13 Apr Upstate Headlines: Startups created 253 jobs in 2015, have high average wage
A collection of the top Upstate headlines for the week of April 11, 2016
NEXT: Startups created 253 jobs in 2015, have high average wage
Upstate startups created more than 250 full-time jobs and attracted $69.4 million in venture capital in 2015. NEXT released data about the 161 innovation-based startups it supports in Greenville and the Upstate at large. NEXT is an economic development group created by the Greenville Chamber of Commerce focused on supporting and growing startups.
Options limited, rent up for office space
A report from Colliers International said office rental rates have reached historic levels in downtown Greenville. The higher rates are due in large part to the larger demand for downtown office space even as available space is dwindling. According to the report, the downtown area of Greenville has just 14.7% vacancy, compared to an average of 18% in areas surrounding downtown. The Colliers report said there is only 526,853-square-feet available for rent in the central business district.
First Look: Sidewall Pizza Greenville
Sidewall Pizza, a popular Travelers Rest eatery known for its eclectic pizzas and unique homemade ice cream flavors, held a soft opening this week at its new Greenville location. Located at 99 Cleveland St. where the former Savoury Corner sandwich shop served up lunch for more than 30 years, the space looks completely different. Three rollup doors, a bar that opens to the outside, a large outdoor patio, and a bright, cheery décor are awaiting patrons in the 1,800-square-foot space which at one time was a service station. A bike rack will be added soon for those stopping off on the nearby Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Hub City Co-op opens doors
After years of planning, Hub City Co-op will open its doors Friday, making it the first consumer retail food cooperative in the state. The full-service retail grocery store will sell local produce, dairy, refrigerated items, beer, wine and other products from its location at 176 N. Liberty St., a historic 1940s building in downtown Spartanburg. The $2.7 million project is funded by around 1,400 co-op owners; more than 140 individual investors and donors; a matching loan and grant from the City of Spartanburg; and a loan from the North Country Cooperative Development Fund.
NorthPointe plans move forward, despite Harris Teeter concerns
The development plans that will bring an upscale Harris Teeter grocery store to the north end of downtown Greenville are moving forward — though the chief concern that has held the project up for months still lingers. Several times now, Central Realty Holdings has redrawn its plans for NorthPointe, a mixed-use development that will bring the grocery store, nearly 300 units and retail space on a curiously divided piece of land where three U.S. Highways intersect in front of Canal Insurance Co. near the North Main community.
Great Southern Homes achieves monthly sales milestone of 100 homes
Irmo-based Great Southern Homes announced today that in March it surpassed a monthly sales milestone of 100 homes. By the time it closed the books on March, Great Southern recorded 110 sales, the company added. Through the first quarter 2016, Great Southern Homes sold 275 homes totaling more than $50 million in sales and is on pace to sell more than 1,000 homes this year, according to a company press release. This would be the third year in a row the company has grown sales by more than 40% year-over-year. Coldwell Banker Caine manages sales for the growing brand in the Upstate region of the state.
