What is holding Sumter back? (Columbia, Myrtle Beach: real estate, foreclosures, house)

[rubber_factory]

Originally Posted by Doug Hebert

I'm currently stationed at Shaw with about 4 yrs until retirement. Afterwards, I was considering staying in the area and possibly opening up an authentic Cajun restaurant. Of course, it's currently in the planning stages only, but I was raised in the family food business (Cajun food, naturally), and La is my home state. I thought it might be a good idea to have one in Sumter, and I wondered what people might think of it.
Eventually, I'd like for it to be a building on stilts in a swamp setting, just as one would see back home in La, and I've scoped out some areas already. I'd like to have live Cajun music and dancing, too. It's an idea at the moment, but I would love input from the locals. I promise it would be entertaining, and I think you all would really love the food. If you wouldn't mind, please tell me what you all think...It would give me an idea of whether or not it would be worth a try.

Thanks in advance!

Doug

i think it is a great idea, and i don't know why there aren't more good cajun places around.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by Doug Hebert

I'm currently stationed at Shaw with about 4 yrs until retirement. Afterwards, I was considering staying in the area and possibly opening up an authentic Cajun restaurant. Of course, it's currently in the planning stages only, but I was raised in the family food business (Cajun food, naturally), and La is my home state. I thought it might be a good idea to have one in Sumter, and I wondered what people might think of it.
Eventually, I'd like for it to be a building on stilts in a swamp setting, just as one would see back home in La, and I've scoped out some areas already. I'd like to have live Cajun music and dancing, too. It's an idea at the moment, but I would love input from the locals. I promise it would be entertaining, and I think you all would really love the food. If you wouldn't mind, please tell me what you all think...It would give me an idea of whether or not it would be worth a try.

Thanks in advance!

Doug

Sumter isn't great at supporting local businesses.

Having said that, I think that if you chose a good location, kept your overhead and price point relatively low, and made good food, you might just have a shot. The town could sure use it.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by Doug Hebert

I'm currently stationed at Shaw with about 4 yrs until retirement. Afterwards, I was considering staying in the area and possibly opening up an authentic Cajun restaurant. Of course, it's currently in the planning stages only, but I was raised in the family food business (Cajun food, naturally), and La is my home state. I thought it might be a good idea to have one in Sumter, and I wondered what people might think of it.
Eventually, I'd like for it to be a building on stilts in a swamp setting, just as one would see back home in La, and I've scoped out some areas already. I'd like to have live Cajun music and dancing, too. It's an idea at the moment, but I would love input from the locals. I promise it would be entertaining, and I think you all would really love the food. If you wouldn't mind, please tell me what you all think...It would give me an idea of whether or not it would be worth a try.

Thanks in advance!

Doug

One good thing about Sumter is that people luv to eat.. in addition to the taste, location, location, location, and price price price are the seven most important things. I remember a couple of years back The Item did an article that discussed going to lunch in Sumter and how those locations where you could each less than $8 bucks including your drink were a necessity in Sumter and how the community was a fan of the buffet...There was a popular restaurant (said to be a five star though I have never verified) out in Rembert...I think it was lilifords or something like that was popular for years.. Do not know if it is still out there but it is an example of it you have good food people will travel. "downtown rembert" where it was located was never a destination, but the restaurant did very well for a time....

[Captain Worley]

Sumter is one of the eatingest places I've ever seen. Get very pricey and you start to lose a good many customers. Think Appleby's as probably as high as you want to go pricewise. Locate on Broad Street, too.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by Woodlands

One good thing about Sumter is that people luv to eat.. in addition to the taste, location, location, location, and price price price are the seven most important things. I remember a couple of years back The Item did an article that discussed going to lunch in Sumter and how those locations where you could each less than $8 bucks including your drink were a necessity in Sumter and how the community was a fan of the buffet...There was a popular restaurant (said to be a five star though I have never verified) out in Rembert...I think it was lilifords or something like that was popular for years.. Do not know if it is still out there but it is an example of it you have good food people will travel. "downtown rembert" where it was located was never a destination, but the restaurant did very well for a time....

Lilfreds. They even have a website. Home Page. The Mill Pond Restaurant is also out in the sticks (Boykin) and is fairly popular, last I checked. It's been a couple of years since I've been to either of those places.

Still, both are relatively small and decidedly "destination" restaurants. People come from Camden, Columbia, etc. They have a bit of cachet, locally.

There are also places in the Sumter area like Country Fixins out on 15 that do well, and they're also relatively small with not a great deal of upkeep.

However, I'm thinking of lots of other local places that have faded into nothingness. There aren't many good, local restaurants in the city of Sumter. Chains rule the town these days, I'm afraid. I hate that.

[Ceezer]

Originally Posted by Doug Hebert

I was considering staying in the area and possibly opening up an authentic Cajun restaurant.

Eventually, I'd like for it to be a building on stilts in a swamp setting, just as one would see back home in La, and I've scoped out some areas already. I'd like to have live Cajun music and dancing, too.

I think that sounds like a good idea, actually, especially if you set the ambiance with the swampy atmosphere (something like Dick's in Myrtle?), and the music/dancing to go along with it. If you had a blues night or two, I would *definitely* come.

I wish I had the guts to start a business. I've mentioned a few in this thread that I know would flourish in the area and I have a few more ideas tucked away in the ol' noggin.

[Captain Worley]

Remember, Ceezer, meth labs are illegal.

[Woodlands]

Whats going on in the dog leg? This section of Sumter County juts up between Clarendon, Florence, and I believe a piece of Lee County hence its name. It also contains two interchanges to I-95 the major one being with US 378. People in the "dog leg" have often said they get the short end of the stick (pun intended) because they are miles away from Sumter "proper" and often conduct most of their business in Florence because of ease of access via I-95. At one time the County was set to develop an industrial park in the vicinity of 95/ 378. The improvement to the infrastructure to support this facility could have led to additional water and sewer capacity to support more development in this section of the County. For various reasons.. the park never materialized and the County began to focus its industrial recruitment on existing ind. parks like Black River and Pocotaligo... which was probably a wise decision since costly infrastructure is already in place at these locations. However; I can not help but wonder what the future is for the "dog leg" and its residents..I believe the country club in that area has closed....will likely not be redeveloped like the one down along the Pocotaligo south of Sumter..not many amenities in the area to speak of...I get a sense that residents like the rural nature of their area but would like more amenities(retail stores) and services. Being along I-95 there should be opportunities.. however Manning, Florence, and Santee are more populated and popular for development which may further the current condition that exists in this area. Anyone have any insight on any future plans for this area or opinions????

[Ceezer]

Task force looks at Sumter’s future - The Item - South Carolina

[bigmig]

Sumpters problem is simple. Its in South carolina. Do you know any Conservative/ religious state that isnt near the bottom in every category? Education, poverty, health etc.. Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, Georgia.... all conservative all are a mess. This is a state that "celebrates" Strom Thurmond and the Civil War! Need we say more. Rest assured, the same Governor and same state senators will be re-elected. Some folks just cant seem to get out of their own way. People her will vote for good ol boy conservatives if it kills them.