New self-storage facility coming to Simpsonville

One of the first things visitors to Simpsonville via Highway 417 have likely noticed has been a massive, industrial building on the left as 417 becomes Northeast Main Street. The building has been vacant for a couple of years after being the former home of Abundant Life Church of God.

According to Willz Tolbert, broker at Lee and Associates, the building won’t be vacant much longer though.

Tolbert confirmed that Jon and Chris Heard have purchased the building and plan on turning it into a self-storage facility called Simpsonville Self-Storage.

“They own several self-storages across the Upstate and one in Columbia,” Tolbert said.

The 82,380-square foot facility, which was originally a textile plant, is located on 9.29 acres of land. Tolbert says a tax credit from the South Carolina Textiles Revitalization Act is being pursued.

Tolbert said the $1,025,000 purchase was made because of an evident need of that type of facility in Simpsonville, especially on that side of town.

The building is centered between Interstate 385 and Highway 14. That end of Highway 14 saw the opening of a Walmart Neighborhood Market across the street from a Super Bi-Lo in January.

For the most part though, that area of Simpsonville is one of the few remaining that has not seen a great deal of commercial or residential development.

Tolbert hopes that same land the storage facility will be on can continue to help that part of town develop.

“We have about five acres of excess land that we’re about to put on the market,” Tolbert said. “We just think there’s a good bit of value on the commercial side there.

“We’re hoping for some kind of retail business like a restaurant or convenience store there because Walmart’s bringing a lot more attention to that area.”