After seeing an outline of what might have been a door to an adjacent building in her downtown apartment, Jane Kelley was curious on what was on the other side. She mentioned it to her family, which just happens to include son Zach Hines, a commercial real estate agent at Spencer Hines Properties.
Hines took her to look at the 1920’s-era building on College Street and Kelley immediately saw potential in the space which still had original terrazzo flooring, wood beams, and original windows.” It had beautiful bones,” she said. “It was pristine-almost untouched-but it had no HVAC, no plumbing. It was just this beautiful room.”
So Kelley and her husband purchased the entire building located at 7 College Street. Current building tenants, Gizmo Bar, Blue Martini Lounge and Sushi Go will remain. At first, Kelley had thought about using the 2,400-square-foot second floor space to house a church, similar to one she founded at Lake Keowee. But after discussing with daughter-in-law Erin Hines, the two decided to join forces to create a new event space called The Upper Room.
“It’s been a huge project,” said Erin Hines, who quit her job as a teacher last year to become Director of Events for The Upper Room. “To be part of one of these historic buildings and developing it. It’s kind of surreal.”
Construction is still ongoing but Kelley and Hines are planning to start hosting events by the end of May. They already have two bookings just by word of mouth and are hoping their location on the North end of Main Street, with close proximity to the Hyatt and Aloft hotels will set them apart from other venues. The space has “a historic feel and is unique, with a New York loft impression,’ said Kelley. “It’s new and different but is old Greenville,” said Hines.
-
Jane Kelley, owner, and Erin Hines, Director of Events -The Upper Room.
Cost of the renovations will exceed $500,000 when completed and The Upper Room will have 2,000 rentable square feet and seating for about 100 people, and standing room for 150. A robust audio visual package will be available for presentations. “We want this to be a really special, upscale space,” said Hines.
A rooftop garden will come a little later in the fall. Kelley, an avid gardener, plans to transform the roof with container gardens and an arbor, offering customers an additional space for events. Also an artist, Kelley also plans to have studio space and may host art shows in the future.
Two additional spaces are available for lease at the 7 College St. building. The former Cianciola’s space and an additional upstairs space that may be converted into office space after The Upper Room construction is completed.
For more information, visit theupperroomgreenville.com.
