Pageland looking to Hollywood to boost downtown

PAGELAND, S.C. — Downtown Pageland is dressed up for Christmas. Colorful wreaths adorn shop doors, lights flash and pine green decorations twist around street lights. But struggling businesses here are hoping for more than holiday cheer.

"Since I’ve been in business, dozens of places have closed," said longtime resident Lavonna Rivers

A long-shuttered hotel sits at the edge of downtown, and a historic home burned last month. The shops along McGregor Street are fighting to keep their customers.

"I think we need that inviting look," said Tim Griffin, head of the Chamber of Commerce here. Griffin has a vision for what Pageland could be but knows there must be a spark first to get there.

"I told the town council that downtown is dying," Griffin said. "This could give us a shot in the arm."

What he's talking about is an appearance on a reality TV show that's looking to give an economic boost to small towns, just like Pageland, with lots of money for renovations.

"Half a million dollars, revitalize your downtown. I think that's for us," Griffin said.

So, the town applied to be on a show streamed on Hulu called "Small Business Revolution Main Street." The winning town gets $500,000 to fix up six downtown businesses.

Out of 12,000 applicants to the show, Pageland made the cut for the top 20. Then just this week, the top 10.

Walk down McGregor Street or Pearl Street and you'll see signs in most of the windows promoting #pickpageland, the town's campaign to not only make the finals of the show but win.

Rebecca Seegars has owned a hair salon downtown for more than 30 years. She's seen some lean times but couldn't leave.

"We don't get business down here like we used to, but I wanted to stay," Seegars said. "I think we're going all the way," she said about Pageland landing in the top 10 on the Hulu show.

Elizabeth Smith opened her embroidery shop seven years ago. She said everyone is excited about the #pickpageland campaign and what it could mean. There was a celebration when the town watched a Facebook live event revealing Pageland had cracked the top 10.

"I really didn't have any words. I just screamed," Smith said. "We're just a teeny tiny little place, about four blocks by four blocks."

They're competing with large towns with more to offer, but not more heart, Griffin said.

"There was joy! You could hear it from one end to the other," he said, when the announcement was made.

In a town of less than 2,500 people, known for its watermelon festival, it's kind of a big deal.

"If everybody can get on that same page, we can do so much more for this small town," Rivers said.

The production crew for the show will be in Pageland in late January to begin shooting. The town is hoping to make a big splash, and land in the top five. If that happens, then America will get to vote on the winner.

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