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More than a year later, the Cuppias have opened the Greyhound Flats -- a two-suite hotel that pays homage to the site's history in a modern style, the owners said.
The concept helped the Cuppias fill a space where a store, restaurant or office didn't seem to fit, they said.
"We didn't think retail would work at that spot because the building feels hidden, and there's already plenty of office space," Kevin Cuppia said. "We thought, to complement the other downtown options, like the bed and breakfasts and City Loft Hotel, two large spacious suites would be the best thing we could do with it."
The suites measure almost 600 square feet each and can each sleep six people, said the Cuppias, who also own Modern Jewelers on Bay Street.
Each room features a kitchen nook with granite countertops, a large bathroom, two comfort-top queen beds and a living area with two reading chairs that can fold out into single beds. Both rooms also include a 52-inch LCD TV with movie and music channels, and wireless Internet access. They connect to an adjoining room that has a washer and dryer.
The decor, while modern, pays tribute to the building's past, Kevin
Cuppia said.
Bus scrolls bearing names of local streets and neighborhoods hang on the walls, and headboards are upholstered in sleek fabric with a gray and black Greyhound design. Outside, gray concrete greyhounds sit atop columns looking out onto the Scott Street parking lot -- the same spot where buses would drive up under an extended roof and pick up passengers, Cuppia said.
Nightly rates will start at $139 now through Labor Day as part of a grand opening special, Kevin Cuppia said. Normal rates will start at about $179 per night, he added.
For a fee, the owners will stock the rooms with wine, beer, water, juice, soda or champagne and cheese, crackers, bread and fruit. Blackstone's Cafe and Palm & Moon Bagel Co., both just across Scott Street, will deliver to guests, Rosemary Cuppia said.
The structure last served as a bus station in 1968, the Cuppias said. Since then, it has been used for storage. Kevin Cuppia said he bought the property from former Mayor Henry C. Chambers, whose plans for a three-story structure there never gained traction.
The Cuppias began renovations last spring, first replacing the roof.
"This was home to about 45 pigeons when we came in here," Kevin Cuppia said while walking through the common area connecting both suites. "We had a very dilapidated building. You couldn't do anything to make it look worse."
During their work, the Cuppias uncovered the old bus station's separate waiting spaces with whites-only and blacks-only water fountains outside what were once the bus station's segregated bathrooms, Kevin Cuppia said.
Maxine Lutz, interim executive director of the Historic Beaufort Foundation, said the last time the organization stumbled across an example of segregated water fountains in Beaufort was about 20 years ago.
The time and money poured into each detail were worth it, the Cuppias said.
"It's an investment in downtown and the future," Kevin Cuppia said.
For information, call 843-441-5998, go to greyhoundflats.com or e-mail info@greyhoundflats.com.
OTHER BUSINESSES
Other recent business openings, closings and changes in the area:
• A new beauty shop in Beaufort offers semi-permanent eyelash extensions, eyebrow threading, lash tinting, facials, massages and permanent and airbrush makeup, either at the store or at a location of the customer's choosing.
Beautique Lash & Brow at 2614 Boundary St., Suite F, is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment, owner Takiya Smith said.
The shop also carries designer handbags, shoes, accessories, bath and beauty supplies, and jewelry. Some of the available brands include Jessica Simpson, Anne Klein and Nine West, Smith said.
Details: Call 843-263-0426 or go to www.derma-chic.net.
