Wedding & Event Venue Near Gaffney, SC.

GAFFNEY, S.C. —

More than 250 jobs are coming to the Upstate thanks to a new bakery, officials said Wednesday.

State officials announced that Gaffney Bakery, LLC and its partners plan to establish operations in Cherokee County.

The company’s $96 million investment will create more than 260 new jobs, officials said.

“Gaffney Bakery, LLC recognizes that South Carolina is the key ingredient for success," Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Harvey S. Peeler Jr. said. "Our greatest asset – our people – is what makes that ingredient so strong."

Gaffney Bakery, LLC plans to purchase an existing state-of-the-art bakery facility located at 131 Corporate Drive in Gaffney that once housed ACE Bakery operations until it closed late last year.

Here is a look at the inside of the bakery facility when ACE opened in 2013.

The company will make significant renovations and improvements to assist in manufacturing frozen bakery products, officials said.

Operations are expected to be online by mid-2024.

More news (story will continue after links.)

Anyone interested in applying for a job at the new bakery should visit readySC in late 2023 and early 2024 for job postings, officials said.

Company officials look forward to opening this facility and partnering with South Carolina and Cherokee County.

Old Europe transports South Carolina customers with sweet tooth to traditional cafe

"This is a testament to the strength of our workforce, our business-friendly environment and our strategic location," Cherokee County Council Chairman Tim Spencer said. "We look forward to supporting their growth and success in our community."

The Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to this project. The council also awarded a $2.5 million Rural Infrastructure Fund grant to Cherokee County to assist with the costs of building improvements.

The largest ever capital investment in upstate South Carolina's Cherokee County will begin late this spring when Chicago-based Glenstar Properties will start building the $415 million Cherokee Commerce Center 85 (CCC 85) in the town of Gaffney.

From start to finish, the warehouse's construction is slated to wrap up in about one year, noted the American Journal of Transportation (AJOT), a national publication.

The 550,520-sq.-ft. spec-to-suit warehouse, known as Building 2, will be built so that it can be expanded to 1.3 million sq. ft., if needed.

It is only one of five buildings planned by Glenstar and its partner, Creek Lane Capital, for the 290-acre warehouse park that will encompass 3.6 million-sq.-ft. at the intersection of S.C. Highway 105/Hyatt Street and the Interstate 85 corridor. It is an area of rapid growth between Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C., to the southwest, and Charlotte, N.C., to the northeast.

Glenstar, known for two decades as a national office and multifamily developer, is expanding its recent focus in industrial development with the Gaffney project. The news of CCC 85 follows the firm's 2022 debut in the southeast U.S. industrial sector with the groundbreaking of Tri-County 75, a new 72-acre, four-building industrial park in Fort Myers, Fla., totaling 818,000 sq. ft.

Last year, Glenstar also made the strategic hire of 30-year industrial veteran Brian Netzky as its principal. He joins company co-founder Michel Klein in leading the firm's new industrial initiatives, which are primarily focused on the Sunbelt region, and specifically the Southeast's booming I-85 corridor.

CCC 85 to Offer Massive Product Storage Space

All the warehouses at CCC 85 are being built on a speculative basis with pre-leasing now under way.

Building 2 will have a cross-dock orientation, 40-ft. clear heights, up to 232 dock doors, four drive-in doors, and parking for 452 trailers and 540 cars.

The next to break ground will be Building 4, which will include a rear-load orientation, 36-ft. clear heights, 56 dock doors, two drive-in doors, and parking for 132 trailers and 324 cars.

"Due to CCC 85's massive scope and ideal location, tenants can choose from a range of mid- to bulk-size, and best-in-class industrial space adjacent to the I-85 corridor, one of the most critical supply chain links in the Southeast," said Netzky. "The ample space also allows for flexibility to accommodate up to 1.7 million sq. ft. under one roof."

CCC 85 will be located 33 mi. from the BMW Group Plant in Spartanburg, 38 mi. from Inland Port Greer and 50 mi. southwest of Charlotte. From CCC 85, tenants can reach 100 million consumers within a one-day drive, noted AJOT. Tenants and owner/occupiers also will have access to Tier-3 incentives to further maximize their return on investment.

The Conlan Company, a Texas-based firm with an office in Marietta, Ga., will serve as the project's general contractor; South Carolina's SeamonWhiteside will provide civil engineering services.

In addition, Ware Malcomb, a nationally known architecture firm in Irvine, Calif., was selected to design CCC 85.

The industrial space will be leased by Charlotte-based Colliers, recognized as one of the nation's top commercial real estate companies.

"Despite headwinds and talk of cooling in some markets, we see only room to run for industrial, particularly in the Southeast, which has record-low occupancy combined with tremendous population growth that's creating even more demand," said Glenstar's Klein. "We anticipate significant pre-leasing on our ground-up, big box, institutional-quality industrial facilities, which enables us to modify the spec space to suit tenant needs in real-time."

GAFFNEY, S.C. —

More than 200 Upstate workers were informed on Monday they will soon be out of a job.

The Timken Company notified about 225 people who work at its bearings facility in Gaffney that the plant will be closing and gradually winding down operations by the end of the year, according to Scott Schroeder, the company's media relations director.

The plant, which makes roller bearings, is located on Timken Road, off Morgan Drive, near Old Georgia Highway.

"It’s just a sad day in Gaffney and Cherokee County," Cherokee County Development Board's Executive Director Jim Cook said. "Timken has been here for 50 years. “They were the first major non-textile industry to come to our county and Gaffney, I think, in the late 70s, and they’ve just really put us on the map. They diversified our economy. They’ve changed so many lives in our county. It’s like losing just a good friend.”

Cook says the numbers had been dwindling, so the announcement wasn't a shock. However, he said the county as a whole had more major business and economic development announcements in the last year than it has had in the last 10 to 15 years.

“We had our best year ever with job announcements and capital investment," Cook said. "Numbers are still yet to be released, but we had a really good year. At the same time, there were several industries though that were struggling, and we’re just keeping our eye on it. We’re doing the best we can. We’re trying to help those people who are being displaced by Timken closing.”

Cook says they've welcomed several other major companies to the county over the years, like DHL, Dollar Tree and Milliken.

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He says they're working to bring more companies into the county.

“Right now, we’re working several projects, so with the widening of 85 in Cherokee County and our growth in the Upstate, business all along the Upstate, we’re going to help the people at Timken, but we’re going to get somebody back in that building,” Cook said.

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"While difficult, we’re making this change to streamline our operations and restructure our manufacturing footprint to better compete in a global market," Schroeder said.

He said the company is helping affected employees by offering support, benefits planning and retention and severance pay. He said they are also giving them the opportunity to apply for open positions at other Timken locations.

"We wanted to be transparent and provide as much time as possible so associates can plan for their future," Schroeder said. "We’re committed to providing at least 60 days' notice prior to an associate’s last day," he said.

Have you visited the awesome indoor entertainment complex, The Big E, in Gaffney, SC? We sent Local mom Rebecca Parrish for a fun day with her family! She shares what her family loves about The Big E in Gaffney, SC and all of the activities you will find there.

What You’ll Find at The Big E: Gaffney, SC

Our family took a quick 45 minute road trip north on I-85 to exit 90 to visit Gaffney, South Carolina. Nestled next to the Gaffney Outlet Marketplace (A Simon Center), locally known as the “yellow mall”, The Big E in Gaffney, SC is an entertainment center promising fun for every age. It is a great place to spend the day and enjoy new experiences with your child, or a spot for birthday party joy.

The Big E Gaffney features eight (8) movie theatres screening wide-release new blockbuster movies. They strictly enforce rating policies for ticketing. The theater is comfortable and has a high quality sound system, digital projection, and stadium style seating. You can purchase tickets ahead of time through The Big E online theatre portal, where you will find showtimes, movie ratings, and run times for each moving showing. Ticket prices run from $$8.25 – $10.25, which is slightly more affordable than some other movie theatre chains.

The Big E also has a large bowling alley with 16 lanes where they feature open bowling ($5 per person plus $3.00 per person for shoes) and cosmic bowling ($6 per person) on weekends. You can choose to rent a lane by game or by the hour. Big E has mixed and youth leagues, and they participate in the Kids Bowl Free program in the spring and summer.

The bowling area also has flat-screen TVs and an area for food and beverages. The concessions include a variety of snacks and fries, pizza, wings, and “plates” like chicken tenders and hot dogs/corn dogs.

Younger children will love the indoor playland which involves climbing up levels, over rope bridges, on swings, and down slides. They even have a Ballocity Blast Center, where hundreds of foam balls are propelled out of mini air cannons. The playland is padded, which is always a plus. Parents are welcome to hang out in the cafe area located nearby while their children play. The cost is $7 per child for an unlimited day pass. Be sure to bring socks, but they do have them for $3.00 in case you need to purchase a pair.

The playland shares space with the 60 game arcade area, which houses lots of arcade games (including old favorites like Skee Ball to high-tech games like a Star Wars simulator), and the bumper cars (my personal favorite). Don’t leave the Big E without taking a spin on these spinning, neon-round cars.

The best part about playing is the ease of it; the Big E Gaffney sells a “ Big E Fun Card” that parents can load with an amount of money. This card is used at each of the attractions and the arcade, so rather than keeping up with dollars and loose change, kids or adults just use the card. We found this so simple and a lesson for our child about making smart choices about what he wanted to try. They often run promotions for Fun Cards, which is a good way to get extra bang for your buck!

By far, our favorite part of our Big E adventure was Laser Tag. For $8 per person, you get an amazing, action-packed game lasting about 10-15 minutes. Individuals are suited up with high-tech vests that react with vibrations and sound, and laser guns (called phasers) that you reload as you play on the multi-level course with teammates. Black lights, glowing barriers, fog, and music add to the excitement; and spectators can watch the action on a screen outside the arena. At the end of the match, points are tallied and a winner is revealed. My son is still buzzing from his victory!

Outside, the complex includes an adventure mini golf course and a challenging zip line. The day we ventured out, it was too cold and windy to try these. However, the area looked fun for a future warm day when we have some funds for fun!

Host Your Birthday Party at The Big E: Gaffney, SC

Having a birthday party at The Big E would make a epic memory for you kids. You can have a Mini Golf Party, Playland Party, Movie Party, or a Bowling Party. You can even add on laser tag. Parties for up to 10 guests cost around $205. You’ll get access to one attraction, pizza, drinks, ice cream, and arcade cards. You’ll also get a party host to make everything go seamlessly.

Plan Your Trip to The Big E: Gaffney, South Carolina

The Big E Gaffney1100 Factory Shops Blvd.Gaffney, SC 29341864.489.1515Hours vary by day and by attraction.

Does a family outing to The Big E Gaffney sound perfect for your crew?

Rebecca Raulerson Parrish is a former English teacher turned non-profit administrator who currently works with Women Giving for Spartanburg and Five Twenty Consulting. She serves on the board of the Spartanburg Little Theatre and is proudly balancing books as Treasurer for the Jesse Boyd Elementary PTSO. A native of Lakeland, Florida, Rebecca loves living in Spartanburg, where she enjoys lots of adventures (and four seasons) with her husband, nine-year-old son, dog, bird and three pet chickens.

GAFFNEY, S.C. – More than 100 workers in Cherokee County can take a severance package or stay with their company as one distribution warehouse is closing up shop.

TTI Consumer Power Tools Incorporated has had a facility in Cherokee County since 2019.

“It’s a distribution warehouse, what they distribute there is the Hart brand, you’ll find in Walmart, the tools,” Ken Moon, the Executive Director for Cherokee County Development Board said.

The Moon said he was on the project that helped bring TTI to the county.

“We had a 500,000 square foot facility in the Meadow Creek industrial park in Gaffney and they took over that facility.”

After doubling the Meadow Creek facilities in size, Moon said TTI had run out of room.

“They were building a 1.8 million square foot facility down in Moore and they come to us and were looking for properties in Cherokee County and they couldn’t find one that suited them so they went to Moore to build that. This facility was getting more and more packed in and they needed to expand a little bit more.”

According to a SC Works WARN Report, the move will cost 114 jobs.

“When we receive a WARN notification it’s basically an advanced notice that the company lets us know that in the next 60 days at least, the company is going to have a significant layoff or closure. So, when we have that advanced notice we can reach out to the company and explain what services we can offer to their impacted workers,” Kimberly Burke, with the Department of Employment and Workforce said.

Local job recruiters say they can assist in situations like this one.

“With TTI closing there is probably going to be a lot more people on the search,” Kayla Davis with PROMAN Staffing Recruiter added. “I do formal interviews where I discuss what type of positions are open and we discuss interview tips.”

And when it comes to who is hiring in the county, Moon says there are more opportunities on the horizon.

“There is always a shining light, we have another industrial company that is getting ready to start hiring here that we announced last year and that’s Gaffney Bakery LLC. They make Motor City Pizzas and they are looking to hire 268 people and they pay fairly well.”

According to the WARN report the company is expected to close May first.

Moon told 7NEWS that TTI is offering its employees the option to either move to Moore or work at another facility in neighboring counties, if they opt out of either option workers are eligible for a severance package.

SC Works says they have a variety of resources to help workers find job opportunities.