GVLtoday investigates: Dental spas, coworking + carriages

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It’s time for another round of Asked + Answered, where we get to the bottom of your questions about our city. Let’s get right into what you wanted to know:

#Asked: Was wondering if y’all have any idea what’s going in between Smiley’s and Pink Bee?

#Answered: Bijou Dental Spa just had its grand opening last Friday at 109 Augusta St. (see the before + after here). 🎉

What exactly is a dental spa? It’s designed for patients who have a fear of going to the dentist, and makes the experience a little more comfortable by limiting the amount of patients each day (so there’s never a rush) + offering spa services so you associate your visit with relaxation (like a massage after your filling). The concept already has pretty great Facebook reviews.

#Asked: Which coworking spaces offer one day passes?

#Answered: Most coworking spaces offer memberships on a monthly basis, but there are a few options if you just want a desk for a day:

Check out our roundup here for more info on what coworking is + where to check it out.

#Asked: How many months do the horse carriages run (and can I park in the carriage space by the Poinsett in the offseason)?

#Answered: It might feel like the horse-drawn carriage rides down Main St are a winter staple, but the carriages actually run year-round. Another surprise (for us, at least): the rides aren’t run by the city, but by a private company called Whispering Winds Carriage Company. They also do weddings, in case you ever dreamed of riding off to your honeymoon Cinderella-style. Downtown rides are offered Sun. – Thurs. between 6 – 11 p.m. for $15. In short: the parking spot is a no-go. 🚗

#Asked: Can you tell us anything about the new independent pharmacy on Augusta St near Lafayette Cleaners?

#Answered: Greenville Discount Pharmacy has been open for a few months at 1701 Augusta St., featuring free deliveries + a free drug program that includes antibiotics, blood pressure, and diabetes medications. It’s locally-owned, and the pharmacy’s Facebook reviews rave about the knowledgeability + helpfulness of the owner, Mike.

#Asked: Are plans still on to redevelop Woodside Mill?

#Answered: In case you missed it, here’s a brief timeline of the current redevelopment plan for Woodside Mill (once the largest textile mill in the world). Back in 2016, developers requested that the mill be annexed into the city, meaning they could get assistance with things like sewer lines, landscaping + roads for a huge new development including residential + commercial space. The annexation and plans were approved, but ended up needing re-approval last November + was given the official go-ahead.

Here’s what’s in store for the mill as of today: the developer (who previously transformed Loray Mill in Gastonia, N.C. into the Loray Mill Lofts) will invest $35 million in exchange for tax incentives to turn the mill into 302 loft-style apartments, a general store, a possible brewery or restaurant, and office + commercial space.

Plans are definitely still in motion to transform Woodside, but with a project this huge, it’ll take time. Woodside Mill Partners LLC, based in Atlanta + created to manage the project, says they’re working on permits and financing before construction can start.

#Asked: Best beaches near Greenville (local not coastal)?

#Answered: If you’re not looking to head to the coast, freshwater beaches are where it’s at. There are plenty local lakes with sandy shores: Lake Lure is probably the most well-known (1 hr. + 15 min. away), and Devils Fork State Park on Lake Jocassee has stellar reviews. You can also check out Lake Hartwell’s list of recreation areas (most have beaches), or try South Cove or Mile Creek at Lake Keowee.

#Asked: Where are some supposed haunted spots in Greenville?

#Answered: Greenville has plenty of spots with spooky stories –

👻 Poinsett Hotel: Poinsett guests have woken in the middle of the night to loud noises they assumed were cleaning crews, only to find out no crews were working that night. Other guests have claimed to see the ghost of an old man appear in their rooms.

👻 Herdklotz Park: The land was formerly a tuberculosis hospital that treated hundreds of patients, and visitors have claimed to hear bells clanging, screaming, and loud noises + shadows moving in the trees at night.

👻 Route 107: A ghost called “The Hitchhiker” is rumored to roam the road where he died in a 1950 car crash, appearing to drivers on dark + rainy nights.

👻 The Poinsett Bridge: The oldest bridge in our state = definitely some haunted history. Three separate legends claim the ghost is haunted by a lynched slave, built over an Indian burial ground (Poltergeist-style), and is home to the ghost of a construction worker who died while the bridge was being built + is buried in its structure.

👻 The Army Navy Store on S. Main Street: In 2011, a paranormal investigation crew claimed to hear the voice of Veteran Harry Zaglin, who opened the store in 1946, telling them to leave and come back next week (even our ghosts still have manners)

👻 Springwood Cemetery on North Main St: Confederate soldiers and political figures are buried in the ~200-year-old cemetery, where paranormal investigators have reported everything from unexplained noises to fully visible ghosts. Visitors have reported blurred faces in photos + light apparitions, and apparently, children see ghosts most often.

👻 A graveyard near Furman University where many children were buried from the late 1700s to late 1800s: People have reported children’s laughter + running footsteps and unexplained lights at night… yeah, we’re officially discouraging you from hanging out in cemeteries and graveyards.

👻 The Embassy Suites on Verdae: Guests have reported lights turning off + on by themselves and doors swinging open without explanation. Police are also rumored to have received several reports of lights on + people moving inside the rooms… before the electricity was turned on or any guests were booked.

Love ghost hunting? Check out S.C. Paranormal Research and Investigation’s page of haunted places in our state.

I love answering your questions about Greenville – as much as I’ve picked up about our city working at GVLtoday, I always learn something new.

Thanks for reading, sending us your thoughts, and asking us your questions. Stay curious.

– Kendall

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