I find it interesting that such a popular and famous restaurant would be bought simply for the location."
Over the last 15 years downtown Greenville SC has been transformed into a Yuppie haven. Trendy restaurants with haute cuisine,performing arts, mixed use development, parks and all of that. Under centralized city planning, the old saw about highest and best use determining value, local guys get squeezed out.
Even so, it might get bought by someone with an interest in franchising.
It is often thought it a good idea to keep the original restaurant operating as a marketing tool.
They are trying to do the same thing in little Lexington here in the midlands. It is barely recognizable from even 10 years ago. Sad.