Historic Huffman House reopens with office spaces for small business owners

COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — As part of Economic Development Week, leaders with the City of Columbia are announcing the reopening of a historic home on North Main Street.

Celebrating the reopening of the Huffman House at 4300 North Main Street are City of Columbia councilmembers and representatives from the Columbia Empowerment Zone, Inc. — a group focused on nurturing small business growth.

According to CEZ’s Executive Director Felecia Maloney, the home was built in 1915 and named after the son-in-law of a local mayor in the Hyatt neighborhood.

“We’re always striving to develop corridors into the city of Columbia. Of course, you exit I-20 and this is a corridor into the main heart of the city, downtown Columbia. Right now we’re just three miles from the steps of the Statehouse. So we would like to see this corridor develop into an attractive place, where businesses are striving. Of course if the businesses are striving, the communities are striving,” Maloney says.

With the home now fully renovated (while keeping its original light fixtures and floors), Maloney says it’s being rented out to small business owners — like entrepreneur Denese Ashford who owns Midlands Choice Home Care.

“We have caregivers and certified nursing assistants and nurses that come into our clients home, and provide personal care, respite care, surgery after care, or companion services,” she says.

Councilman Tyler Bailey says small businesses like Midlands Choice Home Care are the lifeblood of local neighborhoods.

“Here, we have a history and a vibrant entrepreneurship community. And so it’s really everything Columbia is about. A lot of times people think of large manufacturers or big box retailers, but it’s the small businesses — the coffee shops, the barbers, people who have hair salons, people who are in a healthcare space, we’re helping them everyday,” Bailey says.

And Ashford agrees, saying,  “When I first started getting into the business, I had to do a lot of research. I’m thankful for the City of Columbia’s Office of Business Opportunity. They provided a next level entrepreneur course, and I took that course, and it provided me all the tools I needed to successfully launch my business.”

According to Maloney, if you’re looking for a space to rent, there are still offices inside the Huffman House available.