An empty storefront on Greenville’s Main Street will soon get new life after the Planning Board unanimously approved a plan to convert a former convenience store into retail and office space.
Mother-and-son co-owners Jacki-Ann Roy and John Lang — who also own Johno’s Greenville Market on Main Street — plan to complete renovations by late spring. The project, dubbed “the Commons,” aims to create flexible commercial space downtown while restoring an aging building.
“It is a very homely building,” said Roy. “We’re hoping to make it much more attractive than it is right now.”
Plans call for reconfiguring the mostly open interior into six small retail or office suites, plus a shared conference room for rent.
“It’s designed for small businesses which maybe can’t afford an entire building, but could use a dedicated space,” said Roy. “I’ve talked to many people who are conducting their businesses out of their homes, garages, or a storage unit, who would love to have access to something like this.”
The Greenville Planning Board approved the application 4-0 on Thursday with two conditions: the developers must obtain routine departmental approvals from local emergency services, and they must maintain a parking agreement securing up to six spaces at Johno’s Market for Commons tenants if the market property is ever sold.
Renovations are slated to begin this fall. Planned upgrades include new siding, paint, a brick facade, and updated exterior windows.
Roy said they’re excited to get started. “We want to bring some liveliness downtown,” said Roy. She said some individual businesses and the town’s Beautification Committee have done their part to reinvest in the downtown, and this is the next step.
“We can only start with our own building,” said Roy. “Our plan is to reside, repaint, add a brick front, and get rid of the ugly windows. We’ll do what we can to make that area look a lot nicer. And hopefully, once people see what’s happening, it catches on.”