Lots of Questions on Sumter (Myrtle Beach, Hampton: middle-class, apartment, rentals)

[Rophlmao]

Sumter is fine if what you do "fits". It takes many years to get in with the locals, and being into what they are into helps. Great place to be into cars, bikes. trucks, hunting, fishing, and rural life. There is no "culture" here but that's not the purpose of Sumter. Being in law enforcement should connect to an excellent human network.

Were I a teacher, I'd look into private schools or adult education. They have a better class of student.

[danheit]

Thanks for all the good info so far guys, and please keep it coming. I am really starting to narrow down on the decision to move there, and will hopefully be starting to move in that direction over the next couple of weeks. When I do move, it will be fast. My wife and I came up about a week ago to look around some more, and while we were happy with alot of the things we saw, we will still greatly miss home. There is just something about that salt smell when you wake up early on a summer morning.... We got a chance to check out Swan Lake Gardens, and one of the neighborhoods near there, but the neighborhood looked to be a bit out of my reach right off the bat. One of the joys of being a real estate broker for the last 10 years, though, gives me the edge to find a great deal where I want it, and a chance to make a couple big chunks of cash here and there. We did get a chance to go check out the "Mall", although I didn't see a single store there that I would shop in. Nothing wrong with the people there, but I am not into the baggy sports jerzees and sweat pants. Already have a nice cell phone, and I have eaten at Chick-Fil-A enough times in my life to not have to go back there any time soon. I am hoping that there is still some hidden treasures that we haven't seen yet (hoping and praying is more like it), but all in all, I think things will work out pretty well. We are ready for a change from here, and I think that Sumter will fit the bill.

[Ceezer]

Admittedly, the mall sucks. There's a Belk, and if you're desperate, Pennys, then the rest is all urban-street wear. Sandhills in NE Cola is just 40 minutes away and you can find a lot there, and Harbison is about 55 minutes away. It's a bit of a trip, but not too bad unless you're looking to shop every weekend.

If not Sumter itself, I'm hoping they develop the SE Cola/Lower Richland area a bit more to appeal to Sumter & Sumter Co. residents. It's only 30-35 minutes there from Sumter, straight up 378.

[painterdude]

Most places are about expectations. Having lived in suburban n.y. and small towns as well I've developed ideas about what communities and towns are all about. As I've stated before we've also lived in coastal s. florida and the sticks. I think too that age is a factor. I doubt someone in their 20's or 30's would be too happy with a place like Sumter...not much action but for the somewhat older crowd you're looking for recreational opportunity, proximity to other places and decent climate etc. Just the ability to go places intrigues me. When you live in south fl, it takes most of a day just to leave the state and the direction always starts out northward. I'm looking forward to our probable move. If not Sumter, then maybe Florence, or outside of Charleston near Georgetown. We're not that particular, just looking for something different.

[painterdude]

as to the advice about teaching in a private school, it may be different in Sumter but traditionally private schools pay less and their benefit packages are lacking as well. Even in places where tuitions is well over 10 grand, these things hold true. Some of my wifes former teaching partners moved into these situations simply because their kids could all attend for free. We've been out of the kids at home business for quite some time.

[danheit]

Thanks guys! Hey, just out of curiosity, what is the new store being built out in the mall? Last time we were up, we saw it being worked on from the inside. My wife is desperately praying for a book store, but I keep trying to tell her not to get her hopes up. I go up tomorrow morning for another interview, and will do some more looking around for "stuff" to do, and some more places to stay. While driving away from down town last time, looking for the Swan Gardens, we went to the top of one of the side streets that ended at a main thoroughfare. Across this main road was a small, but very nice neighborhood. Anybody have any idea of where I am talking about? If it helps any, we were following the green signs for the Swan Gardens.

[Ceezer]

At the back of the mall? That store was already there but it's gone through several changes over the last few years. Last, I think, it was a furniture store. I have no idea what's going in next, but a book store would be amazing!

Without knowing what area you were in it's hard to tell what neighborhood you were looking at. The way Sumter is set up, there's really no dedicated "nice side of town" and dedicated "bad side of town", it's all kind of spread out. One one street you're likely to pass 2 or 3 trailer parks followed by a neighborhood of 200-300k houses, then a neighborhood of run down & abandoned houses, a 40-acre farm, followed by a 500-unit apartment complex, etc.

[painterdude]

Ceezer..are you the same guy that reviewed some local restaurants??? Sounds pretty slim. Any good barbeque or wings spots? Nothin' better than some good wings and a few brews. pd

[Ceezer]

On Yelp and/or Yahoo? Yes.

I've not found any decent wing spots around Sumter yet. For BBQ we used to have a guy that set up on 441 on Saturdays and sold from the smoker he pulled behind his truck. He was the best that I knew of and you could smell his stuff a mile down the road! I haven't seen him in quite a while, though, but think there may be a chance that he tried opening a shop in town. Ward's BBQ is ok, but my favorite around here is Little Pigs in NE Cola (on Alpine).

I have to say, though, that I'm picky and particular about my BBQ and am probably harder on the local establishments than most others would be.

[Woodlands]

Originally Posted by Ceezer

On Yelp and/or Yahoo? Yes.

I've not found any decent wing spots around Sumter yet. For BBQ we used to have a guy that set up on 441 on Saturdays and sold from the smoker he pulled behind his truck. He was the best that I knew of and you could smell his stuff a mile down the road! I haven't seen him in quite a while, though, but think there may be a chance that he tried opening a shop in town. Ward's BBQ is ok, but my favorite around here is Little Pigs in NE Cola (on Alpine).

I have to say, though, that I'm picky and particular about my BBQ and am probably harder on the local establishments than most others would be.

There used to be a little place off of Patriot Parkway just after you pass Deschamps Rd... It was actually a shed in the back of a house that sat out there.. it would be on your left after you passed Deschamps leaving Sumter . They had some pretty good spicy vinegar based BBQ but they only did it like on Fridays and around the holidays... When you ride up the dirt driveway to the little smoke house your first thought is.. "aint no way I'm going up in this place" but once you enter the people were friendly and from all types there waiting on the Q. You usually had to call to place an order because they usually run out.....