Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Finnan.
Hi Gary, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Arriving in Aiken ten years ago from Sonoma County, California, I was struck by the emerging community and the opportunity to bring social and professional influences to Aiken.
My aim was to create a “Social Hub” where lifestyle-based activities could merge with business and entertainment on the developing East Side of Aiken. Imagine the butcher, the baker, the candlestick maker, all in one place.
We purchased the property five years ago and started with a mixed-use retail and professional suites. As we move into 2026, we have The Restaurant, The Coffee Shop, The Wine Merchant, and The Community Development leadership as the new home of the Aiken’s Innovation Corridor.
The revitalization of the East Side is underway with new residential, hotel, and Farmer Market projects. We are happy to have been a catalyst for this growth and change.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Our biggest challenge has been perception, being on the “Wrong side of the tracks,” however, the community has been building with gentrification and investment.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Eastside Village Aiken LLC?
On a professional level, I have owned several design and Strategic businesses internationally with a focus on Destination Engagement in the Hospitality, Retail , and Winery industry. This project is a personal passion focused on creating a community destination and lifestyle venue. I relish picking up a glass of wine at Solo Vino and wandering into the Backyard Provisions for dinner, or picking up a coffee at The Parlour Cafe on the way into our podcast studio that we run with the Chamber of Commerce in the Aiken’s Innovation Corridor space
Our brand for the Eastside village is simplistic and plays to our founding ethos of Urban + Rural. Approachable, comfortable, yet a little rustic in a fun and engaging way that feels like a home from home for our guests.
I love watching our guests hang out on a Friday night under the giant oak trees, simply savoring Aiken life.
How do you think about luck?
Ha! I have always heard that “Luck comes to all who wait, as long as they work while they are waiting.” As a professional developer of other people’s ideas in my professional life, I never consider that something cannot be done. There just needs to be a plan. I have developed projects in Africa and the far east, as well as over 200 winery, brewery, distilleries, and banking projects of the past 30 years. This includes shipping some of the first horses into Uganda with my wife. It is not good or bad luck, it is working the plan.
The proof is in the pudding of our tenants.
“Eastside Village is a natural fit for the momentum we’re building through the Aiken Innovation Corridor. This space allows us to create an accessible hub for entrepreneurs, innovators, and small businesses while anchoring growth on the east side of downtown. By opening a free podcast studio for Chamber members and flexible loft workspace upstairs, we’re giving our business community the tools they need to create, collaborate, and grow right here in Aiken.”
“What makes this moment especially exciting is that three local entrepreneurs are launching their businesses in Eastside Village at the very same time. The energy from a new coffee shop, a fresh open-flame restaurant concept, and a revitalized wine shop—combined with the Chamber’s presence—creates the kind of synergy that accelerates innovation and brings new life to a part of town that’s ready to thrive. This is exactly what the Innovation Corridor is all about: building places where people, ideas, and opportunity come together.”
Jim Tunison|President/CEO
Main: 803.641.1111 | Direct: 803.645.0144
121 Richland Ave. E., Aiken, SC 29801
www.aikenchamber.net
“Being part of Eastside Village feels a little like stepping into something bigger than myself — in the best way. Everyone here is on their own personal growth journey, but we’re moving together toward the same goal as the city pushes eastward. It’s exciting, nerve-wracking, and grounding all at once. For me, it’s simple: when you’re part of a community, you show up. You put in the work. You don’t let people down. As a mom of three teenage boys, I understand better than most that it truly takes a village, and Eastside Village has that same energy — people supporting each other, sharing momentum, building something that matters. A big part of that comes from Gary Finnan. His vision for this space has always centered around shared effort and communal growth, and I’m grateful to be building within a place shaped by that kind of intention. Working alongside the Chamber adds another layer of purpose. They’re invested in the success of this project, of this corridor, and of Aiken as a whole, and that gives me even more motivation to rise to the occasion. I’m grateful to be one piece of a much larger puzzle — one small spark in a fire that’s going to burn bright for this side of town.” -
Katie Cannon – Backyard
Eastside Village represents a moment where the community is truly coming together, and we’re grateful to be part of it. A driving factor for us has always been the strong sense of community at Solo Vino. Thanks to Lou and Stephanie, the wine shop has a long tradition in Aiken, and our goal is to continue what’s been built while contributing to the new energy on the east side of downtown. Being surrounded by fellow local entrepreneurs and the Chamber adds to the momentum taking shape here. We’re excited to offer a space that feels familiar and welcoming while also reflecting the growth and creativity happening in this part of town.
The Parlour Coffee & Company is built around a dream of community — a place where people can pause the pace of everyday life and genuinely enjoy one another. From the beginning, we wanted more than a café; we wanted a space that feels like home. Whether you’re dropping in for your morning coffee, settling in with a book, enjoying lunch with a friend, or spending a leisurely afternoon playing board games, our goal is to create an atmosphere that feels warm, familiar, and inviting.
As Eastside Village grows, we’re excited to contribute a gathering space where connection comes first. The Parlour is meant to be a reflection of the values that make Aiken special: family, community, and the simple joy of being together. Here, everyone has a place at the table — and we can’t wait to welcome you in.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.urbanandrural.co
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-finnan-evokeessence/
