Page 12 - Camden Classically Carolina 2020
P. 12

Laurie & Westley Parks:


             The intersection of































                   hanks    to   a   former
                   member     of   Camden
                   City  Council  and  her
                   husband, a new wine bar
         T -- with second and third
         floor  apartments  --  should  open  in
         September.  Laurie  and  Westley
         Parks  purchased  1025  Broad  St.  --
         which they have since renamed the
         Monarch  Building  --  in  Downtown
         Camden  from  previous  owner  and
         resident  Billy  Silver.  In  November
         2019, the Parks came forward with
         their plans to assist with renovating
         the  former  home  of  Citizens  &
         Southern National Bank (C&S).

         Laurie served on council from 2012                    throughout its history.
         to 2016.
                                                               “The first bank was First National Bank of Camden,
         Now doing business as P&P Investment Partners LLC,    which opened in 1904 or 1905,” Westley Parks said.
         the Parks hope their $2 million investment will make   “In 1917, it moved down the street. Then the Bank
         a difference in Downtown Camden.                      of  Camden  occupied  the  building  and  went  out  of
                                                               business in 1930 during the Depression. After that,
         During  an  interview,  Westley  said  he  had  been   C&S  took  it  over  at  some  point.  We’re  still  doing
         researching the history of the building and said the   research on that, as well.”
         address is a bit of mystery.
                                                               In November, he said the building was in poor shape.
         “What’s  unique  about  this  building  is  that  the
         address was originally 1023 Broad St., not 1025, at   “It  wouldn’t  have  taken  much  longer  for  the  roof  to
         least  up  until  1923,”  he  said. “We’re  still  trying  to   cave in,” Westley said. “This is an historic landmark in
         figure that out.”                                     Downtown Camden and it needed saving. Laurie and
                                                               I are both retired now and have the time to invest in a
         The  building  was  home  to  three  different  banks

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