CAMDEN, S.C. — After years of anticipation, the vision of a boutique hotel in downtown Camden is finally taking shape, bringing excitement to the community and promising a significant economic boost.
"Incredible. My thoughts are just I can’t believe this is actually happening. It’s something we have needed," said Kayci Brazell, owner of Blue Skies & Sunshine.
"I think it will be great. It will bring a lot of foot traffic, a lot of people who might not normally be walking around downtown. I think it will give people another option for a great place to stay downtown for big events," said Becky Rodgers with Camden Jewelers.
At a recent Camden City Council meeting, plans for the boutique hotel were unveiled by Kershaw Hospitality LLC to be four floors and 50 rooms. The hotel will be located at the historic Camden clock tower and will have a restaurant. The Haigler Hotel will be named after a noble Catawba Chief who was a friend to Camden’s pioneers.
"It’s a big deal for downtown. It will inject a lot of economic activity and bring a lot of people downtown, the additional restaurant will bring people downtown," says Shawn Putnam, Director of Planning and Development in Camden.
“The developer right now is putting together the construction plans for the hotel, they're going to reconfigure the building from inside from 2 floors to three floors and add a partial 4th floor, to the building,” Putnam says.
"I want to keep the small-town feel with an uptown vibe where you can get it all but you still have your friends around," Brazell added.
The hotel is expected to be complete by 2026.