Continuous Carnival

Artist Conception by Susan Carol Luddeke

The rumor in the Greenville Municipal Building, was more of a question going around the offices. "Which department would be the first to shut us down?" The Building Inspection Enforcement group turned out to be our greatest ally in the city government. We eventually became well acquainted with everyone in Inspections. Our first meeting in the chiefs office turned out to be most pleasant and helpful. Chief Warren set us up to go before the Board of Adjustments to get a zoning variance. Approval would help solidify our legal standing.

The day came for the meeting of the Board of Adjustments. Well scrubbed and dressed in our best, we sat together waiting our turn. The chairman asked us, of course, what sort of business we wanted to run at the location. As we described what we had conceived, concerts, movies, arts festivals, rummage sales, stage production, it became apparent that there was nothing in the code that matched our idea. We found a reference in some article of the zoning code that mentioned carnivals as permissible in our particular zone.

With a bit of a chuckle, the chairman suggested the term “continuous carnival” to describe our project. In short order, with the rap of his gavel, we were granted permission to carry on with our continuous carnival.

The area was zoned commercial and light industrial. Our variance was not a real stretch , after all the building was already a movie theater. Still, the location, an area that was not thought of as being crucial to the image of the town, was on the other side of the tracks and that alone made it an easy decision for the Board.

It was a low income area. Parking was no problem as there were few cars. At night there was comparatively little traffic. Except for Bell’s Restaurant, D.D. Garret Real Estate, and the Albemarle Café there were no businesses to compete with. As we became more acquainted with everyone, they assured us that we were more than welcome on Albemarle Avenue.

Third Year, Schedule of Events