Raised in a family cult, separated from his father, and forced to navigate unimaginable tragedy, Colton Cauthen's story is one of resilience, grace, and redemption—an example of the power of coming out of the darkness and embracing the light.

In this episode of Double R, Colton shares the remarkable journey that ultimately led him to Florence, South Carolina, where he has become a husband, father, business owner, and founder of Jack's Books in Downtown Florence.

This is a conversation about faith, family, community, and the enduring power of truth, goodness, and beauty. It's a reminder that even the darkest chapters can lead to something meaningful—and that people's stories, and what they choose to do with them, ultimately shape communities.

For more from Colton and Jack's Books:

https://shopjacksbooks.com/

https://open.substack.com/pub/coltoncauthen

https://customexcelspreadsheets.com/

https://www.morninglightreaders.com/

#DoubleRFlotown #FlorenceSC #JacksBooks #DowntownFlorence #CommunityMatters #Faith #Redemption #LocalBusiness #SouthCarolina #Truth #Goodness #Beauty

This episode of Double R Flo-Town covers a little bit of everything — but underneath every conversation is one central theme: the right people matter.

Reeves and Robert introduce Melanie Turner and discuss why adding the right person to a team can completely change the client experience. From relationships and communication to making people feel valued, the conversation explores why real estate is still ultimately a people business.

The guys also dive into the rapid growth of Riverland Property Management, what modern property management should actually look like, and why great systems only work when great people are behind them.

Then the conversation zooms out into a bigger discussion about Florence, growth, leadership, infrastructure, beautification, and what it takes for a community to grow the right way. What happens when the right people are in the right places — in business, leadership, and community development? And what happens when they aren’t?

This episode is about vision, relationships, service, growth, and why culture still matters.

Brad returns to Double R Flo-Town with a big update on the future of Florence Regional Airport. From rail access and foreign trade zone plans to cargo opportunities, a possible D.C. route, and a long-term vision for economic growth, this conversation looks at how the airport could become one of the Pee Dee’s most important assets. If Florence gets this right, the impact could be felt for decades.

He quit a six-figure job.
Had a baby on the way.
And opened a restaurant in an old gas station.

In this episode of Double R Flowtown, we hear the story behind Tubbs—from Marlboro County roots to one of Florence’s go-to spots. This conversation covers business, failure, regret, and the kind of resilience you only get by going through it.

What does it take to grow from one hotel to 64 across 10 states—and still choose to call Florence home?

In this episode of Double R Flowtown, we sit down with Grey Raines to talk about entrepreneurship, hospitality, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.

From a fourth-generation family business to navigating cases like 2008 and COVID, Gray shares lessons on risk, leadership, and why Florence still has massive opportunity ahead.

We also get into:

• Why hospitality is harder than ever
• The real impact of Airbnb on hotels
• What Florence is getting right (and wrong)
• Why infrastructure and safety matter more than anything
• How mentorship and relationships shape success

This one is about more than business—it’s about legacy, community, and building something that outlives you.

What does it take to help transform a downtown?

In this episode of Double R Flowtown, Reeves and Robert sit down with longtime Florence developer and entrepreneur Tim Norwood. From early business failures to building nationally recognized companies and helping lead the revitalization of downtown Florence, Tim shares the lessons that shaped his journey.

We dive into the story behind Hotel Florence, Victor’s restaurant, and the early vision that helped spark downtown’s resurgence. Tim also explains how the Florence Wine & Food Festival grew from a small 60-person dinner into a nationally recognized culinary event drawing chefs, writers, and visitors from across the country.

Along the way we talk about entrepreneurship, risk-taking, mentorship, the future of Florence, and why the next generation of leaders will shape the city’s growth.

Mayor Lethonia Barnes and City Manager Scotty Davis sit down with us for a candid, behind-the-scenes conversation about what’s really happening inside Florence’s water system — and more importantly, what’s being done about it. From iron-rich aquifers to construction disturbances, they break down the science, the safety standards, and the long-term fix in plain English.

With more than $200 million committed to water, sewer, and stormwater upgrades through 2045, city leadership is putting real investment behind real solutions — modernizing plants, expanding capacity, and using smart technology to keep Florence growing the right way.

Have a question about Florence’s water? Drop it in the comments. We’re reading them, or even better go straight to the source and call the people who can do something about it! 843-665-3236

In this episode of Double R Flo-Town, we break down the 2026 Florence real estate market, the rental market shift, and why Riverland Property Management just crossed 100+ doors in under five months.

We talk:

• Inventory up 64% year-over-year
• Months of supply approaching buyer’s market territory
• Why $1,300–$1,400 rentals are moving fast
• High-end downtown townhomes near McLeod
• Lennar & DR Horton bringing major new construction
• And how property management gives us real-time market data

If you're thinking about buying, selling, investing, or moving to Florence, this episode gives you the real pulse of the Pee Dee market.

We also discuss:

• Downtown Florence growth
• Short-term vs long-term rental demand
• Technology in property management (AI + automated work orders)
• The upcoming Double R Downtown concert featuring Susto

Florence is the largest city on I-95 in South Carolina — and it's still affordable. The median home price sits around $226,000, but prices are still up 13% year over year.

📍 Whether you're an investor, homeowner, or just curious about where Florence is headed, this episode is packed with insights.