News Summary
Mountain Top Marine, a family-owned boat dealership in Lexington County, is facing closure due to damage from nearby road construction. The Deese family’s business, operational for over 16 years, has suffered extensive inventory damage from roadwork debris. Revenue has significantly declined, prompting the family to put their property up for sale. With ongoing challenges in securing insurance compensation and a lack of communication from contractors, the future of this local business remains uncertain as they confront the financial strain.
Lexington County Faces Small Business Closure Due to Road Project Damage
Mountain Top Marine, a local family-owned boat dealership in Lexington County, is facing imminent closure caused by severe revenue loss attributed to a nearby road construction project. The business, operational for over 16 years and run by the Deese family, has experienced significant damage to its boat inventory due to asphalt and debris from the roadwork.
Located at 514 E Main St., Lexington, SC 29072, Mountain Top Marine has seen substantive revenue declines since the project commenced. The dealership was impacted by road improvement work intended for asphalt rehabilitation and drainage improvements, which involved the area stretching from Northside Baptist Church to S.C. 6. This work resulted in thick black asphalt being sprayed over more than 60 boats on display, resulting in extensive upholstery, carpet, and seating damage.
Contractor Project Details
The roadwork was carried out by Blythe Construction, with Griffin Contracting serving as the subcontractor. Sean Deese, the dealership’s owner, reported that he did not receive any prior notification about the project’s start. Video evidence indicates that contractors were actively working in the area on April 29, shortly before the situation garnered media attention.
Following the incident, Sean Deese attempted to communicate with the contractors repeatedly but reported minimal responses and updates regarding the situation. The Deese family responded to the ongoing financial strain by putting “For Sale” signs on both ends of their 5.5-acre property, signaling the potential end of their business operations.
Insurance Claims and Financial Impact
To mitigate the losses, the Deese family filed a claim with their insurance provider, which subsequently sent an adjustor to evaluate the damages. However, Mountain Top Marine has yet to receive a clear confirmation on what the insurance will cover, leaving the business in a precarious financial position.
Currently, the only income stream for Mountain Top Marine has been through boat services, which is insufficient to sustain operations, especially during slower business seasons. The ongoing lack of communication with contractors and challenges in the claims process have further fueled frustrations for the Deese family as they navigate these hardships.
State Response and Next Steps
On June 3, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) confirmed that the claim filed by Deese would be denied, directing him to liaise with Blythe Construction regarding fault and compensation for the damages incurred. As part of the process, SCDOT has also requested Mountain Top Motor Sports, Inc. (the formal name of the dealership) to submit its damage claim for review by Blythe and its insurance providers.
As the Deese family continues to face unanswered inquiries and significant financial strain, they have described their experience as “purgatory.” The impact of the road improvement project poses an existential challenge to Mountain Top Marine, threatening to close a cherished local business and disrupt the livelihoods of those employed within it.
Conclusion
The situation at Mountain Top Marine serves as a stark reminder of the unforeseen consequences that can arise from public infrastructure projects. The Deese family’s fight to stay afloat amid ongoing challenges highlights the broader issues faced by small businesses when external factors lead to them suffering significant setbacks.
As the community watches closely, the resolution of the claims and the potential for compensation may determine the future of this family-run establishment, which has long been a staple in Lexington County.
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Additional Resources
- WIS TV: Lexington Small Business Plans to Shut Down
- Cola Daily: Alltape Investing $70M Into Lexington County
- Greenville Business Magazine: Techo-Bloc Selects Lexington County
- Wikipedia: Small Business
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Entrepreneur
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
