Main St. in Greenville, SC, a small city in the Southeast, in the mid to late 1980s, looked and felt very different from today’s Main Street. Downtown at that time was very quiet, a little rough around the edges, dotted with shuttered storefronts and struggling to find its identity. It was just the beginning of the revitalization of Greenville’s downtown. As an entrepreneur and owner of a small custom jewelry store, llyn strong fine art jewelry, llyn witnessed an incredible transformation over the decades. Brick by brick, Greenville rebuilt itself into the vibrant, walkable, and welcoming community we know today. As a small business owner who’s been part of that journey, she saw firsthand how the city’s evolution-from a sleepy southern town to a thriving cosmopolitan destination- has shaped not only the heart of downtown but also the spirit of entrepreneurship that keeps it alive.
llyn strong fine art jewelry is located in Greenville, SC, and specializes in creating custom-made fine art jewelry. Browse our online inventory of fine art jewelry. Contact us today at 864-233-5900 or visit our storefront at 1322 E Washington St Suite C1, Greenville, SC 29607. Let us help you reimagine, re-think and re-invent your jewelry collection!
Greenville in the 1980s
1 – 4 lanes were reduced to two lanes on Main Street, slowing traffic and creating a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere.
2 – The addition of wider sidewalks, trees, benches, and lighting created a safer and more inviting atmosphere, encouraging foot traffic and attracting street-level business growth.
3 – The Hyatt Regency opened in 1982, bringing new visitors downtown, increasing tourism, and giving businesses a reason to invest in downtown Greenville.
4 – llyn strong – llyn’s studio moved from her basement home to South Main St. in 1986 (which is now where Hall’s Chophouse is located). llyn worked by appointment, creating jewelry for individuals and creating an inventory of handmade jewelry to show and sell at shows (American Craft Council Shows, Jewelers of America Shows) across the country.
5 – “Avant Gold Gallery” – llyn strong designer – opened on North Main Street in 1989, across from the Hyatt Regency. Jersey Mike’s now occupies that space. This was llyn’s first attempt at retail, featuring her jewelry creations and custom jewelry, also while representing other nationally known jewelry designers, glass and metal artists, as well as works by many other talented 2 and 3 dimensional artists.
Greenville’s Momentum in the 1990s
1 – The opening of “The Peace Center” in 1990. It has become a cultural anchor for downtown Greenville, bringing national and international performances-from Broadway shows to symphonies-to the heart of Main Street.
2 – In 1992, llyn strong purchased the old “Virginia Dare” building at 119 N. Main St. and moved her retail store to this location, where it remained until January of 2020. She also renamed the once Avant Gold Gallery to llyn strong fine art jewelry. Growing into this much larger retail space, llyn still created custom jewelry for clients, and carried and sold many forms of curated fine jewelry, glass and art.
3 – The 1990s in Greenville saw the rise of downtown festivals, art shows, and outdoor events as well as the beginning of residential and mixed-use development.
4 – The beginning of the clean-up of the Reedy River Revitalization also gained momentum during the 90s, and a vision for a green walkable space reconnecting downtown with its natural beauty began to take shape.
2000s in Greenville, SC
1 – In October of 2000, the Westin Poinsett Hotel reopened after being derelict since the mid-1980s. Previously known as the “Poinsett Hotel” which opened in1925, it was an iconic landmark hotel in the Southeast. This re-opening served as a pivotal moment in downtown Greenville’s broader revitalization by showing how historic preservation could be paired with modern hospitality- a beacon of the city’s resurgence.
2 – 2004 was the opening of Falls Park on the Reedy and was undoubtedly the biggest game changer for downtown Greenville. Most notably, Liberty Bridge, a stunning curved pedestrian suspension bridge, opened as the park’s centerpiece. It provided a breathtaking view of Reedy River Falls- and became a symbol of the city’s rebirth. Falls Park immediately drew locals and tourists alike, boosting foot traffic to businesses on the southern end of Main Street and inspiring further development.
3 – 2005 brought many changes to llyn strong fine art jewelry and llyn herself. After a lot of heartache and through a labor of love, llyn and her soon-to-become husband, Brad Pine, renovated the second and third floor over her retail store as their residence. They retained much of the historic beauty of the building (built in 1901) and moved in 3 months after their wedding. They even created a wonderful space for llyn’s beloved mother, Alice Sargent, and they enjoyed living together until her death in 2008. llyn and Brad remained living over the store until the end of 2013. The retail store was only closed for 1 week during the entire renovation.
Greenville Today
As someone who has had the privilege of owning a small custom jewelry business on Main Street in Greenville, SC for decades, llyn strong has witnessed first-hand the incredible changes that began in the 1980s-changes that reshaped not just the look of downtown Greenville, but it’s very spirit. When Greenville seemed ready to take a leap of faith, llyn was ready as well. In a bold move, Greenville narrowed Main Street from four lanes to two, widened the sidewalks, planted trees, and added benches and lighting. That single decision set the stage for everything that followed: people began walking, businesses returned, and Greenville slowly started to breathe again.
llyn strong fine art jewelry has grown and evolved along with the city. In January of 2020, llyn decided to move her business from Main Street to its current location at 1322 E. Washington St., Greenville, SC.
We are still creating beautiful custom jewelry that is nationally and internationally known for its uniqueness, creativity, and superior quality. Sydney Strong, llyn’s daughter, is now the current owner and chief designer at llyn strong fine art jewelry, and even though we are not on Main Street, we still consider ourselves part of downtown, and we will always feel that we are part of our American “Main St.” way of life.
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