SEO Company in Greenville SC

GREENVILLE, SC (FOX Carolina) - With the lighting of the menorah Sunday evening, Hanukkah is officially underway.

"I like bringing it to people who don't know about it. I like telling the story and showing people that Judaism is more than what they think it is. That we were there and because of what we did they can be who they want to be," said Tamar Paltrow, with Greenville Jewish Federation.

The story of Hanukkah begins many centuries ago, when a group of Jewish people known as Maccabees fought back against religious persecution.

"With sticks and stones, and after quite a few days they ended up taking back their temple proving that they could remain Jews under the Greek rule as they were," said Paltrow.

After taking back their temple, they only had enough oil to burn for what they thought was one night, but ended up lasting for eight.

"It's also a miracle that if you think about somebody planting or hiding that quantity of oil knowing, trusting, that the Jews would prevail," added Paltrow.

To mark the first night of the holiday, people gathered in downtown Greenville with potato latkes, dreidels, chocolate gelt, and of course a menorah.

While the festival of lights typically includes presents and other fun activities, it also has deeper meanings.

"The message of Hanukkah is that adding more light, adding more goodness, more kindness to this world. And I think this time with all the challenges people are facing and all the struggles I feel like people even connect with that message of love, of unity, of kindness, even more," explained Rabbi Leibel Kesselman with Chabad Jewish Center of Greenville and the Upstate.

Are you searching for locally-owned bookstores near Greenville, South Carolina? Locally-owned bookstores are a great place to head when you’d like to add to your home library or shop for great gifts. These stores often offer a personal touch with staff recommendations, shelves full of specially chosen titles and an opportunity to discover something brand new to you. Don’t miss the unique magic and quality customer service of these independent bookstores of the upstate.

Local Bookstores in Greenville, SC

M Judson’s is a cultural hub of Greenville. It has an entire room dedicated to children’s books. The Camilla Kitchen is an in-house cafe that makes pastries and homemade apple butter. The book store hosts event like author book signing, book clubs and Teacher Happy Hour.

130 South Main Street, Greenville, SC 29601864.603.2412

Fiction Addiction has a strong history of bringing authors to Greenville. The inventory includes books for all ages and signed editions from local authors. As the oldest independent bookstore in Greenville, their goal is to “help you find your perfect read, for this moment in time.”

1175 Woods Crossing Road #2, Greenville, SC 29607864.675.0540

Owned by two passionate book collectors, Angel’s Bookshoppe caters to homeschool curriculum and book lovers of all ages. Book collectors will be sure to find rare and unique books to add to their collection. They are due for an expansion, and will soon host events and sell vinyl.

2327-1 North Pleasantburg Drive, Greenville, SC 29609864.551.1533

Known as Greenville’s Homeschool Store, Learning Cycle will take your requests and order what you need. They do consignment and offer curriculum, books, games, manipulatives and more!

11 Barkingham Lane, Greenville, SC 29607864.288.5219

Located in the middle of the charming downtown of Travelers Rest, As The Page Turns offers used children’s books, fiction and nonfiction. Amy, the owner, takes pride in the customer-oriented service. They will get to know you by name, and what you like to read.

32 South Main Street, Travelers Rest, SC 29690864.834.8100

Locally-Owned Bookstores in Spartanburg

Driven by passion and love of people, the owner of Trading Pages curates personalized reading lists. An inventory of over 20,000 books is carefully curated and cleaned by the owner.

38 Groce Road, Lyman, SC 29365864.249.0675

Alongside the Little River Coffee Bar the Hub City Bookshop creates a cultural hub, just like its name suggests.

Masonic Temple, 186 W Main St, Spartanburg, SC 29306 864.577.9349

Locally-Owned Bookstores in the Upstate

Located in Easley, Poor Richard’s has been serving the area since 1987. In a historic building that houses the county’s first library. They carry Southern Fiction, fiction, nonfiction, children’s books and puzzles.

107 West Main Street, Easley, SC 29640 864.859.0687

Recycled Reader is a home-based bookstore right across from the Happy Cow Creamery in Pelzer. They carry homeschool curriculum, bestsellers, games and puzzles, foreign language and workbooks.

321 McKelvey Road, Pelzer, SC 29669864.243.4198

As the last independent bookstore in Anderson, SC, McDowell’s Emporium takes pride in the well-organized clean store. The entire inventory is recorded in a database for easy access.

104 Oak Drive, Anderson, SC 29625864.231.8896

Have you visited any of the bookstores above? Comment below and tell us about your experience.

COLUMBIA, S.C. – RL Solutions, LLC (RL Solutions), a logistics and transportation company, today announced plans to expand operations in Greenville County. The $1 million investment will create 37 new jobs.

Founded in 2004, RL Solutions specializes in full-service logistics and truck transportation services. The company, which is headquartered in Columbia, S.C., works with clients throughout the United States and Canada.

Located at 9 Legrand Blvd. in Greenville, RL Solutions’ expansion will increase the company’s capacity to meet growing demand. The new facility is large enough to accommodate additional hires and is currently being renovated to suit operational requirements and employee culture.

Individuals interested in joining the RL Solutions team should call 803-782-7721 or email [email protected].

QUOTES

“I feel like we are a people company that happens to provide transportation services as well. RL Solutions is excited to continue our growth right here in Greenville County, South Carolina.” -RL Solutions VP of Sales Zack Hudson

“South Carolina’s logistics sector continues to expand, and today’s announcement by RL Solutions is further testament to that. With Greenville County’s business community rapidly growing, I cannot think of a better place for them to execute their growth plans. Congratulations to RL Solutions, LLC for this expansion.” -Gov. Henry McMaster

“Logistics companies continue to be right at home in South Carolina. RL Solutions’ expansion in Greenville County will help our state’s businesses move their products all around the U.S. and also further strengthen Team S.C.” -Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III

“Greenville County congratulates RL Solutions on expanding its base of operations here in our community. The brand is an emerging leader in the booming transportation and logistics landscape and a welcome member of our growing manufacturing and logistics ecosystem.” -Greenville County Council Chairman and Greenville Area Development Corporation Board Member Willis Meadows

Stay with us all night to follow high school football scores from the Upper State Championships. Once the games end, check back for photo galleries, videos and statistics.

Statistics

South Pointe 24, Greenville 14

Greenville: 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14

South Pointe: 14 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24

First Quarter

S – Zaheem Love 25 pass from Zavieon McCrorey (Chip Distasio kick)

S – Waymond Jenerette 11 pass from McCrorey (Distasio kick)

Second Quarter

S – Ty Chambers fumble recovery (Distasio kick)

G – Josh Sapp 7 pass from Prometheus Franklin (Lang Steck kick)

Third Quarter

S – Distasio 22 FG

Fourth Quarter

G – Tyler Brown 4 pass from Franklin (Steck kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – G: Prometheus Franklin 16-84, Khalique Holland 10-33, Josh Sapp 1-17, Tyler Brown 1-9, Jayden Peper 4-8. SP: Jaquan Thompson 18-159, Caleb Sims 5-43, Zavieon McCorey 11-15, Waymond Jenerette 2-3.

PASSING – G: Prometheus Franklin 20-45-3-190-2. SP: Zavieon McCrorey 12-24-0-110-2.

RECEIVING – G: Tyler Brown 7-94-1, Josh Sapp 8-68-1, Aalijah Kelly 1-13, Khalique Holland 1-9, Mazeo Bennett 2-9, Jayden Peper 1-(-3). SP: Waymond Jenerette 3-32-1, Zaheem Love 1-25-1, Armendiz Hukey 2-39, Demari Kendrick 1-8, Caleb Sims 1-6, Khy’re Rawlinson 4-0.

Records: Greenville 10-3, South Pointe 12-1.

Up Next: South Pointe (12-1) vs. Beaufort (12-2) for the Class AAAA championship at 7 p.m. Thursday at Benedict College, Columbia.

Gaffney 56, Spartanburg 31

Gaffney: 7 | 14 | 21 | 14 | 56

Spartanburg: 7 | 17 | 0 | 7 | 31

First Quarter

S – Andrew Dantin 33 pass from Raheim Jeter (John Love kick)

G – Emazon Littlejohn 65 pass from Grayson Loftis (A.J. Hames kick)

Second Quarter

S – Jeter 2 run (Love kick)

G – Tyler Smith 80 run (Hames kick)

S – Love 47 FG

S – Tiheim Richardson 34 pass from Jeter (Love kick)

G – Smith 22 pass from Loftis (Hames kick)

Third Quarter

G – Smith 27 run (Hames kick)

G – Smith 2 run (Hames kick)

G – Edward Jefferies 37 pass from Lofits (Hames kick)

Fourth Quarter

G – Clay Putnam 7 fumble return (Hames kick)

G – Jefferies 23 pass from Loftis (Hames kick)

S – Richardson 11 pass from Jeter (Love kick)

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING – G: Tyler Smith 18-178-3, Ken Littlejohn 8-31, Javari Bonner 2-13, Grayson Loftis 3-0, Team 1-(-11). S: Drek Carter 12-29, Raheim Jeter 10-11-1, Terrian Nelson 5-3, Jay Staggs 1-(-2).

PASSING – G: Grayson Loftis 15-21-0-256-4. S: Raheim Jeter 20-33-1-290-3.

RECEIVING – G: Jadarius Littlejohn 6-79, Edward Jefferies 5-84-2, Emazon Littlejohn 2-68-1, Tyler Smith 2-25-1. S: Tiheim Richardson 6-122-2, Andrew Dantin 5-88-1, Drek Carter 2-6, Que Moore 6-54, Jay Staggs 1-20.

Records: Gaffney 14-0, Spartanburg 9-4

Up Next: Gaffney (14-0) vs. Dutch Fork (12-0) for the Class AAAAA championship at 5 p.m. on Dec. 4 at Benedict College, Columbia.

Greenville's North Main neighborhood has seen significant growth over the years as new residents move in to restore historic homes, developers build new projects and entrepreneurs launch new businesses along Stone Avenue.

And once it's vacated by mid-year 2022, Canal Insurance Company's site at 400 Stone Avenue could spur another wave of growth for the area, offering a significant development opportunity on a major thoroughfare to downtown Greenville.

"The investment in Stone Avenue over the last five years has been equal to or greater than most other areas," said City Council member John DeWorken, who represents the North Main district. "I'm looking forward to seeing what the next chapter of that building and site will be on Stone Avenue."

Canal Insurance's move to downtown leaves opportunity

Canal specializes in insurance for commercial trucking and specialty transportation operations. The family owned business, founded in 1939, has ties to Greenville spanning generations, and Canal has headquartered its business on Stone Avenue for 29 years.

On Oct. 20, the company announced it would move its corporate headquarters to the office tower at 101 North Main Street, anchoring Greenville’s ONE City Plaza in the heart of downtown.

Plans for the company's current property on Stone Avenue are yet to be announced.

When the company publicly announced plans to move downtown, the future for its property was yet to be determined, said Macy Scoggins, marketing coordinator for broker Colliers International.

Central Realty Holdings, Canal's real estate investment arm, also declined to comment on plans for the property when contacted by The Greenville News.

Located near the intersections of Stone Avenue, Wade Hampton Boulevard and North Church Street, Canal's property is a significant chunk of real estate that will soon be ripe for the taking.

Totaling 4.7 acres, the property was last valued at $10.9 million in 2019, according to county property records. It's not currently listed for sale.

The land is zoned for C-2 use, or local commercial district, meaning it's intended for general retail, business and service use as well as professional and business offices, but not intensive business or industrial activities, according to city code.

City zoning identifies the area's future land use as "mixed-use neighborhood," meaning a combination of residential, retail and restaurant space that wouldn't swallow nearby residential neighborhoods.

While the city's new development pattern calls for more high density pockets of development, or "nodes" connected by major thoroughfares, the master plan also calls for Greenville’s traditional residential neighborhoods like North Main to stay intact and keep their character.

In this model, North Main residents would have proximity to services in nearby nodes like the "North Timmons Park" node off Wade Hampton Boulevard. They'd also have more access to parks and open space and more varied methods of transportation on busy roads like Stone Avenue.

Stone Avenue considered a key investment area in Greenville

The Canal site offers a prime real estate opportunity on a bustling corridor that has seen significant public and private investment in recent years.

State-owned Stone Avenue runs to downtown Greenville and hosts an array of offices, local shops, an event venue, restaurants and bars and a bowling alley. According to the state Department of Transportation, average daily traffic count in the area was 5,200 in 2019, before the pandemic, and 3,600 in 2020.

And there's still space for the taking. Up and down the road around Canal's property, there are at least five "for lease" signs.

Once a hub for auto business, Stone Avenue is now considered by Greenville officials to be a key corridor for future investment and development.

City Council is in the process of passing citywide economic-development incentives for new job creation and capital investment, with Stone Avenue highlighted as a targeted priority investment area.

More:New incentives could add grocery stores in low income neighborhoods in Greenville

And private investors have made significant investments on Stone Avenue as well.

The busy street is buttressed by new development — the Northpointe complex near Wade Hampton Boulevard, and the Maine and Stone complex at the Main Street intersection. A new Harris Teeter is just around the corner on Wade Hampton Avenue.

DeWorken still remembers when freshly renovated businesses along nearby Mohawk Drive were more obscure, brick buildings.

One spot was an old antique store with live chickens in the window, he said.

Now, there's a vintage clothing store and a trendy pizza place in that same area.

Other businesses like Liability Brewing Company on West Stone Avenue are good examples of some of the area's smaller buildings that have been redone, DeWorken said.

The Stone Avenue mural project has brought public art to buildings along the street.

"If you could take a snapshot of Stone Avenue 10 years ago or five years ago and then looked at it again today, I think people would be amazed at the investment that's been going on," DeWorken said.

Florist Kristi Berry has run her shop on Stone Avenue down the street from Canal since 2003.

There wasn't a lot of retail when she got there, Berry said. She credits Horizon Records, an independent music store, and the Handlebar, a now-defunct independent music venue for anchoring Stone Avenue before everything else.

"Since then, it's just been fun to see the new businesses come in," she said as she added the final touches to a floral arrangement on her work table.

Every Halloween, the neighborhood behind her business, the Earle Historic District, closes off the street for some of the best trick-or-treating in town.

"To have North Main as our neighborhood is really cool, because there's a lot of eclectic homes. They're all different sizes, from little condos on up to million-dollar homes. So it's a cool mix," she said.

When Community Tap co-owner and North Main resident Mike Okupinski first came to the future site for his store and taproom, he could tell the strip "needed some love," he said.

The growler bar located between Wade Hampton Boulevard and Mohawk Drive has grown since its launch in 2010, moving into a larger space three doors down in 2014. And as the business grew, so did the North Main community.

"Changes with state and city roads, they happen a little slower. But in North Main, they happen a little more organically," Okupinski said. "You find a lot more local folks that live in the neighborhood that are interested in opening up businesses. And I really hope that continues."

But despite the homegrown roots, "there's still so much that could be done," Okupinski said.

North Main business owners want more connectivity

Berry said she would love to see some sort of trail connection from the Canal site to the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail, which will be expanding along Laurens Road.

She'd also like to see development that promotes more small businesses, she said — maybe something like Ponce City Market in Atlanta, a collection of independent businesses all housed in a large mixed-use development.

"We see things happening all over town — big development here, big development there," Okupinski said. "Because there's less open space to develop in the North Main neighborhood — other than from something like Canal Insurance — I think, for us, our vision for the future would be better connectivity."

Community Tap's location is off of Stone Avenue, which is "a mess" with traffic, Okupinski said. He wants North Main customers to be able to get to the store safely, and that doesn't have to be by car, he said.

"If (Canal Insurance) becomes this huge development, where is all that traffic going to go?" he asked.

DeWorken said he considers two questions when he looks at development on major roads like Stone Avenue in his district: how does it benefit the greater economy, and what do the neighborhoods want to see?

"I understand the importance of corporate offices and professional jobs," he said. "But anytime I look at major roads in my district, I want to know how it would benefit neighborhoods."

Despite questions about North Main's connectivity, Okupinski is happy to see the growth in his area and throughout Greenville.

"I love what's happening," he said. "I'm happy with the direction the city's going in."

Macon Atkinson is the city watchdog reporter for The Greenville News. She's powered by long runs and strong coffee. Follow her on Twitter @maconatkinson.