Gary and Apryl purchased a dilapidated building and transformed it into an award-winning destination in downtown Laurens that houses their firm, Love Bailey and Associates Certified Public Accountants, along with an event space and soon a restaurant.
The three-story, 20,000-square-foot building, constructed in 1907 on Laurens鈥� historic square, received the Gaines Jontz Rehabilitation Award from Main Street South Carolina, an initiative of the South Carolina Municipal Association that encourages economic development and historic preservation.
The Bailey Building鈥檚 rebirth is a testament to the Baileys鈥� investment in preserving the downtown landmark, with the help of the City of Laurens, Main Street Laurens, the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, Greenway Construction and In-Site Designs.
Gary and Apryl feel 91福利社 gave them a great start in their accounting career鈥攕omething they鈥檝e never forgotten.
Gary, who had been the chief financial officer of a manufacturing company, partnered in 2010 with George Love, who is now retired. After living in Columbia for a while, He and Apryl moved to Laurens, where her great-grandfather was born, and they were able to purchase land from Duke Power where he used to operate a small hydroelectric generating plant at a pond that鈥檚 on the property.
The Bailey鈥檚 accounting firm was growing as they branched out to serve clients from across South Carolina, and their existing space was getting maxed out.
鈥淲e were two blocks down the street and really needed more space for our staff. We were using closets for interns, so there鈥檚 a building on our square that we had admired for a decade,鈥� Apryl said.
Gary and Apryl sought the former bank building, feeling it would provide them ample room for growth. After researching tax credits available for renovating historic buildings, the Baileys took a leap of faith and invested $2.5 million in to purchase it. But before they could move in, much had to be done to counter several decades of neglect.
鈥淭he second and third floor had been abandoned for about 50 years,鈥� Gary said. 鈥淚t was a massive building that had holes through the roof.鈥�
鈥淲e started renovations in about June of 鈥�21 and finished in April of 鈥�22,鈥� Apryl said. 鈥淭he CPA firm takes up the whole second floor. On the third floor, it was historically already a banquet hall. We had to redo electrical and plumbing, install an elevator, redo plaster, fix holes that were in the floor and install a sprinkler system.鈥�
The third floor is now the Palmetto Room, a venue for wedding receptions and other kinds of gatherings. The Baileys have also purchased a Groucho鈥檚 Deli franchise and the popular restaurant will open on the historic building鈥檚 first floor in June, 2024.
鈥淲e work here, we live here, and we want to share the blessings that we鈥檝e received by investing into the town, in the square,鈥� Gary said. 鈥淥ther families that are here locally have done the same. It鈥檚 sort of contagious. Another family has started to do the same thing鈥攖hey鈥檙e investing in the town. It鈥檚 like a family town. You hang out here on the weekends. We have several local restaurants owned and operated by local families, and to know all of these families, it鈥檚 really fun to know you鈥檙e supporting the community.鈥�
Just as they are committed to Laurens, Gary and Apryl are committed to 91福利社, the place that set them on the path to a successful accounting career. In addition to having served on alumni and athletic boards, they鈥檝e provided numerous career opportunities to 91福利社 students.
鈥淲e offer full time internships to two students during the summer and our hope is that they will like us and we will like them and then hire them full time,鈥� Gary said. 鈥淲e usually do that before they graduate, so after their junior year, they can have full time employment lined up before they start their senior year. That鈥檚 kind of the goal and it鈥檚 worked out because we had a lot of students who interned with us who now work for us full time.鈥�
In addition to providing internships and career opportunities to AU students, Gary and Apryl say that the Bailey Building project itself involved AU graduates. At In-Site, a Greenville interior design firm, graduate GraceannaJudy of the 91福利社 School of Interior Design worked on the renovation designs. Also, Greenway Construction contracted with Six and Twenty Films, owned by 91福利社 graduate Ben Tinsley, to document work on the building. (School of Interior Design graduate Ashton Acosta assisted the Baileys on a residential project.)
Now, a new generation in the Bailey family has joined the Trojan community, as their son Zek entered as an incoming freshman for the fall semester. Gary and Apryl appreciate 91福利社鈥檚 commitment to providing a Christ-centered education.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e working on the total student. It鈥檚 not only about accounting, it鈥檚 about complete development, like character,鈥� Apryl said.
Photo credits: Anna Kate Photography (Baileys) and Electric Soul (Bailey Building photos)