The State of Downtown Retail

[chuckyvt]

To put a positive spin on this, perhaps the rise in rents on Main will encourage retail and development beyond Main Street.   Greenville needs to be more than just one street, I think we're slowly moving in the direction.  

[vicupstate]

Ink and Ivey first look

Looking forward to this opening up and also the diner across the street. 

Can't help but remember all the angst on here about the city doing the Brown Street work, yet this building and other building at the corner of E. North and Brown are now getting total renovations  It was clearly a great idea that didn't cost that must to begin with. 

[vicupstate]

The Upper Room event space coming to North Main

[NBNY2GRNVL]

I don't know how true this is but I have heard that the city has been pretty direct with the owners of Sharky's, City Tavern, Rey's and On The Rocks that if they don't change their business model they will be targeted with sled and things like that because the city does not feel they fit the mold anymore. I feel bad for them. It's like the city used them to get everybody coming down there and have it be a fun place and the minute they don't need them anymore they want to throw them away.

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[vicupstate]

What is their 'business model'?

[johnpro318]

I like Rey's and on the roxx. What is wrong with them? Are bars going to be frowned on upon now. I do wish City Tavern and Shark's to a lesser extent would clean up their facades.

[btoy]

The issue is that technically they aren't supposed to be bars, they are supposed to be restaurants that serve alcohol.

[gman430]

And the the number of empty spaces on northern part of Main Street continues to grow. Sad: 

-The two spaces next to Pure on Main are empty.

-Chocolate Moose has now opened their new location inside M. Judson. Their old space is for lease. 

-Sales have started at Charleston Cooks.

 The city needs to take action like they're doing with affordable housing before this continues to get worse. On the flip side though, Main Street south of McBee and Augusta Road seem to be doing really well. No new empty spaces in those areas and the current ones seem to be getting filled.

Edited April 2, 2016 by gman430

[btoy]

City doesn't need to get involved here, there are way to many tenants look for spaces on that end of town to be concerned.

[gman430]

43 minutes ago, btoy said:

City doesn't need to get involved here, there are way to many tenants look for spaces on that end of town to be concerned.

That's good to hear there are lots of tenants looking at the spaces.  Hopefully they sign leases and the problem corrects itself without government intervention. 

[mallguy]

7 hours ago, gman430 said:

And the the number of empty spaces on northern part of Main Street continues to grow. Sad: 

-The two spaces next to Pure on Main are empty.

-Chocolate Moose has now opened their new location inside M. Judson. Their old space is for lease. 

-Sales have started at Charleston Cooks.

 The city needs to take action like they're doing with affordable housing before this continues to get worse. On the flip side though, Main Street south of McBee and Augusta Road seem to be doing really well. No new empty spaces in those areas and the current ones seem to be getting filled.

Like how- requiring landlords to rent spaces at below-market rents to mom & pop retailers, perhaps? Those are all very good locations and are likely having turnover in part because rents are rising so much, which indicates a lot of demand.  I have confidence that private-sector landlords and private-sector tenants will be able to handle filling retail spaces in good locations much better than government bureaucrats can.

[vicupstate]

I hope the higher rents don't turn everything to restaurants and bars with little to no retail.  However, this is something for the market to sort out.  

[NBNY2GRNVL]

Yeah the reason those spaces are empty is because they can command higher rent. I can't say where but I know of a location that closed and immediately there was ridiculous demand to rent it and they weren't even looking to rent. People came to them. I'm getting random strangers coming to ask me to sell my houses and I'm in no way interested in selling but they won't stop. That's just the kind of demand that's down there right now and the market will dictate prices. Quite frankly I don't really have any use for green and pink clothing boutiques and all that other weird stuff. I'm looking forward to things moving in that people really want that can pay the rent.

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[gman430]

Cantina 76 to open in old Rare Steakhouse space. I didn't even know they had closed. lol. 

[gman430]

And the closings continue: the Mexican restaurant (Bravo! I think was its name) between Dress Up and Mast has closed. Oops. 

Edited April 6, 2016 by gman430

[btoy]

I don't think they did.

On 4/5/2016 at 8:25 PM, gman430 said:

Cantina 76 to open in old Rare Steakhouse space. I didn't even know they had closed. lol. 

I don't think they did.

[Gville2012]

I don't think all of these closings are a bad thing. With the exception of Charleston Cooks, I wouldn't say any of the other retailers/restaurants were huge additions to Main. In my option, this side of Main is about to see some serious and needed upgrades.

In regards to the two locations next to Pure on Main… the developer of that building who recently remodeled all of the apartments above is planning to upgrade the retail portion as well. They are planning streetscaping to mimic the Hyatt plaza across the street. 

[RiverWalker]

14 hours ago, btoy said:

I don't think they did.

According to the Upstate Business Journal article linked in a previous post, "Rare Steakhouse quietly vacated its space recently at ONE City Plaza..."

[btoy]

ya, but not until this deal for their replacement tenant had been completed.

[RiverWalker]

9 hours ago, btoy said:

ya, but not until this deal for their replacement tenant had been completed.

Non sequitur. As of the date of your post ("I don't think they did.") they already had. So what's your point?

Edited April 7, 2016 by RiverWalker

[bikeoid]

lou lou Boutique now open on N Main St next to J Britt

[gman430]

Adventure Mazes had closed

[gman430]

Teahola will be closing. Looks like something might be going into the old Mexican restaurant next to Mast. 

[vicupstate]

Cycle bar opening in Keys Printing building

[gman430]

Don't let Strangecock see this: http://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/entertainment/dining/off-the-menu/2016/05/09/downtown-greenville-getting-convenience-chick-fil--location/84148988/