Boom helps build bigger Buck Lumber

James Island-based Buck Lumber & Building Supply is bulking up its operations.

In the works: a new design center at its James Island site, set to open later this year, and a new lumberyard and sales center near Summerville, expected to open next spring.

The 15,000-square-foot design center will feature window and door lines, as well as custom millwork such as crown molding and baseboards, in a hands-on, boutique-style setting, said Glenn Hoy, company president and chief operating officer.

The displays will replicate what the products would look like in a home, Hoy said.

The new lumberyard and sales center will be near Carnes Crossroads off Highway 17-A, about a half-mile from Interstate 26. It will employ about 30 people, Hoy said.

The company decided to expand into the Summerville market to capitalize on the area's rapid growth. Over the next decade, about 100,000 residential units are planned for that part of the region, Hoy said.

The business development manager for the new location is Tim Hurd, who formerly worked for Southern Staircase in Atlanta.

Founded more than 30 years ago, Buck Lumber is based at 1911 Maybank Highway.

Full plate

Family dining chain Denny's recently sold 34 company-owned restaurants to new and existing franchisees as part of an ongoing effort to open more franchise locations in its key markets, including parts of South Carolina. Those franchisees have agreed to develop 26 new restaurants in their respective territories.

Former Denny's senior executive Craig Herman is the new franchisee for the Charleston and Myrtle Beach areas, which currently includes four stores. The only local Denny's restaurant is at 2280 Ashley Phosphate Road in North Charleston, near Northwoods Mall.

Herman formerly oversaw Denny's company-owned operations nationwide. As a franchisee, he has an agreement to open at least two more locations in his market in the next few years.

The Charleston area could likely support several additional stores, he said. "We think it's just a great marketplace," he said. "It's growing like crazy."

No store sites have been picked yet, he added.

Spartanburg-based Denny's Corp. operates almost 490 company-owned units and more than 1,000 franchised units worldwide. The chain is known for its round-the-clock service and affordable meals like the Grand Slam, a combo of pancakes, eggs, bacon and sausage.

Show of support

In honor of the Fourth of July holiday, the Tanger Outlet Center in North Charleston is holding a "Salute to our Troops" event through Sunday.

During the event, the shopping center will collect cards and letters to send to U.S. military installations around the world.

On Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., active U.S. military personnel will receive a $10 gift card when they show their military ID at the information desk inside the Tanger food court.

The center's parent company, Greensboro, N.C.-based Tanger Factory Outlet Centers, also will make a $50,000 donation to the Armed Forces Foundation and to the U.S. Wounded Soldier Foundation.

The local Tanger center is located in the Centre Pointe development off International Boulevard, near the intersection of interstates 26 and 526.

Reach Caroline Fossi at cfossi@postandcourier.com or 937-5524.