Furman on Main opens in downtown Greenville bookstore

Furman University officials announced today that the university will partner with M. Judson Booksellers on Main Street in Greenville, expanding its presence downtown and further connecting with its roots.

Furman on Main will have its grand opening at M. Judson on Tuesday, Nov. 28, at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Event attendees will receive a 15 percent discount on all merchandise inside the store until closing at 9 p.m.

Judson Booksellers, which also shares space with The Chocolate Moose Bakery, is located at 130 South Main St.

Mary Camilla Judson was a legendary teacher and administrator at the Greenville Woman’s College, which merged with Furman in the 1930s.

“Furman University was in downtown Greenville for more than 100 years before moving to its present campus in the early 1960s,” said Furman President Elizabeth Davis. “We’re excited to establish this new presence on Main Street, just blocks from our original downtown campus. We are continuing to strengthen our ties with our hometown community, and this partnership is one more step in that direction.”

The grand opening on Nov. 28 will include comments by President Davis, Greenville Mayor Knox White and M. Judson co-owner June Wilcox. Furman First Gentleman Charles Davis will also be on hand to sign copies of his new part-recipe, part-history book, In the Kitchen at White Oaks.

In addition to hosting select lectures and other public events, Furman on Main will offer university items like clothing, memorabilia, gifts and books by Furman authors.

“Furman has a long, intertwining history with downtown Greenville and has increasingly shown in recent years a new commitment to being closely connected with its hometown community,” White said. “We’re proud to have Furman as a partner with many of our downtown businesses and organizations and welcome this newest partnership.”

Furman was founded in 1826 in Edgefield, S.C., and moved to Greenville in 1850.  In 1933, the university merged with the Greenville Woman’s College, and the two campuses remained in separate downtown locations until the move to the new campus. Mary Camilla Judson, for whom the bookstore is named, was a legendary teacher and administrator at the Woman’s College in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

“The Furman community has been a great supporter of M. Judson from the start, and we’re excited to host Furman on Main,” Wilcox said.  “We also love how this partnership gives us the opportunity to tell the story of our namesake, Mary Camilla Judson.”

The partnership with M. Judson is the latest effort by Furman to connect more deeply with the Greenville community. The university has also established partnerships in recent years with the Bon Secours Wellness Arena, the Greenville Drive and the Upcountry History Museum.

For more information, contact Furman’s News and Media Relations office at 864-294-3107.