Guyton’s busy intersection of Highways 17 and 119 is getting more attention — and more business.
The Effingham County Chamber of Commerce helped welcome four businesses to a new location Thursday morning as Reiser and Reiser CPA,
Burns Allen Insurance Partners, Kerns Construction and Carellas and Newberry attorneys at law opened new offices in the historic Armstrong-Morgan House along Guyton’s Central Avenue.
“We’re growing, a little by little,” said Guyton city alderman Ulysses Eaton, who works with Kerns Construction and will occupy one of the offices.
“I can walk from my house to work every day. The small town feel is so awesome.”
Eaton also pointed out that across the street, the IGA has re-opened under the successful and popular Ken’s IGA umbrella. A new Subway shop is under construction next door to the Armstrong-Morgan House, and another office complex is under way behind it.
Marshall Reiser of Reiser and Reiser was looking to move from his office of about 1,200 square feet. He bought the Armstrong-Morgan House, which is about 4,500 square feet. The house dates back to 1883.
“We’re excited to move into a piece of Guyton history and excited to bring additional professionals to Guyton,” Reiser said. “We love the old house and look forward to being here for many years.”
Reiser had work done on the house for about two months and there’s still some work, mainly to the exterior, to be done. The 127-year-old home was structurally intact when he purchased it, he said.
Like Eaton, Reiser too pointed to the rise in commercial activity in Guyton.
“We think we’re contributing to the excitement that’s going on in Guyton,” he said. “We love Guyton. It’s a special place.”
Reiser and Reiser will occupy the bottom floor, and there is a large conference room downstairs available to all the building’s tenants. There’s another conference room upstairs and additional space in the back of the house that can be used, if needed.
Burns and Allen, who have an office in Rincon, are opening a second location in Guyton in addition to their original office.
Troy Allen said there is not an established insurance broker in Guyton, which led he and Brooke Burns to consider the expansion.
“We like Guyton. We like the town,” he said. “We wanted a presence. Marshall called and said he is purchasing the building, and we can work hand-in-hand. Guyton’s a great town. We’re both excited about being here.”
Eaton noted that he grew up in an old house and lives in an old house, so it’s at home in the new location. He also called the Armstrong-Morgan House “entrepreneur’s row” with the new businesses moving in.
Those aren’t the only new businesses in town, either, Eaton said. Five new businesses have opened in the last month and an artist’s studio will open soon.
“We’re small and quiet,” he said, “but we’ve got a lot going on.”
