NHE HQ Building Named in Honor of Former Verdae CEO; AO-The Space Spa & Salon Relocating to Legacy Square

Verdae Development Inc.’s Rick Sumerel may be gone in body, but his spirit and passion for Greenville and the Verdae community will live on for decades to come

The newest anchor building at 325 Rocky Slope Road within Legacy Square will be known as The Sumerel—named in honor of the late Rick Sumerel, former President and CEO of Verdae Development.  The announcement also comes with much anticipated news of the building’s first ground floor tenant—AO-The Space, a popular Upstate Med-spa, Day Spa and Salon.

Owners and development partners of the recently occupied building at 325 Rocky Slope Road highlight the life and work of a key Verdae executive—gone too soon. Sumerel led the 2005 launch of the 1,100-acre Verdae Masterplan, delivering a number of significant development milestones before his passing in 2019.  Most notably, his leadership and careful execution sparked the creation of the 300-acre residential cornerstone, Hollingsworth Park and neighborhood-scaled retail district, Legacy Square.

“Rick played a major role in attracting NHE to Verdae years ago, and he became a great friend in the process,” said Taylor Davis, CEO of NHE, Inc. “I’m sure he would be thrilled with the completion of our new headquarters building, and we wanted to honor him for his part in our success.”

NHE recently relocated its corporate headquarters to the new 50,000 square foot building along with noted Southeastern insurance defense law firm Willson Jones Carter & Baxley, P.A. and DeHollander and Janse Financial Group, a Greenville-based wealth management firm.

Upstate residents have been eager to learn who will occupy the available ground floor service and retail space in the building.  AO-The Space will be the first and will open its new 5,300 SF full-service Med-Spa, Day Spa and Salon in early July.  Owner and Esthetician Jessica Kelley worked with Colliers International retail service team members Lance Byars and Scott Burgess to relocate her popular organic-based Med-spa and Salon from North Pleasantburg Drive to Legacy Square.  Other retail tenants for The Sumerel, likely including a restaurant and event space, will be announced in the future.

“We are so excited to be here, and look forward to bringing Apple Organics to Verdae,” stated Jessica Kelly.  “AO is a premium skincare line, without the premium price tag or attitude. It’s healthy, affordable and all-natural skin care that beautifies our customers, our community and ecosystem.”

AO-The Space will offer such Clinical Med-Spa services such as dermaplaning, collagen induction therapy, high intensity focused ultrasound, and medical-grade chemical peels. AO’s  Day Spa consists of massage therapy, reflexology, ionic foot detoxes, organic facials, full body waxing and sugaring, threading, brow tinting, body scrubs, eyelash extensions and more. AO’s full-service salon specializes in corrective color and hair extensions, manicures, pedicures, and foot soaks.

Ms. Kelley, who serves as chair for the Board of Cosmetology at Greenville Technical College, began her career as  an Esthetician at a major spa chain. She extensively researched organic and botanical ingredients before developing Apple Organics — a proprietary line of organic and all-natural cleansers, toners, serums, eye and body treatments, and moisturizers.

NHE provides professional association management, conventional and affordable apartment home management, and service coordination to communities across the Southeast, and currently represents more than 14,000 homes, apartments, and condominiums in more than a dozen states.

NHE’s clients benefit expertise, experience and leading-edge technology delivered by a dedicated staff offering diverse services to assure premium performance and value. Actively engaged with national and state industry trade associations and government regulatory bodies, NHE holds the prestigious AMO (Accredited Management Organization) designation through the Institute of Real Estate Management.

To learn more about AO-The Space, visit AOthespace.com.  For more information about NHE, call 864.467.1600 or visit NHE-Inc.com.