff ’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Winston Marosek and Bill Watkins prosecuted both cases.
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Another new distribution center is in service in the Upstate.
North Charleston-headquartered Ingevity Corp. announced the opening of a new distribution center in Greer to simplify Ingevity’s distribution network and enhance service to its customers, according to a news release from the company.
Initial operations began in June and export shipments began in July.
“We are excited to announce our new location right here in South Carolina,” Ed Woodcock said in the news release. Woodcock is executive vice president of Ingevity and president of Performance Materials, one of Ingevity’s three segments. “Growing our relationship with these partners highlights our commitment to providing value-added products and innovation to our customers and strengthens Ingevity’s ties within the region.”
The location of the new distribution center opened in collaboration with Benore Logistic Systems Inc. and the South Carolina State Ports Authority. It will enable Ingevity to utilize Inland Port Greer to efficiently transport goods by rail to the port of Charleston. Both partners will leverage their logistics networks in the region to enhance services for customers, the release said.
“Moving goods by rail rather than by truck reduces emissions and aligns well with
Ingevity’s focus on sustainability,” said South Carolina Ports President and CEO Barbara Melvin. “South Carolina Ports celebrates Ingevity’s expansion into the Upstate with a new distribution center in Spartanburg County and will support Ingevity’s growth by swiftly moving goods via rail between nearby Inland Port Greer and the Port of Charleston.”
Ingevity operates in three reporting segments: Performance Chemicals, which includes specialty chemicals and pavement technologies; Advanced Polymer Technolo-
gies, which includes biodegradable plastics and polyurethane materials; and Performance Materials, which includes activated carbon. Its products are used in a variety of applications, including adhesives, agrochemicals, asphalt paving, bioplastics, coatings, elastomers, lubricants, pavement markings, publication inks, oil exploration and production; and automotive components that reduce gasoline vapor emissions.
Ingevity operates from 31 countries around the world and employs approxi-
mately 2,050 people.
“The entire Benore team is proud to be working closely with Ingevity and the South Carolina Ports,” said Benore President and CEO Jeffery Benore. “Our warehouse in Greer is only a few miles away from the inland port terminal and enables us to provide a short turnaround time combined with exceptional customer service to deliver the Ingevity products from South Carolina to the world.”
For more information visit www.ingevity. com.
By Krys Merryman kmerryman@scbiznews.com
Apopular eatery and watering hole in Greenville’s West End has received national recognition.
Gather GVL ranked sixth among the best food halls in the country and was named the best on the East Coast by USA Today, according to a Gather GVL news release.
USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Travel Awards allow people from across the country to vote for their favorite travel and leisure locations and experiences.
Gather GVL was nominated for the award by a panel of experts who have knowledge of the category, including USA Today editors, travel and food and beverage journalists, according to the news release. Of the 20 food halls nominated, the top 10 were chosen based on popular online voting. 10Best.com provides users with travel content of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the United States and around the world. Staffed by travel writers, 10Best.com averages 5 million visitors per month and was acquired by USA Today in 2013, the release said.
Gather GVL was developed and is operated by Mack Cross and his father, Doug Cross, through their company, Four Oaks Property Group.
“From the time we first brainstormed
the concept of Gather GVL, we thought we were creating something special that would be embraced by our entire community and become a major attraction for Greenville,” said Doug Cross, managing principal of Gather GVL and Four Oaks Property Group. “Over three years later, we’re proud to have launched many successful restaurant startups, showcased the work of culinary stars, provided a stage for top local talent, supported several local nonprofits and created a place where everyone — including those who call our city home and our many visitors — have shared good times and made happy memories. This significant national
recognition is further evidence of the power of what we’ve built together.”
Reflecting Mack Cross’s personal and professional interest in adaptive reuse and sustainability, Gather GVL is home to 13 restaurants. Since it opened in early 2020, people across the area and the country have gone to Gather to sample a wide range of cuisines and innovative food and beverage options.
Gather GVL allows small businesses and restaurant startups to share overhead expenses and market jointly to maximize their chances of success, the release stated.
Here is a list of Gather GVL’s establishments:
• Café Zorba
• Cocobowlz
• Greenville Beer Exchange
• Hendough
• Juicebox Wine Bar
• KO Burger
• Mama Mozzarella
• Mercado Cantina
• Palmetto Seafood Co.
• Saki Saki
• The Big Rinkowski
• The Lob Father
• Yolo Pizza Kitchen
story of the Upstate business market continues to be a story best told in numbers. Market
provides the context
the
and statistics critical to commerce in our region.
The latest concept in Gather GVL, Greenville’s West End food hall, will be a seafood restaurant opening in the former Resident Diner unit.
Palmetto Seafood Co., by the owners of Mama Mozzarella — also currently a tenant in Gather GVL located at 126 Augusta St. — will feature fan favorites like fish and chips, seafood boil, hush puppies and Old Bay fries. A soft opening took place July 20.
Owner Baleigh Reardon, whose background is in fine dining, said he likes doing what he calls “common food” because, rather than acting as a selfish chef, he likes to find out and deliver what people like.
“It’s been a learning experience,” he said. “Mama was the first place of my own that I opened. We were probably a little too ‘chefy’ for the crowd when we first opened, but it’s been an adaption over time to give the people what they want.”
Originally from Charlotte, Reardon moved from New Orleans last year and opened Mama Mozzarella in October. He also has spent time working as a chef in Charleston, and said he chose Greenville to open a restaurant because it’s a big city feel but not overly saturated, yet.
“Greenville is very much on the busi-
ness owner side at the moment,” he added. “That might change in the next five years, but for right now, you can go after something, and it won’t feel like too much of a competition.”
Although there is some friendly competition within the food hall, Reardon said he likes having all the vendors in one place because it brings in a diverse customer base that might otherwise have gone somewhere else.
“I also enjoy the quick-service concept,” he said. “Everyone can get what they want, and we aren’t spending a lot of money on dishware, tables and chairs. I love being in the heart of downtown and next to Fluor Field, because we get the traffic you just don’t get with a normal storefront.”
Reardon said two more openings are in the works over the next few months on Spartanburg’s Main Street — two concepts at two locations.
“All I can say right now is the opportunities arose and we threw something together we believe there is a gap for in that area,” he said. “Everyone has been to a place with great food, but the building doesn’t fit the concept. So, I go after location then adapt from there. Both the Mama and seafood concepts were drawn up in less than week. It’s about talking to people in the community, talking to friends. It wasn’t me getting an idea and going after it but the opposite.”
• Lean & Lean Six Sigma
• American Heart Association First Aid/CPR/AED HeartSaver
• Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM)
• OSHA 10- & 30-Hour Certification
• Truck Driver & Forklift Training
• Culinary Corporate Team Building
• Leadership/Supervisory Certificates
• Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP)
• Advanced Manufacturing One-Day Training Series
• Basic Cooking Skills, Entry-level
Wine Spectator’s 2023 Restaurant Awards honors restaurants scattered across South Carolina, including multiple locations of Halls Chophouse and three restaurants that carry the Rick Erwin name.
Thirty-nine South Carolina restaurants received Award of Excellence honors and nine of them were awarded the honor of Best of Award of Excellence.
The awards are intended to honor the world’s best restaurants for wine. This year’s awards program recognizes 3,505 dining destinations from all 50 U.S. states and more than 70 countries internationally.
Bistro 90 in Longs; Charlie’s Coastal Bistro, formerly L’Etoile Verte, in Hilton Head; Circa 1886, Peninsula Grill and Zero Restaurant + Bar in Charleston; Rick Erwin’s West End Grille and Soby’s in Greenville; River House in Bluffton; and SeaBlue Restaurant & Wine Bar in North
Myrtle Beach were recognized for Best of Award of Excellence honors.
“In a time of technological innovation, restaurants offer the human experience diners are hungry for — listening to their customers and offering personalized experience,” Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Wine Spectator, said in a news release. “This annual issue celebrates the places where wine is at the top of that conversation. I’m pleased to congratulate all 3,505 restaurants for their dedication to wine and wine-loving diners.”
South Carolina restaurants recognized on the 2023 list are:
Upstate
Rick Erwin’s West End Grille, 648 S. Main St., Greenville; Halls Chophouse, 550 S. Main St., Greenville; Larkin’s, 32 E. Broad St., Greenville; Camp Modern American Eatery, 2 E. Broad St., Greenville; Soby’s, 207 S. Main St., Greenville; Patterson Kitchen + Bar, Hotel Hartness, 120 Halston Ave., Greenville; Rick Erwin’s Clemson, 127 Market St., Clemson; Rick
Erwin’s Eastside, 8595 Pelham Road, Greenville; Rick Erwin’s Level 10, AC Hotel, 225 W. Main St., Spartanburg; The Lazy Goat, 170 Riverplace Drive, Greenville; The Peddler Steak House, 149 W. Main St., Spartanburg; and Vangeli’s, 119 Ram Cat Alley, Seneca.
Lowcountry
Circa 1886 at Wentworth Mansion, 149 Wentworth St., Charleston; Peninsula Grill, Planters Inn Hotel, 112 N. Market St., Charleston; Halls Chophouse, 434 King St., Charleston; Zero Restaurant + Bar, 0 George St., Charleston; Perrone’s Restaurant and Bar, 13302 Ocean Highway, Pawleys Island; Savi Cucina + Wine Bar, 1324 Theater Drive, Mount Pleasant; Sommba Cocina & Cellar, 1710 Shoremeade Road, Mount Pleasant; Wild Common at Cannon Green, 103 Spring St., Charleston; Charlie’s Coastal Bistro-L’Etoile Verte, 8 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head; Michael Anthony’s Cucina Italiana, 37 New Orleans Road, Hilton Head; Links An American Grill, Sea Pines, 11 Lighthouse Lane, Hilton Head; Magnolias, 185 E. Bay St.,
Charleston; and River House at Montage Palmetto Bluff in Bluffton.
Columbia
Di Vino Rosso, 807 Gervais St.; Halls Chophouse, 1221 Main St.; and Hampton Street Vineyard, 1207 Hampton St.
Myrtle Beach area
Bistro 90, 7209 S.C. Highway 90, Longs; Greg Norman Australian Grille, 4930 U.S. Highway 17 South in North Myrtle Beach; SeaBlue Restaurant & Wine Bar, 501 Highway 17 North in North Myrtle Beach; Chianti South, 2109 Highway 17 in Little River, Aspen Grille, 5101 N. King’s Highway in Myrtle Beach; Ciao Italian Restaurant, 5223 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach; The Brentwood Wine Bistro, 4269 Luck Ave., Little River; and The Parson’s Table, 4305 McCorsley Ave., Little River.
Others honored in the Palmetto State were The Corkscrew Wine Bar, 1365 Broadcloth St., Fort Mill; The Restaurant at the Willcox, 100 Colleton Ave. S.W., Aiken; and Victors, Hotel Florence, 126 W. Evans St., Florence.
After much anticipation, a popular Charleston-based authentic Asian cuisine restaurant opened in downtown Greenville in mid-July.
O-Ku marks The Indigo Road Hospitality Group’s second restaurant opening in Greenville, following Italian-inspired restaurant Indico, which opened a few weeks ago.
Led by O-Ku Executive Chef Jose Aguilar alongside Chef Masatomo “Masa” Hamaya, O-Ku is noted as elevated regional Japanese cuisine and provides guests multiple ways to experience the menu: Omakase, a chef’s choice tasting experience; Osusume, which means “recommendations;” or, a la carte.
The menu features a selection of nigiri, sashimi, shareable small plates, chef specialties, and specialty sushi rolls, as well as large format entrees.
The beverage program at O-Ku is made up of extensive Japanese whisky and sake lists, craft cocktails, imported and local beers, and wine. Mirroring the cuisine, the cocktail list is lighter in style, incorporating fresh herbs and produce with house-infused spirits and sakes, like the Shogun with Roku Gin, basil, and lemon balm; Sugar + Spice with habanero-infused vodka, passion fruit, and a sugar rim; or Saketini with sake, lime, cucumber, and mint. Zero-proof options are also available, including the Tiger and the Coconut with matcha, Tiger Tea, and
coconut milk; and the Hidden Garden Party with Seedlip Garden, lime, mint, and cucumber.
The Greenville-based developer on the project was Windsor Aughtry Co., and it partnered with The Indigo Road Hospitality Group to bring the two restaurant concepts to Greenville. Charleston-based David Thompson Studio was the architect and designer for the restaurant alongside Clayton Construction Co., the general contractor.
The high design aesthetic at O-Ku is inspired by traditional Japanese style, with shou sugi ban or “charred wood” walls, high ceilings adorned with Manzanita branches, and other wood accents throughout. The focus on wood as the primary material is a nod to the restaurant’s name, which translates to Oak in Japanese. The theme is carried out throughout the space with tilework that resembles the rings within a tree trunk, wood-paneled ceilings, and wooden pendant lights above the bar, creating a dynamic interior layout.
The space is anchored by a large neon sign of the Japanese phrase “omotenashi,” a saying which resonates with the team’s approach to hospitality and means to wholeheartedly look after guests. The outdoor bar and patio space is adjacent to a green space, which is home to Greenville’s Ice on Main, a seasonal skating rink open during the holiday season.
O-Ku Greenville is open for reservations Sunday through Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m.
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Clemson University is using the summer lull to take on a major renovation project for three high-rise complexes that house more than a third of its first-year students. Work began earlier this month on the $155 million project but the university planned to mark the occasion with a ground-breaking ceremony at 10 a.m.
Manning Hall, Lever Hall and Byrnes Hall lodge about 1,400 students each year. Built in 1967, 1968 and 1970, respectively, the three 11-story buildings have provided a temporary home to more than 75,000 Clemson students in the last five decades, according to a university news release.
The buildings are located north of the Hendrix Student Center and serve as the anchors for Bryan Mall, a cul-desac ringed by the three high-rises and three smaller dorms: Smith, Barnett and Mauldin halls.
Most of the renovations will take place to the interiors. All of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems —
most of it original — will be upgraded or replaced, the release said.
The building overhauls will make the complex fully accessible to individuals with mobility disabilities and include reroofing and other improvements to the exteriors. Additionally, the main entrances will be moved to face one another to help create a community courtyard and social space. Currently, the doors all face west.
The project, designed by architectural consulting and design firm Boudreaux + Little, is scheduled to take three-and-ahalf years, with general contractor Juneau Construction renovating each building one at a time, starting with Byrnes. The decision to renovate instead of complete demolition and rebuild reflects a financial goal to continue to provide quality housing at a competitive rate with peer institutions, the release stated. Demolishing and replacing the buildings was estimated to cost $125 million more than renovation, the release stated. Manning Hall cost just more than $2 million to construct in 1967.
“Among the many factors that go into deciding to renovate versus demolish
and replace was our concern that we continue to offer community-style housing at a price point that would involve only modest increases once re-opened,”
Kathy Bush Hobgood, Clemson’s associate vice president for auxiliary enterprises, said in the release. “We pride ourselves on offering many choices that allow students to select what works for them.”
Hobgood said in addition to the electrical, mechanical, accessibility and plumbing improvements, the project designers have taken the opportunity to make significant improvements to the living spaces to maximize value while addressing student desires and needs.
“Currently, there are only common spaces and lounges on the first and ground floors in each building, and now there will be study and social space on every floor in addition to big beautiful new common areas,” she said. “Each common area will be different. For instance, one might have a big open lounge with a pool table, one may be more of a study area, and one will have a community front desk where everybody can go to get their keys or up packages
from a locker system similar to the one at Manning Hall today.”
Leasa Kowalski Evinger, director of residential living, said the new common spaces are designed to bring students together naturally and generate an atmosphere of togetherness.
“The high rises have been missing spaces for informal interaction,” Evinger said in the release. “There is no open space on a floor to peer into a spot that isn’t someone’s bedroom to find an individual or group of people who are living life together. Our new design offers the opportunity for students to study and socialize in ways that will build powerful community by allowing for organic connections that today’s student so greatly craves but might not know how to create for themselves.”
Room layouts will also get significant upgrades. The current community bathrooms will be replaced by “wet core” bathroom designs, creating small, more home-like private bath spaces with a shower and toilet in each area and a locking door. Built-in furniture and “popcorn” ceilings will be removed, and finishes will be replaced.
As preparing for the future workforce entails more technology such as digital transformation and artificial intelligence, an important question is: what is going to happen to the number of jobs?
This is a question University of South Carolina President Michael Amiridis posed at a Greenville Area Development Corp. luncheon in Greenville on July 25.
“Manufacturing and tourism have changed Greenville,” he said, referring to a shift from the city’s once-booming textile industry.
Now, one of the main goals of the university is to strengthen workforce development in the state and create more jobs, he said.
For 220 years, the University of Southern Carolina has been “building the future of the state,” Amiridis said, by educating the next generation and providing solutions to improve the quality of life for South Carolinians.
The university has created a certificate program that anyone with a high school diploma can earn by taking four courses in digital skills — two of the courses are foundational, such as basic web development and cybersecurity, and the other two are more “digital-specific.” The program will be offered starting this fall.
“What could have taken a few years took a few months,” said Amiridis, because demand for it was high and the
process to get it approved through the university system was steadfast.
The university also offer more opportunities for students to work during their studies.
A $4 million incentive from the General Assembly was approved, providing an extra $3,000 to any student who accepts an in-state job in a high-demand field such as a STEM career or health care. This was an incentive primarily offered to keep students in the South Carolina workforce, keeping jobs in the state, said Amiridis.
Another initiative by the university includes the creation of its innovation hub
with a focus on startups.
Located within the University’s McNair Aerospace Center, The Innovation Experience Hub provides faculty and students with the ability to discover and demonstrate proven, production-ready industry solutions. Those industry sectors include health care, civil infrastructure and manufacturing.
Amiridis became the 30th president of the University of South Carolina on July 1, 2022. Prior to joining the administration in Columbia, he served as chancellor of the University of Illinois-Chicago since 2015.
During his tenure at UIC, the school completed a successful capital campaign that raised more than $750 million and saw six years of record campus enrollment, while winning national accolades for attracting an increasingly diverse student population.
Since 2011, the Greenville Area Development Corp. has helped spur more than $7 billion of economic growth in the Upstate with more than 36,000 jobs created, said GADC President and CEO Mark Farris, with the help of partners like the University of South Carolina and Clemson University.
By Krys Merryman kmerryman@scbiznews.com
AGreenville-based real estate and development group announced the acquisition of a former service station in downtown Simpsonville that will transform into a community gathering place.
Community Hub LLC acquired property formerly known as Danny Smith’s Fillin & Fixin service station, 136 S. Main St. The service station will be transformed into a “vibrant community gathering space” next to The Slice and will offer a diverse selection of food, beverage, and entertainment options, complete with a stage for live performances, according to the news release.
The estimated project cost is $3 million, according to Community Hub.
“The commitment to revitalization initiatives and continued focus on economic growth in Simpsonville is quite impressive,” said Community Hub LLC principal and Simpsonville resident David Berger. “We have been watching the city’s growth over the years and have unwavering confidence in the diligent work put forth by the city and its leadership. We are excited to play a part in the flourishing journey and cultivate a true local community gathering destination that will be sustainable for decades to come.”
Danny Smith’s Fillin & Fixin station holds the history of serving the local community
with auto repair services for 27 years.
“The old filling station has been good to us the past 27 years, and a lot of our loyal customers have become more like friends and family, and we’re going to miss each of them,” said the Smith family. “The torch has been passed, and we couldn’t have handpicked a better group to continue developing downtown Simpsonville with a true commitment to excellence. They have an amazing plan to create a space for Simpsonville to gather, connect and dine, and we hope to see a lot of our old customers there.”
Downtown Simpsonville is undergoing a $15 million revitalization project that includes traffic realignment, streetscape, new street lighting, wider sidewalks, pedestrian-safe crossing, and wayfinding signage —all of which is anticipated to draw more visitors to its downtown area, the release said.
“This development project is exactly what we work towards for a lively downtown,” said Dianna Gracely, Simpsonville city administrator. “It’s taking a long-time business and transforming it into a place where our community can gather and welcome visitors, making Simpsonville unique and simply home.”
The general contractor on the project is IHRS Construction Management & General Contractor, and the architect is PSi Design. Construction is slated to begin in Spring 2024, with no anticipated completion date at this time.
Did you know that since the 2013 “pint law” was passed in South Carolina there has been more than a 1,000% increase in the number of breweries that have opened in the state?
That law allowed patrons to buy up to three pints onsite, and although this growth of openings has slowed down over the last few years, craft beer in South Carolina is still growing — but at a slower pace than in previous years, according to Bristow Beverage Law Attorney Brook Bristow.
The state has seen the trend for openings happening mostly in metro areas, with a few that have filled in secondary cities, he said.
So far this year, seven new breweries have opened in the state: three in the Upstate, two in the Midlands, one in the Lowcountry, and one in Rock Hill, said Bristow. By contrast there has been only one closing: Brewery 85 in Greenville, so this shows there are more openings than closings, he added.
There are three types of breweries: traditional brewery, microbrewery and brewpubs. Breweries are still most common but brewpubs have continued to boom in recent years.
A brewery is a place where beer is produced commercially on a large scale, while a brewpub is a smaller scale operation that both produces beer and serves it on onsite. The main difference between the two is that breweries typically do not serve their beer onsite, while brewpubs do. Brewpubs are generally recognized as “restaurant-breweries” that sell 25% or more of their beer onsite and operate significant food services. The beer is brewed primarily for sale in the restaurant and bar and is often dispensed directly from the brewery’s storage tanks.
More than 20 breweries have closed in the last decade, said Bristow. However, there are well over 130 breweries and brewpubs in the state. With more openings, though, come more closings, which has naturally happened over the last two to three years.
“More breweries have closed than brewpubs,” Bristow added. “However, there are more breweries than brewpubs in the state, lending to more opportunity for closures.”
The appeal of a brewpub
Southernside Brewing, which opened in the Southernside neighborhood of Greenville in 2021, is a brewpub, and there is a reason for that, said Nate Tom-
forde, Co-CEO of Crafted Community Concepts, owner of Southernside Brewing Co., along with other brewing concepts. It’s important to have a business model with options, which is why he chose to open brewpubs over traditional breweries.
These options include being able to sell a small keg directly to a customer and offer a quality food menu, said Tomforde.
“Southernside is still one of the minority breweries that has a full kitchen, chef-inspired and from scratch menu, we brew all in-house with a craft cocktail menu,” he said. “Craft beer has changed over the years, with more breweries carrying food. Large taprooms are a thing of the past. People are looking for a balance of food, beer, and liquor. You can’t just open a warehouse and serve draft beer anymore and think that’s what you’ll be successful with.”
Southernside’s January 2021 opening came at the height of the COVID19 pandemic and coincided with the Swamp Rabbit Trail’s closure due to the Unity Park opening, an era Tomforde said may be one of the worst times in the area’s history to open a brewery. However, Southernside stayed strong and pivoted to the challenges.
“I think what makes us successful is
our people,” he said. “We value our staff, managers, chefs, brewers. They truly take a lot more ownership and responsibility of the actual business. People are always first, then customers will feel that. Providing a good culture is the formula for success.”
Newer and smaller concepts would
help improve these smaller markets, especially markets with old mills and textile areas, said Tomforde, which are in some ways better for finding a building below market value with a loyal customer base.
“Our state has a lot of room for growth when it comes to breweries,” he said. “There are a lot of markets that will grow that don’t have any yet. It’s been proven statistically that the opening of breweries uplifts these smaller markets that need to be revitalized. I don’t think brewery closings are a reflection of the pulse of them in South Carolina. There has been more growth than a downward trend. Things have just changed.”
And he is no stranger to revitalizing these secondary markets with new brewery concepts.
In addition to Southernside Brewing and Double Stamp, he plans to open three more brewpubs in the next 18 months including at the Mill at Fountain Inn.
“I’ve been in the industry for more than a decade, and I feel like craft beer in South Carolina is very strong,” said Tomforde. “I think that the community, the business of craft beer is as strong as it’s ever been.”
On the contrary, RJ Rockers Brewing Co., a long-standing pillar in the Spartanburg community is a brewery that has been built to withstand the economic downturn of traditional breweries.
“We have an incredible location in the heart of booming downtown Spartanburg,” said RJ Rockers owner John
Bauknight IV. “We’re taking advantage of that by increasing our focus on the customer experience.”
RJ Rockers offers craft beer and live music.
Founder and longtime brewmaster Mark Johnson officially retired as the company marked its 26th anniversary recently. Bauknight IV is initiating major restructuring of the organization, including an outdoor beer garden, indoor golf club, restaurant service improvements, and a renewed focus on local hospitality.
With that, RJ Rockers is shrinking its distributed output and revamping focus on the city of Spartanburg. With this shift comes a new name, ‘Rockers’ and fresh branding graphics. The brewery has also invested in a new canning line, quality control equipment, and an outdoor renovation including a beer garden and a second stage.
“Shrinking our distribution footprint and concentrating on our local market will give us a unique opportunity to home in on quality, heighten our hospitality experience, and bring some dis-
tinctive new products to the market in a way that Rockers hasn't seen before,” said Evan Franklin, RJ Rockers head of brewing operations. “With our investment in new equipment and tighter distribution partnerships, we’re able to offer fresher products in a variety of formats for our consumers.”
Rockers is decidedly focused on creating new IPAs and lagers. So far, they have introduced four new core beers and a line of seasonals.
"We're so excited to be investing back into the business after 26 years in the industry,” said Sabina Martinaka, general operations and hospitality manager for Rockers. “We have an amazing opportunity to revamp our hospitality and restaurant service and continue to offer quality products to the Upstate.”
Tomforde said utilizing outdoor space by offering live music and hosting community events has been another key to success.
“Inflation is a thing, rents are higher, and it’s getting harder to find a great location for a brewery concept with a big space,” Tomforde said. “There is a nuance to the breweries of 8-10 years ago. You can only go to so many breweries before you want to go somewhere you can eat and have activities, not just going to a large building to drink good craft beer, because you can get that anywhere. You have to evolve and pivot to be more balanced. Eventually in certain markets you will hit a saturation point, but I’m not sure South Carolina has hit that point yet.”
“When I was a kid, my family experienced housing instability from a number of things.”
That experience was one of several that sparked Tina Belge’s passion for advocating for more affordable housing.
Belge, the Greenville Housing Fund policy and advocacy director, said she had experienced living in other people’s homes during childhood.
“I was so young, and I don’t feel like it has impacted me as much, but after studying more about the effects of housing instability, I found that if you move more than one time under the age of 5, your educational attainment is well stifled,” she said. “I found this community in going into others’ homes, and after that, anything community focused I could get involved with such as AmeriCorps, I fell in love with it. I’ve always had a passion for public service.”
In 2020, the Greenville Housing Fund adopted a strategic plan with the city and county, which showed a deficit of 20,000 affordable housing units. That was then.
Belge said they think the number is even higher now.
“Our goal is to cut this deficit in half over the next 10 years,” she added.
However, the goal seems increasingly difficult to attain, especially with multifamily growth being more of a focus on the county side, she said.
Greenville Housing Fund President and CEO Bryan Brown said the mission of the nonprofit organization is to ensure housing affordability solutions to support the county’s growing economy and community.
There are three primary ways they do that, he added.
First, they raise and deploy capital to support the creation and preservation of affordable housing across the community. Second, through advocacy and community education, they ensure the right
public policies are in place and at what level of public support. Third, searching for and deploying land bank/trust concepts to encourage donated parcels from the city or individuals.
Brown said he spent a lot of time working in the child welfare system, and before that, he had done work in affordable housing and family services.
“I saw the impact of housing insecurity on families’ stability and health,” he said. “The reality is that sometimes families lose their children because they lack affordable housing, according to the system.”
“It’s criminalizing the poor,” said Belge.
As a society, he said, other investments are made such as in nursing programs for first-time moms, targeting lower-income families. But without stable housing as an anchor, a lot of those other efforts may fail.
“So in other words, I have learned that affordable housing is a starting point for other good things and families can grow and prosper when they have stable and affordable housing,” said Brown. “And I think it’s good for communities. We can’t compete in a global economy if we don’t have housing that’s attainable to our workforce, and in this community, a big part of our workforce is in the service and tourism sector. These are lower wage jobs, but they benefit our entire community and workforce/economic ecosystem. We need housing that is attainable to those who are serving us in restaurants, in grocery stores, first responders, teachers — all of these are examples of families who need affordable housing.”
There are many layers of the capital stack needed to create affordable housing solutions, said Belge.
“To make all of this work you need local, state and federal partners and policies working together,” she added.
There are several factors in the market for new affordable housing and preservation of existing affordable housing, said Brown.
On the local level, the city of Greenville said its Community Development Annual Action Plans reference affordable housing plans and funding allocations for each year. However, the build schedules vary. Those plans are available online at www.greenvilleSC.gov/282/ HUD-reporting.
There are currently more than 520 affordable housing units planned for construction, according to the city.
“Having affordable housing in the city of Greenville is extremely important to make sure our city is the kind of place where everybody can find a place to be a part of,” said Greenville Mayor Knox White. “It’s important economically. It’s important socially. At the same time, it’s part of managing our growth. You have to address issues of affordability and housing because you’re in a growing community.”
Greenville County affordable housing projects in the works or announced in 2023 are as follows:
The Greenville Summit: A downtown Greenville historic building that was turned into affordable housing units for seniors will be getting an eight-story expansion to add additional units.
The Union Bleachery project, at 3335 Old Buncombe Road, will offer affordable housing.
The Sullivan 180-unit development in the Berea area of the county is currently leasing units.
The Delano development, in which 20% of the 115-unit residential building will be dedicated to affordable housing.
The Woven to include 44 affordable housing units.
The Greenville Housing Fund purchased Century Plaza Apartments, formerly known as The Ivy, a 212-unit complex on Century Drive in the Overbrook neighborhood for $31 million. It is the Greenville Housing Fund’s largest financial transaction to date.
“We were able to save these from flipping to the market” which kept them affordable, said Belge.
This year, Greenville County approved
a budget that includes $5 million for affordable housing. In the past, the allocation has been aroundt $1 million per year, said Belge, so steps are being taken for improvements in the county. A county tax abatement was also passed last year, which incentivizes affordability for 20% of multifamily units, and in turn, creates a property tax break for that developer, she said.
“This is a lot of progress that has been made with County Council and leadership to make new investments and to support a new policy that provides property tax relief for developments open to offering affordable housing,” said Brown. “That’s a pretty big accomplishment in the county.”
There is accelerated funding with the city at about $2.5 million a year, said Brown. The purpose is to get more capital up front so larger multifamily projects that can deliver affordable housing are supported in the city. However, the Greenville Housing Fund is relying on the city’s commitment of that funding.
The city’s new development code and affordable housing incentives also went into effect in June.
“This has been several years in the making, and the city is keeping it as simple as possible for developers to follow,” Brown said. “Under the new development code, it allows more home types to be built, not just single family or larger multifamily. We have a lot more options. It’s a great step forward for affordability.”
Greenville County is also looking at a unified development ordinance, which would be just like the city’s code and would also similarly impact development and housing within the county, said Belge.
“What we’re trying to do is push back against the market forces and provide around the city enclaves where we can donate land or work with others to assure affordable housing in certain places in the city,” said White. “And that’s been our game plan. We can’t control the market, but we can push back against it and the
Affordable Housing, from Page 14 one way we do that is with opportunities to implant affordable housing in neighborhoods across the city.”
Brown said one tool the state doesn’t have is inclusionary zoning. In other communities around the country, he said, this type of zoning means if you want to build project A and it’s going to be at market rate, it has to include a certain percentage of affordability, or the project will not be approved under the zoning code. Although some legislation has been proposed at the state level to create this tool for municipalities to voluntarily adopt, none of it has become law.
Subsidy and general financing are significant challenges to affordable housing, said Belge.
The inflationary period the country has been in since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Brown, has caused construction costs to increase dramatically.
“We are living in a robust and thriving community with a growing economy, a rapidly growing population here, which puts a lot of price pressure on the community, and as demand goes up, cost goes up,” said Brown. “That’s unintentionally hurting those who have already been living here for a while.”
The price of land, especially in the city limits, anywhere close to downtown, has become an increasing challenge, even in
the county now, said Brown. Also, with the rise in interest rates over the last few years, the cost of borrowing impacts affordable housing.
“Because at the end of the day, if we do it right, there really is no difference from other types of housing, except that we try and make the units more attainable for lower income families,” he added. “We want the quality to be the same as what currently exists with new developments in the market, but when we try to lower cost we are bumping up against all these other variables that exist and have been exacerbated over the last 18 months.”
As population has grown, said Brown, area median income has continually increased over the last five to 10 years. So, when median income goes up to around $70,000 annually in the city and county, but longtime residents are making $30,000, they’re just falling further behind, he said.
“So that’s creating more of a gap for what you can afford to pay versus what housing actually costs, and we are trying to help with this gap,” Brown added. “However, we’re not keeping up with delivering these types of units relative to our population growth and demand. The majority of affordable housing is either in or near Greenville proper. We want to grow smartly and not use up too much of the natural resources that people love about our community.”
Belge said people need to be able to walk to a grocery store, hospital, educa-
tional institutions, etc.
“It’s really about building out a fully supported community,” she said. “Although it’s much more costly to build in Greenville.”
But, because Greenville is the densest city in the Upstate, this is where you’re most likely to find more affordable housing.
“The stigma around affordable housing is not based in fact or reality,” said Brown. “Some argue that we don’t want more affordable housing in our communities because it will increase crime, while in fact the truth is the opposite. When people are in an unstable household, such as struggling to pay rent and provide for their families, that’s when we see an increase in crime, as well as a neg-
ative impact on mental health.”
If kids are more stable in their homes, said Belge, their educational attainment is much higher and employment opportunities are greater.
“These are impacts at the individual level,” she added. “The longer impacts for families start at the individual.”
Keeping neighborhoods diverse and having a workforce that does not have to move farther and farther out to afford housing is crucial, said Belge.
“This is the workforce that supports our hospitality and tourism industry,” she said.
For more information on affordable housing options visit https://greenvillehousingfund.com.
ACharleston-based company that creates modern pre-fabricated homes is offering a promising way to address housing shortages and create more affordable housing.
The company’s housing build systems have parts that essentially snap together and can be built in just days with no specialized labor required.
Construx (formerly Charleston Fab Lab) owners Rob Bertschy, chief revenue officer, and Nicholas Godfrey, CEO, say the housing kits can save up to 20% of construction labor costs compared to building homes using traditional construction.
“The savings are in labor because these houses can be put together by unskilled workers — you just need a rubber mallet to put these together. There are no tape measures, no saws. We’re taking that element out where an unskilled worker can build precise, strong, perfect houses,” Godfrey said. “Each kit has an assembly guide that’s, ‘step one, step two, step three,’ and the parts fit together so tightly that everything is perfectly straight and perfectly square.”
Construx manufactures 16 different designs that offer a variety of floor plans and up to 50 different layouts and looks, including two-story homes. The kits have models with porches and balconies and the company can work with architects to incorporate nearly any style and size.
Using 3-D cutting of the panels, the kits can be mass produced quickly and use helix foundations for virtually zero soil disturbance and the ability to be placed on lots that are difficult to build on using traditional methods.
While the company works with private homeowners, the idea is to be a cost-saving solution for contractors. A 528 square-foot, one-bedroom home with a porch starts at $125,000 and a three- bedroom, two-bath home that is between 1,200-1,800 square feet starts at $165,000.
“We want contractors to buy our framing structure so they can build more homes and have us become the ‘shell’ that they finish,” said Bertschy. “Contractors have a problem today with finding skilled labor and we’re providing a guaranteed frame where everything is the right size. We don’t want to compete with contractors; we want to be a solution for them.”
Construx has worked with non-profits, foundations and private property owners to use the housing kits to easily add a second home on a lot to provide additional rental housing stock. The company has added nineteen houses in the Charleston area, from Hollywood to Johns Island.
Many Charleston-area city laws allow Construx’s smaller units to be added to lots that are 9,000 square feet and up.
“Many municipalities, including North Charleston, have made it easy to build these backyard units with tax credits, rapid permitting and very easy guidelines to allow people
to add these small backyard 528-square-foot options,” Bertschy said.
The units are partially pre-assembled at the Construx warehouse in downtown Charleston and shipped by truck in parts to the site where they are finished being assembled by most able-bodied adults, even those without prior construction experience. The kits snap together and have all hookups ready for water and sewer, central air conditioning and heat.
“A couple of friends in three or four Saturdays could get their own structure up,” Godfrey said. “Then, it’s up to a contractor to tie into the water and sewer as a second step after the structure is up.”
The ease of the kits allows for more rapid connections to utilities than a traditional house, Bertschy said.
“The kits are more intuitive for the plumber and the electrician, HVAC and mechanical contractor. What would normally take an electrician four or five days takes three quarters of a day with our system. There’s not as much drilling and it’s kind of a ‘plug in and play,’” Bertschy said.
The kits are ideal for construction and contractor partners for foundations, non-profits and governmental housing to add quality housing in less time and for less cost.
The company is licensed in 38 states and
works on projects across the Southeast as well as Oregon, California, Idaho and Texas.
“We’re looking at a project now in Canada,” Godfrey said.
The housing kits have become so popular that Construx will be seeking investor funding over the next six months to scale up in order to make hundreds of pre-fabricated homes a month.
“We’re getting contracts in the hundreds now that we got through our R&D phase,” Godfrey said. “We are not able to (currently) handle that demand.”
Investor funding would allow the company to increase production capacity locally and expand to other markets. The company also is looking to secure grant funding to add affordable housing stock throughout the county.
“We don’t want to build a gigafactory that can build houses and ship them all over the country. We want a bunch of little factories distributed across the country that are a low-cost barrier to entry from an equipment standpoint. Instead of having one facility that can build 1,000 houses, we’d rather have a thousand facilities that can build 50,000 houses,” Godfrey said.
Godfrey, who has a background in fab-
rication and technology, said the idea is 16 years in the making, after an economic recession and an earthquake in Haiti. He started putting the first prefab housing kits together in 2011 in his Johns Island backyard.
He connected with Bertschy, a Johns Island neighbor, who previously owned a swing company and whose family was in construction.
“I talked to half a dozen engineers, but it really came down to meeting someone who really identified with trying to go after a lack of affordable housing,” Godfrey said.
“I was intrigued by seeing the things (Godfrey) was building out for testing and asked, ‘How can I get involved?’” Bertschy recalls. “It was at a point where all the work was ready to be put into a product. I came in and started getting sales and contracts. Nicholas is the scientist and I’m the business and sales side.”
The two started in earnest in 2014, manufacturing the houses in Charleston in a research and development phase under the name Charleston Fab Lab with the first homes in Asheville, N.C., thanks to a contract and connection. The first houses in Charleston came online in 2016 in the Park Circle area.
Anyone can purchase the Construx building system, but the focus is on affordable homes and working with contractors, Godfrey said. The company has worked with local land trusts to place homes on family-owned and heirs property land.
Construx kits are unique and modern designs that are unlike the cookie-cutter blocks of apartment homes historically seen in affordable housing communities. Construx works with architects on new and existing designs.
“We can take almost any look of any house and convert it to our building system,” Godfrey said.
There are opportunities to incorporate innovative materials in the future, like industrial hemp in lieu of wood frames and walls.
With a mission as a solution-oriented company, Godfrey said the lower-cost and lower environmental impact housing kits can make a big — and rapid — difference in addressing affordable housing around the country.
“There’s not a city out there that has enough affordable housing. Some cities are further along, where they have land allocated and bids open — a need for 400 homes in Phoenix or 200 homes in Vancouver; these projects are right up our alley and partners from those markets contact us to bid on them,” Bertschy said. “The plan is to continue to grow here and expand, but to take the model we’ve built and expand it to other markets through existing fabricators. It’s infinitely scalable because the demand for housing is never ending.”
For more information, visit www.buildconstrux.com. CRBJ
AKansas City-based commercial real estate developer has completed construction on its first spec building in Anderson County.
The 200-acre industrial park by Hunt Midwest is located at 1105 Scotts Bridge Road directly east of Interstate 85 in Anderson County at the new Evergreen Logistics Park, according to a news release.
The project is Hunt Midwest’s second industrial venture in the Greenville-Spartanburg industrial corridor after the recent completion of Fort Prince Logistics Center, a 476,280-square-foot spec project just west of Interstate 85 outside of Spartanburg.
“Evergreen Logistics Park is at the crossroads of I-85 and Highway 81 combining great logistics and an abundant skilled workforce to fuel growth of existing distribution and manufacturing companies in Anderson County,” said Mike Bell, Hunt Midwest senior vice president for commercial real estate, in the release. “Our spec building has the ability to meet the needs of small-to-large companies leveraging their growth at a location fueled with great logistics, labor, and a location near growing industries.”
The Anderson County submarket has attracted investments from some of the world’s most advanced companies such as Bosch’s Anderson County campus, which produces specialized parts for BMW’s man-
ufacturing facility in Greer 36 miles north on I-85, the release stated. Both companies announced investments in those facilities in 2022, including $200 million to create Bosch’s first fuel cell production facility in the U.S. and $1.7 billion to prepare the BMW facilities in Greer and Woodruff to produce electric vehicles and assemble high-voltage batteries.
The fully developed Evergreen Logistics Park at I-85 will support more than 1.7 million additional square feet of industrial space. Build-to-suit options are available for two
cross-dock buildings ranging from 680,000 square feet to more than 1.1 million square feet. Evergreen Logistics I is a 258,801-squarefoot, rear-load building to include features of trailer parking stalls, large docks, spec office space, and more than 200 vehicle parking spaces. The new facility is now available for immediate occupancy by users ranging from 50,000 square feet to 258,801 square feet.
Evergreen Logistics Park is near major transportation hubs and industries, and the park has immediate highway access to I-85
for two-day ground shipping to more than 244 million customers while also adjacent to a major FedEx terminal, giving tenants a provider for overnight deliveries, the release stated.
Hunt Midwest’s partners at Evergreen Logistics Park included Seamon Whiteside for civil engineering, LS3P for building design, and Evans General Contractors as the general contractor overseeing construction. Leasing for the project is being handled by CBRE.
With a combined economic impact of over $250 billion annually, two of South Carolina’s biggest industries are the focus of the September/ October issue of SCBIZ Magazine: agribusiness and manufacturing. We explore how The Palmetto State is championing diversity within the agriculture sector and how South Carolina is the emergent leader in preparing the country’s future advance manufacturing workforce.
International
E. Camperdown Way, Suite 200 Greenville, SC 29601
Avison Young - South Carolina Inc. 656 S. Main St., Suite 200 Greenville, SC 29601
Lyons Industrial Properties 3509 Pelham Road Greenville , SC 29615
The Burgess Co. LLC 37 Villa Road, Suite 200 Greenville, SC 29615
864-848-9070 www.langston-black.com rraffaldt@langston-black.com
www.pintailcre.com
info@pintailcp.com
864-583-0094 www.lyonsindustrial.com bobby@lyonsindustrial.com
864-672-6080 www.tbccre.com bill@tbccre.com
864-631-2770 www.jenksincrealty.com info@jenksincrealty.com
Brett Gray, Nicole Tobin, Brian J. Young 1917 74 $0 8 37 1 Flex; income-producing; industrial; office; retail; warehouse
Robert Leland Brissie 2013 60 $70 2 30 1 Agricultural;
retail; sports, entertainment;
restaurant;
edward.wilson@wilsonkibler.com Ted Pitts, Edward Wilson, Givens B. Stewart 1987 50 $60,000,000 7 90 1 Agricultural; flex; health care; hotel, motel; income-producing; industrial; land; multifamily; office; restaurant; retail; sports, entertainment; warehouse McDaniel & Co. 446 Oak Grove Road Spartanburg, SC 29301 864-576-4660 www.mcdanielandco.com billmcrltr@aol.com William A. "Bill" McDaniel 1983 48 1-1 Industrial; land; multifamily; office; restaurant; retail; warehouse KDS Commercial Properties LLC 340 Rocky Slope Road, Suite 302 Greenville, SC 29607 864-242-4200 www.kdsproperties.com admin@kdsproperties.com Michael W Kiriakides 2001 41 $56,410,510 8 62 1 Flex; health care; industrial; office M.S. Shore Company Inc. 904 N. Church St. Greenville, SC 29601 864-235-3898 www.msshore.com msshore@msshore.com M.S. Shore 1985 23 $35,000,000 2 18 1 Agricultural; flex; health care; hotel, motel; income-producing; industrial; land; multifamily; office; restaurant; retail; sports, entertainment; warehouse Covington Commercial Realty Inc. 109 Pilgrim Road, Suite A Greenville, SC 29607 864-483-8811 www.covingtoncom.com chris@covingtoncom.com Christopher E. Covington 1991 18 $1,300,000 1 15 1 Flex; income-producing; industrial; office; warehouse Metcalf Land Co. Inc. 1078 Boiling Springs Road Spartanburg, SC 29303 864-585-0444 www.metcalfland.com rob@metcalfland.com Rob Metcalf 1971 15 $14 8 25 1 Agricultural; industrial; land Bob Hill Realty LLC 528 Bypass 123, Suite D Seneca, SC 29678 864-882-0855 www.bobhillrealty.com sales@bobhillrealty.com Michael S. Hill 1996 5 1-1 Agricultural; hotel, motel; income-producing; industrial;
Carroll Properties Corp 1989 S. Pine St. Spartanburg, SC 29302
Joy Real Estate Co. Inc.
309 E. Butler Road Mauldin, SC 29662
Jeff Richardson Co.
3706 E. North St. Greenville, SC 29611
864-679-8600 www.wilsonkibler.com
864-542-4455 www.cpcindustrial.com ecb@cpcindustrial.com
864-295-3333 www.gibbsrealty.com darrell@gibbsrealty.net
864-297-3111 www.joyrealestate.com hello@joyrealestate.com
864-962-1750 www.jeffrichardsoncompany.com rrealestcm@aol.com
Thomas A Belenchia, Elizabeth C. Belenchia
5 $4,500,000 1 5 1
Darrell Gibbs 1994 4
Craig Bailey 1975
Caroline Richardson Mahaffey 1926
1-1
3 $625,000
2 $4,000,000
4 2
Agricultural; health care; hotel, motel; industrial; land; multifamily; warehouse
2
Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. For a full list of participating organizations, visit scbiznews.com/buy-business-lists. Email additions or corrections to Listresearch@Bridgetowermedia.com. • 1 2021 properties sold or leased.
Wetzel Realty 511 Pettigru St. Greenville, SC 29601
Accelerate Real Estate 1824 E. Main St. Easley, SC 29640
Jeff Richardson Co. 3706 E. North St. Greenville, SC 29611
Allen & Assoc.
2117 Boiling Springs Road Boiling Springs, SC 29316
www.delcorealty.com lisa@delcorealty.com
www.lakekeoweerealestateexpert.com mattroach@topgunsrealty.com
ericnewton.com
864-286-1177 www.wetzelser vices.com realty@wetzelser vices.com
864-920-0999 www.propertymanagementinc.com/pmi-accelerate/ michael@pmiaccelerate.com
864-962-1750 www.jeffrichardsoncompany.com rrealestcm@aol.com
864-921-2920 www.soldallen.com david@soldallen.com
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Countybank and Greenwood Capital recently presented $25,000 to Hospice and Palliative Care of the Piedmont. This donation will support the organization’s Project Hope program, which provides grief support for children ages 6 to 15 through individual counseling, school programs, a grief library and a summer grief camp.
Women’s Executive Luncheon set
Women Confidence Builders announced the S.C. Women’s Executive Luncheon will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 28 at the Greenville Convention Center. The event features S.C. Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and authors Bertina Ceccarelli and Susanne Tedrick. Tickets cost $65, or $75 after Aug. 1. Visit www.womenconfidencebuilders. com for information. Women Confidence Builders is a non-profit organization that offers events, mentoring, speaking and consulting services with the goal of uplifting women in business.
on how employees under age 39 perceive, internalize, share and relate in a work environment often defined by people generations older than them. The report was created after thousands of interviews with young professionals in more than 65 white-collar and blue-collar industries. The study identified five key factors in retaining young employees: communications and expectations; meaningful work; culture; professional development; and education and training. For more information, visit www.yoproknow. com.
uted corrugated boxes and supplies. Now through its new distribution operation, the company offers envelopes, mailers, poly and retail bags, labels, tags, tape and more.
Community Initiatives receives funds
Countybank and Greenwood Capital presented $7,500 to Community Initiatives Inc. to support the development of a new Toddler Learning Center. The center is designed to prepare children ages 2 to 4 for early success in school, address key developmental milestones, and be a feeder program for Greenwood School District 50’s 4K program.
Fine Arts Center honored
Port Greer and expand warehouse and logistics capabilities in South Carolina and the Southeast. Under the new ownership, 90% of employees will remain in their current positions, the company said.
Pacolet Milliken gives to school
Greenville-based investment company Pacolet Milliken said it donated $10,000 in support of the S.C. Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities Visual Arts Department. The donation funded a student art exhibition and awarded six scholarships to visual arts seniors.
Mobile Meals receives donation
Mobile Meals of Spartanburg said it received $16,930 from Subaru of America Inc. and Vic Bailey Subaru. The donation came from the 2022-2023 Subaru Share the Love Event. Mobile Meals of Spartanburg provides meals, services and fellowship to the frail and homebound citizens in Spartanburg County. As part of the event, Subaru of America Inc. donated $250 and Vic Bailey Subaru donated $50 for every new vehicle purchased or leased from Nov. 17 to Jan. 3.
Aerial view of Lakestone in Woodruff
Greenville-based private equity firm Broadstreet Inc. said it is preparing land for more than 2,000 residential lots across four developments in the Upstate. The four real estate land infrastructure projects are Chestnut Ridge in Greenville, Wexford Park in Fountain Inn, Brookside Farms in Greer and Lakestone in Woodruff. These developments will offer townhomes and single-family homes, the company said.
The YoPro Know released The State of Young Professionals Today, a study
Fidelity Bank constructing branch
Fidelity Bank said it is building a branch at 305 N. Church St. in Spartanburg. Fidelity said it plans to demolish the former structure and build a two-story, full-service regional office. The new location will feature multiple offices, a conference room, drive-through lanes, an ATM and a night drop. Fidelity Bank is currently operating in Spartanburg from a temporary location at 101 Lafayette St.
SLG Package Concepts LLC said it expanded its packaging and shipping supplies through a new distribution operation. Since 1989, Package Concepts has manufactured and distrib-
The Fine Arts Center was named an Exemplary School by the Arts Schools Network (ASN) Board of Directors. The achievement is a five-year designation awarded 2023-2028. ASN, a professional membership organization of specialized arts schools, awards Exemplary School designations to members that follow a specific guide to evaluate the school's achievements.
Bank distributes food to charities
First Community Bank said more than 4,000 non-perishable food items were collected and donated to local organizations through its “Tackling Hunger” campaign. Food items were donated to United Christian Ministries of Greenville, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving individuals and families facing food insecurity.
Greer logistics firm sold
MainOcean, a logistics and warehouse company, said it has acquired GT Logistics, a 3PL provider in Greer. The acquisition supports MainOcean's strategic plan to be near the Inland
First Presbyterian Church of Greenville announced the opening of The Intersection Café, a partnership with local business Bridge City Coffee. Located at 200 W. Washington St., the café is part of the church’s campus expansion recently completed this spring. The Intersection Café is open to the public 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
Spartanburg Community College said its most recent commercial campaign was nominated for an Emmy award in the “Branded Content Campaign” category. The college's marketing team worked with Move Media Agency, a Colorado-based firm, during the summer of 2022 to create a series of commercials to highlight SCC's impact on the regional economy and current and prospective students. The series of ads can be viewed at www.youtube.com/@SCC-TV.
Cargo said it earned 12 awards at the 44th annual Telly Awards. The Telly Awards recognize excellence in video and television across all screens. Awards are judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks and production companies. More than 13,000 entries were received.
Kate Scott joined Coldwell Banker Caine as vice president of marketing. She most recently worked at K. Hovnanian Homesas vice president of national marketing.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Carlyle Gillis joined the company’s Midtown office as a sales associate.
Resort at Verdae. His company JCC is a certified minority-owned business specializing in commercial construction and facilities support services.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced Kristy Yates joined the company’s Anderson office as a sales associate. She has more than 24 years of experience in sales.
Pivot Parking promoted Tina Reid to co-founder. An executive vice president, Reid has worked at Pivot since its founding in 2020.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Elyse Reilly Teachout joined the company’s Midtown office as a sales associate.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Tammy Gilstrap joined the company’s Midtown office as a sales associate. She has a background in telecommunications.
Daniel Whitten, owner of Daniel Whitten Inspections, received his termite inspection license. The license allows Whitten to add termite inspection to his inspection services for realtors and direct home buyers.
Celeste Purdie, Owner of Foot Solutions Inc., was named to the National Small Business Association Leadership Council. Purdie is a U.S. Air Force veteran.
worked in sales for 10 years before teaching at Christ Church Episcopal Church for 11 years. Johnson graduated from Lander University, and Crawford graduated from Indiana University.
NAI Earle Furman hired Lauren Cope, Jack Lynch and Camp Williams Cope works with the property management division as an accountant. Lynch joined the multifamily team of Earle Furman Capital Advisors after graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder. Williams assists the CEO with strategic initiatives and special projects.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Emma Earley joined the company’s Midtown office as a sales associate. She has previous real estate experience in Western North Carolina.
Marchant Real Estate hired Stacey Wilson as office administrator.
The March of Dimes announced that James Jordon of Jordon Development Co. and JCC General Contractors will be this year’s honoree at the Real Estate and Economic Development Award Luncheon Nov. 13 at the Embassy Suites Golf
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Lee Miller joined the company’s Simpsonville office as a sales associate.
Marchant Real Estate hired Jennifer Johns as a residential real estate professional. She joins Marchant from Fort Mill, where she has lived for the past two decades.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Kimberley Dickard joined the company’s Midtown office as a sales associate. She has more than three decades of customer service expertise.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
C. Dan Joyner Realtors announced that Trina Miller joined the company’s Simpsonville office as a sales associate.
Engenius promoted Molly Willette-Green to director of web services. Willette-Green joined Engenius in 2019 and was previously director of production and project manager.
ScanSource Inc. named Brandy Ford senior vice president and chief accounting officer. Ford has been with ScanSource for 12 years and has more than 20 years of experience in finance and accounting.
Safeguards Consulting hired Harris Rowe as a marketing operations specialist. He is attending Anderson University to earn a marketing degree.
Lucas Systems Inc. hired Andrew Urich and Sergio Arreguin as technical support agents. Urich has a background in finance. Arreguin has worked with Jimmy Johns in management since 2014.
Crawford hired Wendy McCarthy as director of public relations, David Squibb as senior copywriter and Dottie Hollis as operations coordinator. The company also promoted McKoy Crawford to account executive and Abbie Johnson to graphic designer. McCarthy has more than 25 years of experience in public relations, advertising, social media and event management. Squibb previously served as senior copywriter for Santander Bank in Boston. Hollis
Smoak Public Relations hired Anna Zelenski as digital media specialist, Caitlyn Arms as assistant account executive and Taylor McLamb as senior account executive. Zelenski has a background in digital content creation, marketing, and design. Arms is a graduate of the University of South Carolina Upstate. McLamb joins Smoak with experience in digital marketing, copywriting and hospitality.
Drum Creative promoted Bruce Plourde to COO.
FinTrust Capital Advisors hired Madeline Huffman as operations administrator and Cody Mann as retirement plan administrator. Both are graduates of Clemson University.
Greenwood Capital promoted John Cooper to senior private client advisor. Cooper joined the Greenwood office in 2016.
Wagner Wealth Management hired Erin Brown as a wealth planner. Brown previously worked at Huddleston & Associates as a financial planning specialist.
Spero Financial President and CEO Brian McKay has been named vice chairman of the Carolinas Credit Union League board of directors.
See PEOPLE, Page 22
SEPTEMBER 18
ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING, CONSTRUCTION
Lists: General Contractors & Architecture Firms
Special Section: Under Construction
Advertising Deadline: September 4
OCTOBER 23
MANUFACTURING
Lists: Manufacturing Companies, Aerospace Companies
Advertising Deadline: October 9
NOVEMBER 13
FOOD & BEVERAGE
Lists: Restaurants, Restaurants with Banquet Facilities
Advertising Deadline: October 30
ager and client relationship manager. She holds the Series 7, 9, 10, 63, 66 licenses, the South Carolina Life, Health, and Annuity licenses and the Accredited Asset Management Specialist designation.
Countybank hired Chris Jackson as Small Business Administration (SBA) division manager. Jackson most recently worked as senior vice president and head of SBA lending for German American Bank.
McCrory Construction hired Shane Perry as project manager in the Upstate. Perry has nearly 20 years of construction industry experience.
The University of South Carolina Upstate named Matthew Martin vice chancellor and director of intercollegiate athletics. Martin has served as senior associate athletic director for external operations at the University of Idaho since 2020.
Larry Flynn, an attorney with Pope Flynn, has been appointed to the University of South Carolina’s board of visitors. Flynn was elected from the 7th Judicial Circuit.
served in leadership roles with Bon Secours Health System.
The Center for Developmental Services promoted case managers Casandra Johnson, Cleonis Johnson and Shalanda Smith to supervisor positions. They will help onboard and train new staff as the organization grows.
Christopher J. Collins joined OTO Development as vice president of food and beverage. Collins most recently served as vice president of food and beverage with Kraft Sports and Entertainment at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots.
Eagle Christian Tours hired Brad Stockton as general manager. Stockton previously worked as COO at Redmond Regional Medical Center in Georgia.
Rodney Evans joined The Insurance Source as an administrative assistant. Evans recently graduated from North Greenville University.
Milliken & Co. named Patrick Keese executive vice president and president of Milliken’s floor covering business to succeed Jim McCallum, who retired. Keese most recently worked as senior vice president and general manager of Altium Packaging.
For advertising information, contact Ryan Downing at rdowning@scbiznews.com
Bunnell-Lammons Engineering Inc. announced numerous leadership changes.
Dan Bunnell transitioned to a part-time position as a senior corporate consultant and senior vice president, and Jeff Helvey has been promoted to COO and director of the solid waste engineering division. Richard Hall will transition from his role as corporate controller to a part-time position, and Stephen Dowd has joined the company as assistant controller. Kenn Sanders joined Bunnell-Lammons as senior recruiter, and Andrew Colby was promoted to Columbia branch manager.
Recovery Centers of America named Lisa Goodnough the CEO of its new Greenville location. She has previously
The Greenville Homeless Alliance announced the appointment of Brandon Cook as chair of the steering committee that governs the organization. Cook is director of the Healthcare for the Homeless program at New Horizon Family Health Services Inc. Stacey Owens, director of community engagement at Spinx, will serve as vice chair. Additional executive committee members are secretary Kia Keyton, director of school and community engagement at OnTrack Greenville, and treasurer Matt Johnson, attorney at Matthew K. Johnson Law Firm LLC. The alliance also announced four new steering committee members: Tina Harris, director of community outreach at FAVOR (Faces and Voices of Recovery); Adrick Ceasar, regional manager for Elite Integrated Therapy Centers and owner and CEO of The Good Shepherd’s House; Gail Peay, vice president of strategic initiatives for Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County; and Amanda Taylor, associate pastor at Triune Mercy Center.
Marion Tisdale, a K9 handler and officer with the S.C. Search and Rescue Dog Association, has been appointed to the board of international organization and nonprofit Canine Search and Recovery.
There is nothing that more closely ties two nations together than trade, investments, and economic cooperation. And nothing bridges two cultures better than in-person travel to different countries across the world.
The new partnership we celebrated in Charleston recently, between Boeing and Saudi Arabia, accomplishes both.
On March 14, 2023, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced two major agreements with Boeing. These agreements are for the Kingdom to purchase up to 121 Boeing Dreamliners for Saudia Airlines, already the third largest airline in the Middle East, and the recently formed Riyadh Air. The agreements are valued in the billions and constitute Boe-
ing’s fifth largest commercial order in its history. It will support over 140,000 jobs throughout America, including in South Carolina where the economic impact will be over $640 million, supporting 11,000 jobs.
From Saudi Arabia’s founding in 1932 to today, American companies have played an integral role in the Kingdom’s growth and prosperity. This agreement reflects the strength and depth of Saudi-U.S. relations. A relationship that continues to grow and expand under various presidential administrations from both parties.
This strategic partnership will have a significant economic impact in South Carolina and across the United States and will contribute to achieving the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 objectives, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince. It will advance Saudi Arabia’s goals relating to the transformation of our tourism, transportation and logistics sectors. Our
aim is to become the world’s fifth largest logistics hub, a global transportation epicenter for tourists, families, academics, students and business leaders that will serve 330 million passengers and attract 100 million visitors to the kingdom by 2030. It is this ambition that helped lead to the agreements with Boeing and will lead to an even closer relationship between South Carolina and the Saudi people.
Riyadh Air, a new airline owned by the PIF with advanced fleet of aircrafts, specifically will be equipped with the latest modern technologies aiming to lead the aviation industry. This new airline is expected to contribute $20 billion growth in non-oil GDP in the Kingdom, further diversifying our economy, and will create over 200,000 jobs in Saudi Arabia both directly and indirectly. For Saudia, the agreement will significantly expand its fleet and its ability to reach international destinations.
These agreements are not just about a new Saudi airline or even the 121 new aircraft. It is about a Saudi Arabia that is looking forward, engaging with the world, and pursuing new opportunities ranging from tourism, new investments, and diversification of trade. We believe agreements like these will help ensure a prosperous, peaceful and secure Middle East while continuing the long history of U.S.-Saudi partnership that has improved the lives of both Americans and Saudis.
Fahad Nazer is the official spokesperson for the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in the United States.
