This SC home shown on ‘House Hunters’ masks an elegance seen in 1930s Shanghai. Take a look
From Griffin Mill Court the house looks like any other two story traditional-style brick home in most any upscale Spartanburg neighborhood.
But step through those double front doors and you’ve entered something quite different.
Asian elegance.
Huge entryway, a living room open to the rafters, sweeping staircase like you’d see in a fancy hotel, mezzanine walkway on the second floor to the upstairs bedroom. The living room is just under 1,000 square feet.
“There isn’t anything like it in Spartanburg,” said listing agent Sijia Hughes of Sotheby’s.
Hughes said it reminds her of Shanghai in the 1930s and 1940s, known then as the Paris of the East.
The house was one of three in a recent “House Hunters” episode featuring Spartanburg caterer Ashley Wingo and her husband Marcus, who works in technology at Milliken.
She loved it. Definitely had the wow factor she was looking for.
He was not enthused. The steps were imposing and the price? Not even close to his upper limit of $400,000. Asking price? $554,000. He did like the small house in the backyard as a playhouse for their 5-year-old daughter.
They didn’t pick it.
But since the show aired in mid-June, there’s been an uptick in interest, even though it’s not officially on the market. Hughes said it will be relisted next week.
They had to pull the listing last December because the driveway was actually on the lot next door. They’ve cleared that up.
The house at 348 Griffin Mill Court is owned by Wenzhen Wu, a retailer who inherited the property when her husband, Cheung Tung Lam, died in February 2022.
Lam owned Asian Fusion restaurants in Spartanburg, after moving from New Jersey, Hughes said. He is originally from Thailand and lived for a time in China.
Many of the items in the house were brought over by Lam, she said.
There is a gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, a breakfast room and a large laundry room.
The primary suite is on the main level with hardwood floors and comer windows overlooking a landscaped backyard. It has two sinks, granite counter tops, jetted garden tub and large shower with a massive walk-in closet and custom shelving.
Another room on the main level could be an office, gym or guest bedroom. Upstairs are four bedrooms with two Jack and Jill bathrooms.
That is just over 3,000 square feet.
But there’s more. The basement is also 3,000 square feet and could easily be finished into additional living space.
Kalisha Bruster, Ashley Wingo’s aunt and Realtor who showed the properties on “House Hunters,” said she has an appointment to show the house Saturday to an Atlanta couple.
Hughes said Wu is selling to get a smaller house and may be leaving the area.
“It’s not your everyday home. You really need to have a heart for it,” she said.
