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As a Greenville native, I somehow am fascinated by both:
The Greenville Summit (formerly the Hotel Greenville, and now a semi-derelict affordable housing building downtown at 201 West Washington Street), and
County Square (formerly Bell Tower Mall, a discount mall built in 1969/70 and now county offices).
I see that the Hotel Greenville used to have a Ye Olde Fireplace in it, but by the late '60s it had week-to-week housing in it. So was it always a second-tier hotel, after the Poinsett? When did it go into decline? Why hasn't it been redeveloped into something nicer? Is the building just not that great inside?
I also have memories of going to movies and to Baskin-Robbins at Bell Tower Mall, but little memory of the mall interior. Was it a flop from the start? Why in the world was it built when it was (as Ivey's and Myers-Arnold downtown closed right when Bell Tower Mall opened, indicating that downtown was in serious decline)?
Basically, looking for memories from people who went to both places in their prime.
As a Greenville native, I somehow am fascinated by both:
The Greenville Summit (formerly the Hotel Greenville, and now a semi-derelict affordable housing building downtown at 201 West Washington Street), and
County Square (formerly Bell Tower Mall, a discount mall built in 1969/70 and now county offices).
I see that the Hotel Greenville used to have a Ye Olde Fireplace in it, but by the late '60s it had week-to-week housing in it. So was it always a second-tier hotel, after the Poinsett? When did it go into decline? Why hasn't it been redeveloped into something nicer? Is the building just not that great inside?
I also have memories of going to movies and to Baskin-Robbins at Bell Tower Mall, but little memory of the mall interior. Was it a flop from the start? Why in the world was it built when it was (as Ivey's and Myers-Arnold downtown closed right when Bell Tower Mall opened, indicating that downtown was in serious decline)?
Basically, looking for memories from people who went to both places in their prime.
Thanks!
I think nearby McAllister Square beat them to it even though Bell Tower had been planned for a decade after the Furman campus relocated to Poinsett Hwy. I think McAllister opened first around 1965. Meyers/Arnold and Ivey's opened larger locations at McAllister which probably led to the closure of their DT stores.
I never spent much time at Bell Tower or was too young to remember but I do recall a Baskin Robbins at McAllister Square. I have quite a few memories of McAllister. Can't get it to paste for some reason but if you Google "Bell Tower Mall" there is an article on Greenvilleonline about the demise of the mall to county offices.
Last edited by vistatiger; 07-09-2017 at 08:13 PM..
Malls in Greenville have followed the usual cycle of boom and bust, from Bell Tower Mall (now Greenville County Square), to McAlister Square (now mostly Greenville TEC University Center), to Greenville Mall (currently undergoing major structural change), to Haywood Mall, to Cherrydale, to Shops at Greenridge. Cherrydale and Greenridge have followed the current automobile centered trend and have the stores surrounded by massive parking lots so shoppers drive from store to store instead of walk. Not the most fuel efficient or healthy trend.
Malls in Greenville have followed the usual cycle of boom and bust, from Bell Tower Mall (now Greenville County Square), to McAlister Square (now mostly Greenville TEC University Center), to Greenville Mall (currently undergoing major structural change), to Haywood Mall, to Cherrydale, to Shops at Greenridge. Cherrydale and Greenridge have followed the current automobile centered trend and have the stores surrounded by massive parking lots so shoppers drive from store to store instead of walk. Not the most fuel efficient or healthy trend.
I certainly wouldn't say that Greenville Mall is undergoing "Structural Changes". The wrecking ball provided the "Structural Changes" a few years back.
So far as I know, there's not an original piece of that mall still standing is there? The theater is an outparcel, so while some argument could be made there, it certainly wasn't 'original'.
I certainly wouldn't say that Greenville Mall is undergoing "Structural Changes". The wrecking ball provided the "Structural Changes" a few years back.
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