By: Jessica Imbimbo, Morning News
The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce sponsored a Business After Hours event for Raldex Hospitality on Thursday evening at the Hilton Garden Inn. More than 100 business leaders and community members attended the event, featuring food, drinks, live music and various door prizes including a 50-inch television.
SCNow Web Article – Business After Hours with Raldex Hospitality
By: Jessica Imbimbo, Morning News
FLORENCE, S.C. – Elite Tactical Laser Tag held a ribbon cutting Thursday afternoon at its facility at 200 E. South Village in Florence.
The laser tag facility is for participants age 6 and older and features laser guns modeled after authentic military-grade weapons (complete with a recoil and reloadable magazines) and a large field space that will immerse players in a full Hollywood-style battlefield.
Each laser tag session is 90 minutes long. Up to 20 players can attempt a number of Elite Tactical’s 23 missions. Each mission requires different strategies and tactics and puts an emphasis on the importance of teamwork. The facility is open Monday through Wednesday for private sessions and Thursday through Sunday for public play.
Elite Tactical Laser Tag can host numerous events from birthday parties and church events to corporate team building activities. General admission for players age 13 and older is $30 and group rates of 10 or more players start at $25 when booked in advance.
Specific mission times for players ages 6-12 are set for Thursdays and Fridays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Each mission for younger players is 30 minutes long and costs $10. The laser tag facility also offers deals or rates on certain days such as $20 Thursdays and $10 for 30 minutes on Sundays. All sessions starting at 7:30 p.m. and later are for ages 16 and older.
The facility will also play host to the Apocalypse World Tour set for July 14 – 15 when participants have the chance to kill “live zombies” while trapped in a video-game-style set. Tickets for the event include 150 rounds of ammunition and admission into the zombie attraction. Tickets can be purchased through the Elite Tactical Laser Tag website at elitetaclt.com.
Owners Efrem and Matilda Andrews said Elite Tactical Laser Tag opened for business in February and said they are excited about providing a place for friends and families to have fun and be active together.
“It’s Call-of-Duty-style laser tag,” Matilda said. “This will get the kids out and moving because our generation is missing that. It’s excellent cardio.”
“It’s a step above regular laser tag. It’s more interactive,” Efrem said. “Ninety-nine percent of the people that come in here leave extremely happy. They just have an outstanding time.”
“By the time they’re done they are thanking us that we brought this thing to Florence.”
For more information or to make a reservation, visit the Elite Tactical Laser Tag website or Facebook page.
SCNow Web Article – Elite Tactical Laser Tag holds ribbon cutting in Florence
By: Joshua Lloyd, Morning News
FLORENCE, S.C. – After more than 30 years of planning, studies and negotiations, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has issued a permit for construction of Interstate 73.
The interstate will connect Myrtle Beach to Sault Ste. Marie in northern Michigan, and will run 80 miles in four South Carolina counties — Dillon, Marlboro, Marion and Horry. In total, I-73 will cross six states — South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio and Michigan.
Congressman Tom Rice, a Republican from Myrtle Beach, has made I-73 one of his major talking points since his first election in 2014 and made an official announcement Tuesday afternoon.
“Since I got to Congress, construction of I-73 has been my top priority and this permit is a result of a lot of hard work and collaboration,” he said in a media advisory. “The opportunity that I-73 will bring to the 7th District is truly unparalleled, and now that we have the permit in hand we can begin construction and see this project come to light.”
A study completed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation last month indicated costs for the state’s portion of I-73 could be about $2.8 billion if construction starts this year or up to about $3.4 billion if construction is delayed until 2025.
SCNow Web Article – Feds approve permit for construction of Interstate 73
The Chamber’s Emerging Leaders Summer Institute kicked off with a leadership retreat on Tuesday, June 21st. The group heard from Teresa Johnson Ramey of Francis Marion University and Holly Young Beaumier of Florence Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The group continues their five session journey in July.
By: Jessica Imbimbo, Morning News
FLORENCE, S.C. – LilJazZi’s Café and Salads, located inside the Florence Regional Airport at 2100 Terminal Drive, held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Wednesday.
LilJazZi’s is open to the general public as well as airport travelers, offering a variety of salads and sandwiches to hungry patrons. The café also provides real fruit smoothies such as peach, mango, strawberry or any combination of flavors.
The menu features breakfast items, including grits, pancakes, eggs and waffles. LilJazZi’s can also craft a number of gourmet drinks such as cappuccinos, lattes, frappes and macchiatos. Customers who dine at LilJazZi’s receive free parking at the airport for one hour and the café offers discounts for students, seniors, military and law enforcement.
“I worked for Target for 16 years and I let that go to start something new,” Mullins said. “He (Norton) said, ‘We need something like this.’ And it just happened. I love it.”
The café opened on April 14 and held a grand opening Wednesday afternoon. Ambassadors from the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce attended the ribbon cutting to welcome Mullins and her new business to Florence and congratulate her on her accomplishment.
“That’s kind of where I want to go next, but we’ll see,” Mullins said. “It’s tough because I have three little ones.”
Mullins’ three daughters, Lilly, 7, Jasmine, 13, and Zion, 8, gave her the inspiration to name the restaurant LilJazZi’s.
“My logo is and everything is based all on the girls because this is their future, not mine,” Mullins said. “It’s all about the kids.”
SCNow Web Article – Cafe at Florence airport holds ribbon cutting
By: Jessica Imbimbo, Morning News
FLORENCE, S.C. — Hennes and Mauritz Inc., the global fashion retailer better known as H&M, announced a new location opening in Magnolia Mall in Florence.
Kelsey Hill, marketing manager at Magnolia Mall, confirmed the announcement. The 20,000 square-foot store is set to open in the fall of 2018.
Patrick Shaner of the H&M communications department said the company thought Florence would be in ideal location for their South Carolina expansion due to their significant customer base in the area.
In 2017, H&M was the highest ranked fashion retailer on Forbes America’s Best Employers list and was named on Business of Fashion’s list of Best Companies to Work for in Fashion.
The new store will add approximately 30 jobs to the Florence area. For available job opportunities, please visit career.hm.com.
SCNow Web Article – Fashion retailer H&M to open new location in Magnolia Mall
By: Joshua Lloyd, Morning News
FLORENCE, S.C. – Another parking garage may be coming to downtown Florence, this time coming from the county.
On Thursday, the Florence County Council took its first official step toward placing a parking garage in downtown Florence — specifically in the parking lot adjacent to the county complex on Irby Street.
Officials have discussed the potential for a county-operated parking deck in that spot for years, and now the council has approved a motion to allow the county administration to search for architects and engineers for design options.
“We’re really just beginning the process, and this is the first piece of the puzzle,” said Willard Dorriety, vice chairman of the council. “We’ve realized some savings from the second capital projects sales tax that we can use toward it, and hopefully construct much of it without costing the taxpayers any more money.”
Dorriety provided no specifics on how many spaces could be involved, or the price range for a new deck.
“We can’t really give a price or details because we don’t know the details at this point,” he said. “But the consensus right now is to build right here beside the complex, since we already own the property and this is the place where it’s needed most.”
A second parking deck has been a point of contention for city and county officials, with each unwilling to compromise for a joint venture.
County officials have said a new deck needs to be adjacent to the complex, while city officials maintain that growth over the next five years will indicate where a deck is needed most.
The city-owned 320-space parking garage at the corner of Irby and Evans streets opened for free public use last November, and cost about $9 million.
Other business
The council unanimously approved a fee-in-lieu-of tax agreement with Ruiz Foods for a $79 million expansion that’s expected to create more than 700 jobs over the next decade.
That agreement means there will be a 6 percent tax on the development rather than the usual 10 percent. Such agreements are common to facilitate economic development within the county.
Officials have said the IT system overhaul could take years to complete and could cost the county upward of $2 million.
The current system has three parts, each handling a different aspect of county tax and financing needs.
The underlying problem comes from a system that has been built upon for more than two decades by the same engineer, who is set to retire within two or three years.
The current software is fully integrated and performs county tasks as intended but is outdated and will no longer be sustainable after the engineer retires.
SCNow Web Article – Florence County Council takes first step toward downtown parking deck
By: Jessica Imbimbo, Morning News
FLORENCE, S.C. – B. Nance Fine Gifts held a ribbon cutting Thursday morning after moving into its new, larger location at 1939 Hoffmeyer Road.
Ambassadors with the Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce congratulated co-owners and mother-daughter duo Jill Blaker and Danielle Nance on their relocation. The retail store moved into the shopping plaza on May 1, just yards from the previous location. Nance said the move has been almost a year in the making, and she is thrilled to be settled into their new retail home.
B. Nance Fine Gifts offers a wide variety of products including tabletop items, cookware and glassware from high-quality brands. Gifts for any special occasion line the shelves at B. Nance, including birthdays, weddings, baby showers and more. The store also sells candles, jewelry, sunglasses and other items.
Nance said being able to open a retail business with her parents and husband combines her passion for retail and love for her family into one. Now after moving into their new space, Nance hopes she can offer Florence residents an enjoyable place to shop.
“We just saw an opportunity and saw a need in Florence,” Nance said. “We just have a fun space to host events and make it fun for our customers.”
The Greater Florence Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following outgoing Chamber board members for their time and service to the organization – Dr. Fred Carter, Pete Mazzaroni, Robby Hill, Starlee Alexander, John Bankson and Kyle Baxter.
By: Joshua Lloyd, Morning News
FLORENCE, S.C – A major economic development project that’s been called by the code name “Project Horseshoe” for months has been revealed as another Ruiz Foods expansion in Florence County.
That project involves a $79 million investment and an additional 700 new jobs, which would nearly triple its workforce in Florence.
Officials with Ruiz were not available to comment on the expansion on Monday afternoon, and details of what the expansion entails and when construction will start have not been revealed.
South Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Hugh Weathers was the first to speak publically about the expansion that’s been under wraps for months.
“When they make the announcement, we’ll talk about helping supply them with South Carolina products as long as we can meet their quality standards,” he said Monday after speaking at the Florence Rotary Club. “It’s a great company.”
Ruiz Foods is on the Florence County Council’s June agenda, replacing the code name project.
“We’re very excited and pleased about their expansion,” said Ken Caudle, chairman of the council. “The final reading of fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement in on the agenda for Thursday’s meeting and I am confident we will unanimously approve that agreement.”
The Florence County Council previously approved two readings of the fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreement for Project Horseshoe, meaning there will be a 6 percent tax on the development rather than the usual 10 percent.
In June 2014, Ruiz Foods announced the acquisition of the former H.J. Heinz facility in Florence. It said it would invest $55 million in an operation that eventually would bring more than 500 jobs to the Pee Dee. After renovating that facility, it began operation in January 2016.
Last year, construction of a large freezer distribution center brought the total square footage to 225,000 of the site inside Pee Dee Touchstone Energy City industrial park. Ruiz currently has $60 million invested in the Florence facility. According to Weathers, Ruiz employs 400 people in Florence.
Honda of South Carolina announced a $45 million, 115,000-square-foot expansion; McCall Farms announced a $23 million investment; and General Electric announced a $40 million expansion.
Ruiz Foods started in 1964 as a family-owned business in California and has now grown to be the nation’s leading distributor of frozen Mexican food. Nationally, Ruiz operates three manufacturing plants that distribute El Monterey and Tornados food products.
The El Monterey brand includes retail products such as burritos, tamales and empanadas.
Morning News reporter Jessica Imbimbo contributed to this report.
SCNow Web Article – Ruiz Foods planning $79 million expansion in Florence County, creating 700 jobs
