Ten at the Top and Main Street South Carolina brought the Upstate Downtown Academy to Fountain Inn for a panel at Kaleo Coffeehouse, followed by a walking tour and dinner. Mayor GP McLeer, City Administrator Sean Keith, Main Street Coordinator Clare Jones, June Wilcox of M. Judson Booksellers, and Jess Quarles of Kaleo Coffeehouse shared how partnerships and events revived the city’s historic downtown.
From Vacant to Vibrant
- Roots: Founded on Christmas Eve in 1886 as a stagecoach stop between Columbia and Asheville, Fountain Inn grew with the railroad and textile boom.
- Turnaround: Downtown was roughly 80% vacant when Mayor McLeer moved to town. A new streetscape, a renovated train depot, and walkable neighborhoods next to Main Street laid the groundwork for revival.
Partnerships with Local Businesses
- Fast Openings: Business owners on the panel credited direct access to city staff for smooth launches, going from signed lease to open doors in under two months.
- Main Street Program: The city joined Main Street South Carolina in 2021, holds monthly merchant meetings, and aims for accreditation within the next year.
Events as an Economic Engine
- Dedicated Staff: Four full-time employees support Main Street, marketing, and events.
- Signature Events: The Fourth of July draws about 14,000 people, and the Jeepers Creepers trunk-or-treat drew 8,000 in its first year. Each December, the Tree Lighting Ceremony kicks off Christmas “INN” Our Town, with Santa joining Mayor McLeer to light the City’s tree alongside local performances. Panelists said events are often a new resident’s first connection to downtown.
Managing Growth
- Housing: The city plans to develop attainable housing on its former mill site and is adding density near downtown.
- Pressures: Young families are the fastest-growing group, and the city has outgrown its facilities and recreation space. Highway 14 limits local control of Main Street but connects Fountain Inn to neighboring downtowns.
The session closed with a walking tour of downtown and dinner at The Farehouse.