12/5/2008
Bennettsville Seeks New, Expanding Businesses
The City of Bennettsville has developed a Business Recruitment Fund for new or expanding businesses. With this fund, up to $10,000 is available to startup and expand businesses IN THE HISTORIC DOWNTOWN. For information, call Fran Adcock at 843-479-9001 Ext.317 or Ken Harmon at 843-479-3869.The City of Bennettsville has grant funds up to $10,000 available for new and expanding businesses in the historic downtown.
“We are looking for restaurants, sports bars, bookstores, shoe repair shops, clothing stores and others to help us round out our downtown shopping opportunities,” says Ken Harmon, executive director of the Bennettsville Downtown Development Association (BDDA). “Bennettsville recently completed a renovation of the downtown area with new facades and streetscaping,” Harmon said. “With our emphasis on tourism development this is a prime time for new and expanding businesses to look at downtown Bennettsville,” he adds. “Bennettsville offers a “new” historic downtown area, complete with downtown living and working,” Harmon says.
Keith Cheek knows what it takes to start a business in Bennettsville. He owns K&J Trophy and Signs in Bennettsville and has been in business 2 1/2 years. “I’ve lived here all my life and appreciate working with people I know,” Cheek says. “Getting started means going to the right source for information and that’s the BDDA. They have information and can help you work through the process,” he adds.
Tired of Ohio winters, Lucinda Heil and her chef husband, Tony, looked for five years before deciding to relocate in Bennettsville. They opened Lucinda’s Restaurant in the historic Newton House in downtown Bennettsville in the fall of 2007. They have the luxury of living upstairs at their restaurant which makes the commute to work very short. “We have been very pleased at the friendliness of the community and how they have accepted us,” Lucinda says. “It was not a hard decision as there was a need and with the help of organizations like the City of Bennettsville and the BDDA, the process went smoothly,” she says. “I encourage anyone to think about starting a business in Bennettsville. The people are wonderful and willing to work. We had 110 applicants for jobs without advertising.”
For 41 years Jean Quick has operated The Regal Touch salon behind the courthouse in downtown Bennettsville. “Since day one I have been busy. My clients come from Marlboro County and from as far away as Charleston and Charlotte,” she says. As a member of Bennettsville City Council, Quick knows how important it is to help businesses get started. “We are always looking for ways to improve our town and help businesses start and stay in business,” she says.
One of the oldest businesses in Bennettsville is the Breeden Grocery, a hometown butcher shop. For 82 years it has been the place to purchase groceries in the downtown area. Cam and Cindy Stone are the current owners of the Breeden Grocery. “We realize we can’t compete with the larger stores,” Cindy Stone acknowledges. “But we have the advantage of being in a small town and knowing our customers. People like doing business with people they know. We offer customer service,” she says. “Starting a business here is easy with the resources of the BDDA and the City of Bennettsville's grant money,” she says.
Downtown Bennettsville boasts renovated facades, a restored Victorian home as the Visitor Center and apartments over stores for downtown living. Recreational opportunities are abundant regardless of your interests and the location is prime for tourism and development according to Ken Harmon. “We work together to promote the area and do what we can to make this an exciting, profitable business climate,” he adds.
If you are interested in starting or expanding a business in Bennettsville, contact Fran Adcock at 843-479-9001, ext. 317 or call Ken Harmon, BDDA, at 843-479-3869.
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