ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – A Winthrop University marketing class helped shape a new development project near its campus last fall as developers work to renovate the former Coca-Cola bottling plant and build another structure.
Warren Norman Company officials knew they needed a great name to effectively brand and market the project. To accomplish this, the development team leaned on Jane Thomas and Stephanie Lawson, professors in the College of Business Administration, and their students. It soon became a semester-long project as a few of the higher-level classes researched and gathered feedback from the Rock Hill community.
The students presented many ideas and branding strategies in November, and the name ‘The Perch’ was chosen. The Norman company also will use the color scheme and logo suggestions, in addition to advice that the site should offer meals and activities for all age groups, particularly for families, college-age students and young professionals.
“We are honored that The Warren Norman Company provided our students this opportunity and appreciate their enthusiasm for engaging with and supporting the College of Business Administration,” said Thomas, who teaches marketing. “Although parts of the project were challenging, students worked hard and pushed through knowing that this was not another ‘class project.’ Students understood that this project provided them the opportunity to create a lasting mark on Winthrop and the Rock Hill community.”
The groundbreaking has now taken place for The Perch, located on the corner of Cherry Road and Oakland Avenue. It will consist of a new 22,000+ square foot, two-story building that will be a mixture of restaurant, retail, and office users with space currently available for lease.
Next to it is the existing 5,300+ square foot former Coca-Cola bottling plant. The Norman Company plans an announcement soon about its occupants. The development project will also feature an artificial turf outdoor games area with traditional lawn games and the ability to host live music and other exciting events.
Rock Hill Coca-Cola Bottling Company began operations in downtown Rock Hill in 1906 and moved to the Cherry Road Avenue site in 1941. When the company moved to its new building on Mauldin Drive in 2002, Winthrop bought the brick building and used it for storage and other uses. The Winthrop Board of Trustees authorized the sale of the building to the Norman Company in January 2020. Earlier the company had purchased the corner lot on Oakland and Cherry Road that was most recently a Citgo service station and a nearby building.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu or by calling 803/984-0586.
