MOST INFLUENTIAL 2010
Joseph H. Sokol
Owner/President of Morris Sokol Furniture Co.
IN THE BEGINNING: A true native, Joe (pictured back right) was born in Charleston and graduated from the Citadel in 1953. After serving in the army for two years, he returned to the family business in 1955. The offspring of founder Morris Sokol, Joe jokes he is often referred to as an “S.O.B.”—Son-of-the-Boss! ALL IN A DAY’S WORK: In their massive two story space, Morris Sokol carries furniture in virtually every brand and genre, along with distinctive accessories, artwork, botanicals, and outdoor furnishings. OFF-THE-CLOCK: In the rare leisure moments Joe spends outside of store, he enjoys fiddling around in the garden, fishing, and just relaxing with his wife Freida—which he considers "the best thing in the world." FACTORS OF INFLUENCE: Standing inside of the largest furniture showroom in Charleston, it is hard to believe the store began with a man on a bicycle selling products door to door. The enterprising young man—company namesake Morris Sokol—formed the furniture Owner Joe Sokol, pictured top row far right, wife Freida, bottom row middle, and the rest company in 1921, and opened the doors of the Morris Sokol team of his first showroom in 1929 at the same location the current store is now situated: 510 King Street. The present showroom, which was built in 1957, boasts 37,000 square feet of display space plus additional warehouse space for an impressive total of 45,000 square feet, all of which is packed with high quality home furnishings and accessories. Morris' son Joe now runs the company, which has grown to include nine salespeople. Under Joe's leadership, this fave Lowcountry furniture store has served as a source for several movie and television sets, including Lifetime Television's Army Wives and major motion pictures the Notebook, Dear John, and the New Daughter.
Where He Shops
Flooring & Tile Mescons Fanning Floor Coverings
Antiques George C Birlant & Co
Closets & Organization California Closets
Millwork & Other Specialty Items Southern Lumber & Millwork Corp.
Audio/Video Audio Warehouse
Decorative Hardware Bird Decorative Hardware & Bath
Outdoor Products Hyams Garden and Accent Store
Cabinets K & K Custom Cabinets LLC
106 • Charleston Home + Design • Summer 2010
Paint & Wallpaper Charleston Paint Co. Plumbing Fixtures Moluf's Window Treatments Jean Cotton