Greenville restaurant owner vowed to rebuild, but instead he’ll honor his Greek parents – Greenville News

Spero Conits is a soft-spoken man. His wife often tells him he mumbles too much. In a crowded restaurant with loud music playing, it's hard to hear him.

But when Conits is fighting for something he believes in, he's anything but quiet.

After a storm in 2014 destroyed hisrestaurant,Spero's Pete's Original Too, Conits vowed he would rebuild. That proved more difficult than he anticipated.

So difficult, in fact, that he took the city of Greenville to court in 2018.

"If there's something you believe in, you've got to protect it, you've got to fight for it," Conits said. "Can't let any roadblocks stop you."

Conits and the city were locked in a legal battle for yearsuntil this month, when they settled for a total of $1 million. Conits has yielded part of his property to the city, which will be turned into a passive park honoring his Greek immigrant parents, John andAthena.

And now, with thesettlement reached, Conits is turning over a new leaf.

Conits has several simplegoals now, like staying active and healthy andfocusing on his family.

He also wants to give back.

"I had a good run. I've still got stuff now volunteer for some stuff I've been putting off getting into, dosome work for the churches.Cook for them, delivery for them," he said.

Now "semi-retired," Conits manages his real estate portfolio, plays golf and is busy planning a trip back to Greece, he said.

His kidney transplant, which he underwent in 2019, made him push pause on many of his plans. It was a grueling process.

But, the new kidney was "the ultimate gift," he said.

Conits is also turning attention to the park heenvisions at the spot of his old restaurant, at the corner of East Stone Avenue and East North Street. He wants to install a plaque in honor of his parents, who immigrated to Greenville during World War II and became successful restaurant owners.

While the lawsuit over the land was "frustrating,"hedoesn't hold a grudge against the city.

"It's some kind of closure, but it's kind of bittersweet," he said.

It took three years to reach that "bittersweet" closure in Conits' case.

The issue stemmed from acity law that prohibited new construction in areas federally designated as a floodway. That included Conits' propertyat the corner of East Stone and East North.

When Conits remodeled the building to open his restaurant in 2008, his property wasn't within a floodway designation. TheFederal Emergency Management Agency didn't revise its insurance map until after the storm that claimed his restaurant in 2014.

Conits filed a lawsuit in 2018, claiming that the city used the property to turnit into a public floodway. The city, he argued, violated theConstitution by not allowing him full use of his privately owned property withoutcompensation.

The city disputed the claim.

The city's building code division also denied Conits' second building permit application twice.In 2017, Conits appealed the city's decision to a state circuit judge. It was ultimately ruled that the denial was in keeping with the city's law.

While the judge denied Conits' appeal, the city was busy changingits stormwater regulations, offering an opportunity forConits to rebuild. But the changesmeant Conits could only build a replacement building and that he could only rebuild one more time if it was destroyed again.

It was too expensive, Conitssaid.

"My insurance guy said, 'It would be like five, six times what you're paying now to insure,'" he said.

Finally, in June 2021, Conits and the city reached an agreement. The land was divided between Conits and the city.Conits keeps part of the property and the barber shop housed there, and the city will turn its portion of the landinto a park.

"Following amicable discussions, the city and Mr. Conits were able to find a solution that made sense for both parties," city spokesperson Beth Brotherton said in an email. "The settlement allows the city to obtain additional green space and permits Mr. Conits to use the remainder of his property in the future. The city has the utmost respect for Mr. Conits, we simply disagreed about the impact of the citys stormwater regulations on his Stone Avenue property."

Conits loves the restaurant business for the people.

"You get to know the customers on a personal level," he said.

He bringsthat same people-focused approach to his next venture, whether he will spendtime with his friends and family, visit his restaurant tenants or volunteer.

He's moving faster now despite his semi-retirement, he said.

"I have a punch list every day," he said.

Near the top of his punch list is planning a dedication ceremony for the new park. He hopes to hold it in the next few months.

Macon Atkinson is the city watchdog reporterfor The Greenville News. She's powered by long runs and strong coffee. Follow her onTwitter @maconatkinson.

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Greenville restaurant owner vowed to rebuild, but instead he'll honor his Greek parents - Greenville News