Local business owners invest in historic Columbia

1419 Richland Street Photo by Pam Clark Henry and Veronica Isaac have made history by joining a very small group of African Americans who own historic property in Columbia. The business savvy couple have purchased and restored a turn of the century home located in the Historic Robert Mills District. The property, located at 1419 Richland Street, has been renovated and is now being utilized as office space, which is a common use for property along this tree lined street.

The Isaac's property is located only two doors down from the historic Mann- Simons Cottage, which is known throughout the region and state as the site for the annual Jubilee Festival… a festival that celebrates African American history and culture.

With assistance from a loan from the Sumter- Columbia Empowerment Zone and the Benedict- Allen Community Development Corporation, Henry and Veronica were able to make a dream come true and accomplish one of their long term goals.

"We have always wanted to own a piece of Columbia's history. This community has meant so much to us and has had such a significant impact on our lives. Columbia is such a great part of our history, and we wanted to invest in its history," Henry Isaac stated.

Henry is a licensed insurance agent and a licensed realtor. Together, Henry & Veronica are the owners of Isaac Insurance Agency- State Farm on Bull Street in downtown Columbia.

2009 marks their 20th year as the owners of a State Farm agency. Veronica Isaac commented, "As business owners for over 20 years, we have survived and thrived because of our entrepreneurial spirit. We saw the Richland Street house as a great opportunity to buy a beautiful property and also own a piece of Columbia's history."

The property, which is being leased as office space, is now home to the law firm of Jabber & Isaac, PA. A partner in the law firm is the Isaac's daughter, Tameika Isaac Devine, which truly makes this business venture a family affair.

"My business partner and I weren't looking for new space to lease at the time, but when the opportunity presented itself to lease in this historic area, surrounded by other attorney's offices, we knew it was a perfect fit," Devine commented. The building also has additional space available for lease.

"It's a perfect space for a small business owner or a start- up company," Henry said. "Helping small businesses has always been one of our passions."

Veronica agreed and added this statement, "We have always tried to instill in our children the need to follow their dreams and now that we have another generation, we want to pass this concept on to our granddaughter."

Both Henry and Veronica are excited about this new venture and are ready for the next step in this journey. The couple plans to start researching their property so they can find out more about its history and previous owners and uses.

The Sumter- Columbia Empowerment Zone over the last 2 years have made 19 loans totaling over $3.65 million. The program objectives are job creation and expansion. Loans are available for property acquisition, working capital and leasehold improvements.