New mural decorating retail building unveiled in Greenville’s West End

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A new mural graces the side of a building in Greenville’s West End.

Adam Schrimmer, lead artist and owner at Blank Canvas Mural Co., was chosen to design and paint a mural on the wall of the former Army Navy store, 660 S. Main St.

The mural was unveiled last week at the crossroads of River and Mainstreets, which is now the new location of home furnishings retailer Ballard Designs.

Schrimmer designed the public artwork with extensive input from the city of Greenville and Arts in Public Places over the last year, according to a news release. The vintage postcard graphic features a variety of illustrations inside bold, block letters that spell out Greenville. They include the Furman Bell Tower, Fluor Field, Army Navy store, Warehouse Theater, Mary’s Cottage, the old Cotton Warehouse building, and Camperdown Mill, along with a scenic backdrop of the Reedy River Falls.

The mural was commissioned by Chris Rozakos, broker-in-charge for the building’s new owner Christopher David Properties Inc., the release stated.

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The unique building holds special significance for the West End and the city of Greenville, the release stated. It has undergone a complete historic refurbishment and renovation, including the original 75-year-old Army Navy sign that adorns the South Main Street façade. The mural process included getting approvals from the National Parks Service and The South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office.

“I am thrilled and honored to be a part of this visual legacy for the City of Greenville,” Schrimmer said in the release. “This building holds a special place in the heart of Greenville. It is my hope that generations of locals and visitors alike will appreciate the new mural that Jody Wells, my Blank Canvas team member and I painted. I truly hope everyone will be excited to share it.”

Blank Canvas Mural Co. is a national mural design company headquartered in Greenville. It specializes in community engagement and commercial based projects and has painted murals across the country, including throughout the Greenville at Michelin, Fluor Field, Aloft Hotels, Hampton Station, Poe West, Ally Coffee, Birds Fly South, Wofford College, Christ Church Episcopal School, Haywood Mall, Goodwill Industries, and Shriners Children’s Greenville.