Aiken Business Roundup: Big Red Barn gets new owners

Dede Biles, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·3 min read

Dec. 11—A popular event venue in the Aiken area is under new ownership.

Sean and Erin Douglas recently purchased the Big Red Barn from Jim Oremus and his wife, S.C. Rep. Melissa Oremus, R-Aiken.

Jim Oremus, who ran the business, described the sale of the Big Red Barn as "bittersweet" in a Facebook post.

During a telephone interview, he told the Aiken Standard that he was a hands-on owner who focused on providing the best customer service possible.

"I did it all myself," Jim Oremus said. "I did not have helpers. I cut the grass. I cleaned. I did the prep work for the parties and things like that.

"I just turned 57 years old," he continued, "and it just dawned on me that maybe I should start thinking about the future and that this business is for somebody younger. And these new owners are.

"That's really it in a nutshell," Jim Oremus concluded. "There is no deeper meaning to any of this. The business is doing just fine."

He declined to reveal the sale price.

As of Dec. 9, information about the transaction wasn't available in Aiken County land records.

The Big Red Barn is at 187 Chime Bell Church Road.

"We definitely want to make sure that people still have the same great experience that they had with Jim," said Erin Douglas. "We're looking to expand in the future a little bit by holding some events of our own. The care and attention that Jim put into the place, we want to continue that, and we'll also continue, hopefully, to build it into the No. 1 wedding, baby shower and birthday venue in Aiken."

The Douglases have lived in Aiken for four years.

In 2017, the Oremuses purchased the Big Red Barn property, in the name of Ashton Amusements LLC, for $300,000.

The sellers were Luc and Liz Godard.

Automotive transition

C&C Automotive recently opened in Aiken on the former site of Polk Tire and Auto at 536 East Pine Log Road.

The owners are Amanda Drake and Aaron Clements.

C&C Automotive offers vehicle repair services and oil changes.

In Aiken County, there is another C&C Automotive at 2355 Jefferson Davis Highway near Aiken Technical College and Langley Pond Park.

There also is a C&C Automotive in Columbia.

In Georgia, there are two C&C Automotive locations in Augusta and another in Martinez.

Clemkin Properties LLC purchased the Polk Tire and Auto property for $650,000 from Leighton Keith Polk in late October.

Terminix on Pine Log

The former location of the Atlantic Broadband office in Aiken is now the site of a Terminix pest control business.

In 2020, soon after the COVID-19 pandemic began causing problems in South Carolina, Atlantic Broadband stopped offering front counter service for its customers at 520 East Pine Log Road in March.

"It is possible that adjustments made due to COVID-19 may become permanent, even after the pandemic subsides," wrote Andy Walton, head of corporate communications for Atlantic Broadband, in an email to the Aiken Standard in the fall of 2020.

Counter service never resumed.

In May of this year, Terminix Service Inc. purchased the Atlantic Broadband office property for $650,000 from Cogeco US (SC) LLC.

Atlantic Broadband changed its name to Breezeline in January of this year.