Spartanburg development: Downtown boutique opens; townhomes update

Handmade handbags, totes, shoes and jewelry are now available in downtown Spartanburg.

But downtown isn't the only area seeing growth as developers and businesses continue to eye west-side properties.

Last month, local designer Dewi Mayasari opened her first brick-and-mortar store on St. John Street, where purses and more are made in-store.

This month, the Spartanburg City Council and City Planning Commission approved zoning changes to further two developments on the west side, including the proposed 33-townhouse development.

Here is more on three developments you'll want to check out in the city:

Designer Dewi Mayasari opened her first brick-and-mortar boutique, Dewi Maya, in July. The downtown business held its grand opening on July 13.

Dewi Maya offers a variety of handbag designs in neutral and vibrant colors. Her designs range from $25 to $420.

Her most popular bag is the Rowi, a vegan leather tote bag with matching crossbody bag insert. It comes in black, blue, brown, and red and cost $70.

“Why I think it’s really popular is because it is really functional,” Mayasari said. “Like sometimes I want to have a tote bag with me, but sometimes I just want to carry the long strap. That’s why I made it.”

Other designs include the Arliana Belt Crossbody Handbag ($60), a mini purse that can be carried or worn as a belt bag, and the Arumi Tote Bag is ($75), and has 11 exterior pockets. The Liliana wristlet sells for ($45) and comes in three vibrant colors.

Recently, Mayasari added jewelry to her repertoire and has a variety of earrings and bracelets for sale. Her next handmade venture, she says, is shoes.

Dewi Maya also offers handmade children’s accessories, including bows and plush toys. Her soaps are created especially for the boutique, and the women’s clothing comes from brands she’s partnered with.

Mayasari is currently working on her first line of original dress designs, which will be manufactured in Indonesia.

Dewi Maya is open Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Spartanburg City Council approved the rezoning for El Dorado Townes, a planned townhouse development off W.O. Ezell Boulevard, on Aug. 14. The 33 townhouses will be on Barritt Avenue behind Texas Roadhouse.

City Council held a public hearing and no one spoke for or against the project.

The 3-bedroom townhomes will be owner-occupied and with prices starting around $200K.

Spartanburg City Planning Commission approved the rezoning of 249 E. Blackstock Road on Aug. 17. The site is under consideration for the relocation of the Enterprise Rent-A-Car currently at 238 E. Blackstock Road.

The site is currently zoned LOD (Limited Office District). If City Council approves, the property will be re-zoned as B-1 (Neighborhood Shopping District) to use it as a car rental facility. The new building and lot would allow the business more space.

Samantha Swann covers city news, development and culture in Spartanburg. She is a University of South Carolina Upstate and Greenville Technical College alumna. Contact her [email protected] or on Instagram at @sam_on_spartanburg.