Main Street Fountain Inn Wins Excellence on Main Street Award
Main Street South Carolina recognized Main Street Fountain Inn with the Excellence on Main Street Award for the restoration and preservation of the historic Ellison Flour Mill. This award recognizes the top project from among the winners in eight categories of the annual Main Street Inspiration Awards.
Fountain Inn’s population has grown dramatically, increasing by 25% from 2020 to 2023. This has opened many new development possibilities for its downtown, and developer Bryan Beal decided to renovate several dilapidated mill buildings into new businesses, all while preserving and repurposing as much of the building’s materials as possible.
The large three-story building, a mill that opened in 1940 and fell out of use in the 1970s, has become the home of Fountain Inn Brewing, with a 16-tap bar and pizza kitchen. It retains its historic roller mill and other equipment, as well as its exterior tin siding. A second building, once an auction house, is now the Clubhouse, a common area that accesses a fenced-in outdoor greenspace and event space. The final building to be restored, which served as an auto repair shop, is now a food hall offering options from local restaurants. Investor-driven funding for the project took advantage of federal and state historic tax credits, as well as SC Abandoned Buildings Revitalization Act tax credits.
The project’s event space has enabled cross-promotion of onsite events and other downtown events, and its operations have greatly enhanced foot traffic in the area.
“The restoration of the historic Ellison Flour Mill in Fountain Inn creates a unique experience for residents and visitors while also establishing itself as an anchor to the downtown district,” said Jenny Boulware, Main Street SC manager.
Main Street SC is a program of the Municipal Association of South Carolina. It empowers residents, business owners and local officials with the knowledge, skills, tools and organizational structure necessary to revitalize their downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts into vibrant centers of commerce and community.
Main Street SC follows the National Main Street’s Four Point Approach — economic vitality, design, promotion and organization. Each year, Main Street South Carolina recognizes members’ achievements and successes in downtown revitalization. For more information, visit the Municipal Association’s website at www.masc.sc (keyword: Main Street).
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