North Greenville University recently broke ground for the Eddie Runion Creative Arts Center and the Ole 414 Studio. The ceremony took place at the site, located at the corner of Highways 414 and 253. These are the first two buildings to officially launch the development of the Village at Tigerville.
From left: Kathy Runion; Jimmy Epting, NGU president; and Zelda Rosti at the groundbreaking ceremony.The Eddie Runion Creative Arts Center will be housed in the historical J.H. Roe & Co. building constructed in the early 1900s. It will be renovated in memory of former Greer businessman Eddie Runion by his wife Kathy and family. It will house a Carolina First Bank branch, Einstein Bros. Bagels and Coffee Shop, and the North Greenville University Creative Arts Department, a division of the College of Fine Arts.
The Ole 414 Studio will be built adjacent to the Runion Building and will house the school’s ceramic and sculpture arts program. It is being built in honor of Zelda Rosti of Greenville, and in memory of her husband, Earl Rosti. The facility will also be used as a retail store for the public to purchase original pieces of art.
The buildings will cost approximately $1 million to complete and will serve both NGU and the community with retail and educational facilities. Cunningham-Waters Construction Co. of Greer is the builder and will begin work soon.