After a five month break, the Greenville Board of Zoning Appeals reconvened Oct. 10 to hear the following special exception applications. Here’s a recap of the meeting:
Approved: Rey’s expansion on Main Street
This application was brought before the board to review a special exception permit for the operation of a bar or restaurant after midnight. The bar, Rey’s, is located at 20 N. Main St. The business first opened at the ground level in 2009 and has since been operating after midnight. This application pertains to the second floor, where the restaurant intends to expand. Formerly, the upstairs space was home to The Cigar Experience.
No one spoke in favor or against the application. The board approved the application.
This is the second matter brought before the board by Jessica Kearns in recent months. Kearns brought another application for special exception regarding the former lounge space at 245 N. Main St. in downtown Greenville. That application was approved in May after a deferral in March 2024.
Approved: AC Hotel live music exception
DJ Rama, doing business as a Seratonic Venue Lounge Live Music, brought an application to the board regarding a special exception to operate a general indoor entertainment and recreation space up to 6,000 feet after midnight.
The space will serve as an indoor music venue at AC Hotel in the Camperdown Plaza. Throughout the agenda package and at the meeting, it was reiterated that the new venue will not serve as a nightclub, despite operating after midnight with live music.
There was some back and forth regarding how the space will be defined, AC Hotel general manager John Deck explained the plan.
“I know the word ‘nightclub’ is kind of dirty,” Deck said. “But honestly – no intention to be a nightclub. Seratonic is meant to be an intimate, sophisticated venue for almost 200 or less people, for the music venue.”
Deck said that roughly 80% of the venue will be used by the hotel for corporate events or weddings with 20% of the space – when not utilized by the hotel – acting as a music venue so the space doesn’t sit empty.
The board approved the special exception permit. The upcoming Seratonic will be located along South Main Street between Paloma and The Cocktail Company.
