Cowpens, South Carolina
Potter’s Old Store Renovation: An Exciting Turnaround
If you’ve ever had a chance to stroll down N. Main St. in Cowpens, there’s one iconic building you couldn’t possibly miss: Potterโs Old Store. A business hub in this quiet town of around 2,200 folks since it opened its doors in the late 1800s, the store has served the community as a general store for over a century. But as old-time general stores do, Potter’s shuttered its doors around the early 2000s. And since then, the once lively spot became silent.
Fast forward to today. There’s a fresh spark of hope in Cowpens. The former business hub that once seemed destined for demolition is set to receive a sweet facelift and come back to life.
A $2.3 Million Repair Order
Folks, we are talking about a $2.26 million redevelopment! That’s a whole lot of change for a building that was bought for $65,000 in April 2023. The 12,500-square-foot shop at 5365 N. Main St. will be spruced up and feature nine multifamily apartment units christened the Potterโs Lofts, a pair of retail spots, and a small parking lot for folks to park their trucks and trailers. The renovation work should kick off within weeks and is expected to stretch over a year.
Our good mayor, Jarred Spencer, is optimistic that the redevelopment of this “cool, old-fashioned store” could be a ignition for the townโs business district. He believes itโs going to breathe new life into the downtown area by sparking growth. Folks, we are keeping our fingers crossed for that.
Private Investments and Tax Breaks: A Helping Hand
Interestingly, the redevelopment investment is not some outsider’s last-minute idea. The private funding is all homegrown! Cowpens 5365 LLCโa company formed by Spartanburg localsโis spearheading this ambitious project. These folks are also the principals at Roadstead Real Estate Advisors Upstate which will manage the building’s retail space leasing once the renovations are done.
On the tax part, Spartanburg County is in the works of granting tax cuts to aid this renovation effort. The County Council members have predominantly supported this move. It aims to provide infrastructure credits against payments replacing taxes for two decades. Now, ainโt that a win-win!
A Community Excited for Revival and Growth
Every resident of this town has a Potter’s Old Store story to share. We’ve had summer jobs there, done our shopping, and heard countless tales from the old-timers who frequented the store. Even Kris Chadwick, chairman of the Cowpens Historical Committee, spent a couple of summers working at the store when he was in middle school.
He said, โYou can talk to anyone from when the store was open and they’ll tell you a story about walking home from school and going in there and buying drinks and candy and stuff like that.โ These priceless memories and stories are set to be relived once the old store reopens.
It’s truly an exciting time for Cowpens. With the ongoing growth in the Spartanburgโs metro areaโone of the nationโs fastest-growingโthe winds of change are blowing towards our town too. Mayor Spencer is hoping that with controlled growth, Cowpens will retain its history and small-town charm that we love.
As Mayor Spencer rightly said, โThe growth is inevitable, it’s coming our way. We’re pretty much the last part of the county that’s seeing this kind of growth. We’re asking for the perfect storm but I think we’re actually getting it.โ
