The State of Downtown Retail

[btoy]

if the main st store was the best, maybe corporate will take it over, someone should make that request to them

[linkerjpatrick]

An article in the Journal says that CC3 LLC, the Covington local franchise, filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 5 and had between 50 and 99 creditors.

Seems another coffee company could move into the Wachovia Place location with ease. Such a great location.

Just as a casual observer but it looks like Liquid Highway has really been making serious in-roads in the past year with expanding locations, a new logo, events and good word of mouth via the social media.

Leopard Forest is great but I'm not sure if they have any plans for retail expansion as far as shops go. They almost didn't even have a cafe set up.

It seems like Coffee Underground if they did expand would need another underground location unless the new location was called something different or they at least redefined what "underground" meant.

[Greenville]

An article in the Journal says that CC3 LLC, the Covington local franchise, filed for bankruptcy on Nov. 5 and had between 50 and 99 creditors.

Seems another coffee company could move into the Wachovia Place location with ease. Such a great location.

That is a great location, and I still think that the former Port City Java in the West End is a solid one as well. I am not opposed to a local coffee shop coming in, but I also think it would be great to see Caribou Coffee or Einstein Bros. in our downtown.

[gs3]

Liquid Highway definitely seems to be doing well. The Main Street location was packed this morning.

Caribou or Einstein Bros would both be good. Einstein is doing that neat location in a historic building by North Greenville University. Hmmmm.......could be a winner.

On another note, noticed that work is well underway inside the new 2 level Main Street Dunkin Donuts location.

[gman430]

Blueberryfrog is now open. Check it out.

[gman430]

It looks liks Bergens on Main Street is going to close. What do they sell again? If these stores want to stay in business, they really need to offer more than one type of product.

Edited November 17, 2008 by citylife

[RestedTraveler]

Bergens is one of the places my wife gets her Vera Bradley stuff. Too bad.

As for another coffee shop assuming the old PCJ location in Wells Fargo Place, I checked into Caribou Coffee a while back. Caribou requires a minimum commitment from the franchisee for 6 locations in a new market. That's a pretty steep entry fee/barrier (depending on your point of view) for a market the size of Greenville, already saturated with coffee shops. Liquid Highway already has a new location downtown in the Hyatt. I could see Starbucks easily opening a second location downtown and this would be perfect for them...but they're closing stores as it is. Perhaps it would just be better if something other than a coffee shop went in there?

[gman430]

Healthy Lounge is moving to Riverplace. Opening is in mid-December. They closed their Main Street location on 11-29. The space is now for lease by Croxton Gray.

Edited December 3, 2008 by citylife

[gs3]

Healthy Lounge is moving to Riverplace. Opening is in mid-December. They closed their Main Street location on 11-29. The space is now for lease by Croxton Gray.

Any idea which level or which space in Riverplace they'll open in?

[gman430]

Any idea which level or which space in Riverplace they'll open in?

I'm hearing they'll be located in Suite 203 inside the Terrace building: http://www.riverplacesc.com/pdf/Terrace920Level.pdf Middle ground floor space next to bike/walking path and Reedy River.

Edited December 4, 2008 by citylife

[GvilleSC]

So, this will be on the same level as the Lazy Goat's patio?

[gman430]

So, this will be on the same level as the Lazy Goat's patio?

Same level as O-Cha but in separate building.

[GvilleSC]

Same level as O-Cha but in separate building.

I thought that was going to be all artist spaces? Has that plan changed, or does it not take up the entire floor?

[gman430]

I thought that was going to be all artist spaces? Has that plan changed, or does it not take up the entire floor?

I thought it was going to be all artist spaces too, but they said suite 203. The only way I could be wrong is if they changed the suite numbers around. Maybe they changed the plans for the artist spaces.

[benjamesriddle]

Why did they move?

[Galley]

Isn't suite 203 across the hall from iPlace?

[gman430]

Isn't suite 203 across the hall from iPlace?

I don't think so. The retail space across the hall from iplace is already leased out to Talloni. Not sure why they moved furman94. Maybe the rental rate for them was too high in their current location.

[Galley]

iPlace has scheduled their grand opening for Dec. 12 and 13.

[gs3]

Hope Heidi Aiken is happy: http://www.greatergreenville.com/city_gove...-109NMainSt.pdf

Can't believe this sign is still in the news. I would have thought that by now, Heidi Aiken would have chained herself to the front of the building and gone on a hunger strike.

http://www.wyff4.com/news/18214013/detail.html

[GvilleSC]

Can't believe this sign is still in the news. I would have thought that by now, Heidi Aiken would have chained herself to the front of the building and gone on a hunger strike.

http://www.wyff4.com/news/18214013/detail.html

[goodbye]

According to the current edition of Greenville Journal, iPlace will have its grand opening at RiverPlace on December 12 and 13.

Edited December 8, 2008 by Skyliner

[gs3]

Story about Cantinflas moving down Main Street to the Senor Wraps location. Also talks about Montalvo's plans to open a French restaurant in the area.

http://www.greenvilleonline.com/article/20.../812160315/1003

[GvilleSC]

I always liked the Cantinflas patio area for outdoor dining. Also, I've always thought that the sidewalk at Senor Wraps was too cramped for the umbrellas they used. Anyway, I hope they do some work on the inside to make it more spacious and possible open up the upstairs for dining possibilities...? I love being in Chicora Alley and looking down over FAlls Park and Main Street. Hopefully a similar experience can be offered?

[gs3]

I always liked the Cantinflas patio area for outdoor dining. Also, I've always thought that the sidewalk at Senor Wraps was too cramped for the umbrellas they used. Anyway, I hope they do some work on the inside to make it more spacious and possible open up the upstairs for dining possibilities...? I love being in Chicora Alley and looking down over FAlls Park and Main Street. Hopefully a similar experience can be offered?

I agree. The Cantinflas patio has always been a great spot to spend a Saturday afternoon, kick back, drink and people watch. Hopefully the new location will have a good vibe. At the moment, I'm not very fond of Senor Wraps, or the building it is in.

[gman430]

Here are the proposed changes for Senor Wraps building:

http://www.greatergreenville.com/city_gove...SouthMainSt.pdf