Main Street South Carolina has recognized Jay Davis of Sumter with the Main Street South Carolina Master Merchant Award.
The award recognizes excellence in the retail field and is awarded to a merchant who is innovative and committed to downtown revitalization and exemplifies creativity and success in merchandising, inventory, display and value-added retailing and services.
The owner of Coldwell Banker Commercial Cornerstone Realty, Jay Davis has been recruiting businesses to downtown Sumter and renovating storefronts since 2008.
He has helped bring in businesses to several properties he owns throughout the downtown, including a fine men’s clothing store, brought in from Charleston, as well as a high-end women’s clothing boutique, and interior design firm and a fitness center. He has used his real estate expertise to help draw in businesses to locations beyond his properties as well, including a gift shop, an architectural and engineering firm, a barber shop, another real estate agency and a brewery.
Davis also participates in Downtown Sumter promotions, like the Sip and Stroll event which benefits Sumter Senior Services. He has made himself a major player in the revitalization of a downtown district that is increasingly stocked with small businesses.
“Jay is the perfect example of a downtown champion who not only owns a business, but also supports and recruits new businesses as well. He is a tireless advocate for Sumter’s downtown, and he shows how much can be achieved by dedicated business owners,” said Jenny Boulware, Main Street SC manager.
Main Street SC is a program of the Municipal Association of South Carolina. It empowers residents, business owners and local officials with the knowledge, skills, tools and organizational structure necessary to revitalize their downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts into vibrant centers of commerce and community.
Main Street SC follows the National Main Street’s Four Point Approach — economic vitality, design, promotion and organization. Each year, Main Street South Carolina recognizes members’ achievements and successes in downtown revitalization. For more information, visit the Municipal Association’s website at www.masc.sc (keyword: Main Street).
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