2022 Intro Charleston

CHARLESTON

YOUR GUIDE TO MOVING TO THE LOWCOUNTRY

BROUGHT TO YOU BY:

SUBSCRIBE TODAY AND GET IT ALL: BEST

ICE

ADV

BEST

CE ADVI

BEST ADVICE

rtin, is Ma Phyll Cradle unty Tri-Co reer to Ca

ttler, n Ze e Win Gillia leston Char Food and

4 PAGE

E4 5 PAG $2.2 ■

2020

■

BEST ADVICE

.

Brig. Gen lor Hank Tay

$2.25

Anne Cleveland, Charleston

PAGE 4

BEST ADVICE Angela Craig, executive director, Charleston County Public Library

Library Society

25 0 ■ $2.

E 1 - 14, 202

PAGE 4

ty esses l staattuodsds over smelter rtainsion for bufosirn nationaop e c Landlords, tenants n U ed dtaecteic,Go e eek, Santee Co er ostrsesCr told to be ‘human’ lhaisttes tss a ogu u c l e C a f c o in renegotiations ud ing aC b n l e p a o c Re lo s G u navirMagnolia site Co C ty E Is coro al anup lleton Coun M AY

- 31, MAY 18

, 2020 4 - 17

JUN

2020 ■ $2.25 APRIL 20 - MAY 3,

network

CHARLESTONBUSINESS.COM ■of the VOLUME 26 NUMBER 13 Part esses, .COM busin ng

network

PAGE 4

JUNE 15 - 28, 2020 ■ $2.25

network

Part of the

WHAT’S NEXT?

, 00 faculty ial ni than 5,0 i and essent ily, obtai relied more ors, alumn rk at fam trat ng 9thand includ ed in m wo visiting s, atten-di 201 adminis o participat . s.

Part ■ le d fro colne or wi , students, wh market prices BER 12 it (thge alo ine surveyces to an ll as peop or staff serv, ice s is at open says it can provide Centu members and onl 26 NUM the tin said. s ectioncrea pro 75% ups er when we rig VOLUME ley mu oddir to nityThe id Jeff grocustom as in nning be goht com re el,” Hsu of ow us sole ed utility the pla lev inGoose Creekwhich is located in Berke d foc . ll,” sa s for go ial COM nt s, e the an red e nt we SS. ere would ic th in all diffs INE rkshop s ass of y ice Colleg re electr istedon Jan.g,1headquarte Aluminum, do it eration “If we esse with electriciweyea r 4. wobegin serv Part s operation at a ver TO NBUS Hoff w to . on, the ltin5,000 acres of ry ty’s Mt. Holly community, tly pays. ck op ants10-M visi which nsuh Patri will begious ayutility ’s de CofC wa urous tsi thoug CHAR LES and ho biti oufor inum, h Hsu ond Co resta ed Coun liftoff ff ctor of ement,lege)santlineBy Ready wit rting uniry 6Alum ews.co an, mam the price it curren buy 100% e Bey d lly to docknaHo scbizn also be annex sta 11 ■ na family pte lif. l dire y Manag nt PleaIn phoff@ would the top Centu bygeBlu to at nearly half ng t rty tio Ca ty ado able whatPatri ni is MBER ins di prope it ipal ley, Pa 12 has if Charleston By Base com di Joint gio wn , lit of NU nding said re iznews.spita CT Cas Mou tro Val serviced by the munic ooer aga it againse tIMPAsurrou C, Page f to arleston n Ad er, scb tdpet Century has com t rates, it could Ch S.COMLUME 26 Ho digo in s inwHdo ofwn owff@ ouflight tohas and See COF lawsu Se Brpho supports filed

By Andy Owens dre into the city icity at open marke ic pla SINES VO y. toa space begin esri e’s board In Pointeling upsidn ent ck s.com An Creek oose r ntrover strateg collegright tel Pre Expr Doub ONBU tecou the icity of its electr North the thecity’s Ho and if necessary.

Hoff rescue af utive with the ew execsiti instation er C-17by aowens@scbiznews.com In Bete LE ST es bo Coop stonay y Peatsctobizn , Page 13 receives its electr 25% e tod utility compl atesarleuction Santee finalize trick s.com r- roved servic erConstr cam Ch CHAR app e limdpla opof ry currently ite See GOOSE CREEK er; ic ,utility n,t-ci Holid ed ean dver f@ liftwer will7be alert. ew ice electr crews e en e on he firsthotel in to

By Pa cbizn lim ■ toollege d thwh nthPage provid city.in Jun Centu a contract with Santee Coop smo him ph sh randed g ors last began toofter into dual-b @sthe off ng the et is s The icin . ha out eager - an saidonles atdg ocesbe annex er rates and go nni ton. ven with the state slowly reopening, the ple cMas inthpeothbu BER 10 through phoffto Plaed stee stood eremers tru y Mcenter mer.passed as ners are virus-inHsu is at Santee Coop NUM y’s prwill and Return ence in December onstate com what custom blwho sum e, ar pautndof em and Henr gra rs Pm legCh coronavirus pandemic has rendered requireesds owrnin of the electricity this ndum na ismm v.confer pro. Page the ty col th . g refere ed e ro ME 26 ipal th l to ss ce, 15 ru ano ibili C Go wi co munic specia th LU A pla nam a ly A vi er S.fC, Flex sin retu e, eaerville VO rli dingheCo on na al establish Summ certain commercial space less valuable s beginweeks of doing sor sP’s: h bu et at to andprestig ugyee bly der leath e roade coro e Generallows Goose dgCreek hoplo er fou em ey’re mer aoryeaffir cofon ial. th d th for many small businesses — but that doesn’t en aft kplace. its bual Assem ish opwor res, th y of custo But after tra potent torethe er ssed cuite ch. closu d fin fet mean you don’t have to pay your rent, accordolsmind: octo se pa the Gen te coul passed ar duece13d sure the sa protes Pag ecom ing to a Mount Pleasant attorney.

Hou na t te id-M ep ly, th to en rt pping in m e state uary, bure the Se e Sena to ke vious Alex Juncu, an attorney who specializes in e cautionyees. ng po th Th Febr fo ssed . Th is, ob grad e be d vote st mon isn’t pa the plo in mind Pivotirts Authoritynumae law, including landlord and tenant contract p of m em u d la t en sent ho ns an tion dget ds, bu “First issues, said landlords and tenants can save a lot S.C. Po th to conti io emic ares to was liberat resolu if a buyear en re.

AcaCidtadel preprs Hall with of time when renegotiating a lease by knowing en new pa s growth. the su chief exec its dentinuing ent op e fiscal New es mea ocess is ate’s f ing.

By Patrick Hoffm The e Cape what’s in the lease and by remembering the ck Hoff busin KiongNorth pr America rnm hen th on that a co vepus build k Hof ews.co e st names

By Patriiznews.com 13 in phoff@scbizn “human component” in each transaction. replac modern xes, ethcam offorththee ta e go 30, w to vote dget Patriciznews.com Page d-us scb company’s CEO o new ff@ Mixe By e es bu tw sne p yet us pho e “Exercise patience, but also be ready to develo com 1,730 er headquarters. mor 8 to Ju @scb s across ing clo e cla pad in 34 oyphoff Investment firmby se has ating th oms ovU.S.s an pment group make ajeur on is comn’s Upper m thesome concessions,” he said. “When you an ic Page lo conomic develo chasing a lot of intoou s rce m zed a co t ofades-long visi e th unempl ed Pageor17 Pepsi proper ty H Compl y that sales taxe arlesto are partner th fo di endec do collaborate, you’ll make a lot more progress m r the country retail. nt clos n on Ch are installed and food processing, cts wi lly standar in the ev pani shift Coastal fruitio brand multifamily, office, certai sources: ed as filed foes were pleindustries — when you’re in an adversarial position.” than ontra g the comfloerodto, es un nue apparel amon utilities rs com same rformtion truc slow have siness typicacons d a fire, Upstate stal of and automotive being Page 13 insula as p work nea tract ace He said landlords and tenants must have es, ch as e to pe et anness reve have ians busi with coa l buessential anu lia aerosp partner i- ’s failur nces, su r. omePen rspa As Budg instny par tners m hich Carolin ssentiaIndustrial up. cust ental cle mpty Magno highlights. ste e sta serv target co gro w sa the nm m on h, on ch al, di iro and r cu ne l thoug g-e opens ea ar env ay ar rm work cir ates uth d no il. Kontane a Horton, they See LEASING, Page 12 conservati strta in enteLogistics the lon ley River. rese id So natura new no al gron sure how Colleton Forp Heyward develo e C tisan sa reak .rung inuncesh create jobs in y’s outb tion en leg ort- ent or todaD-19 pted Ash Financial presmentent anost of Aprfrom thwarehouse do is ar facility Page 3 .C., accid trydis any that’ll g focuse etr,ugh a new e indter alo there trying to isindus dstheinCOVI dg to reop nonp toCounty wa n, D to serve en aid r used to a aBerkeley S.C. hospitals implem for m report ter that buthro er,” inesfac may have racts arlan on we’ ed s, es d t cen Collet Riv ir ty. in ng hat e at the an stay Bu tie of Coun to ley te or nt “W ern ... use urb m ft A ashi Page iori stat have en co Repate automotive es llion14 ost st id m layoffs, furloughs the Ash inte rimn, executive direct said the county’s edAirling Dreamlif ks for Pris a to calm y Pr in WVolvo.

Horto saes . ay thPage mic. , wh 15 05 bi for m jorncmixwith ed toward ce, of co ma ent and nstythe Upsta turer resum wo ic ent ls al wie- ic.

Keeping afloat during pande Polic based up to $1 which e report nitfalde Economic Allian area: Find ways to a lot ck and stop oriab Boei face mas m Chin n, presid ow e-t Coun le fac not to pan fro tute d face l year, ar, th in shorto saidpaon of any other un Bodenma ources, which there’s the buon nderem 9 t-day manu on after on s, reasons es and high that Page 5 like ’re at is vid bring , MUSC ye a ment. goal l n- nd Res cti theyDaeir cohla en k th having loss ifsaid coul this fisca tIncubating th mod ss ut jobs and new invest fisca billion e centerby thin produ coronaviru e pres Corps) t new over job ent rates. larly Heal state. attrac ns, abo r a “I on e of ally 90 , th inOthof Hig of t is always a proce lay,.” of th y rticu falls 30. Nex life nd ow t t basic r desite rt ed fo noou to $2sciences punch . Page 12 omic developmen “Com . The a’scially, pa provisionCE “Econ e-third ap/Arm ally legal unemploym t Highla man said le folia the Up 3 at inan repo preparCorridor ab arol sibgno t,” Horton said.

June d see upCharleston er on ues. (M Virtu older acres tha a was h C r- d their responMa areh a tleaky bucke rate e unDigital ere for tornado ll. Ov filling are fee em fin Page the 140 elopable, Bodenlion of Page 15 into olin . utth squ gene coul a sepaopens ar g, moving elsewh ing iss a wa rmldan ake them y and shOf y Car Law firms settle e’s rfo einginCo , So endel up closin ically, so you have to ry se tes flood . es are dev In at at least 1 mil ou d states incubator utotoh/Boe report the sttoat pe sh ly despite 1,000s hot acr Batteoger inerar thatldm rd, attorne ille offi bam 79 ce ts, panie s period a ract thd for working remote 12 of d of ion. SoPhto Page th % High prex ac ra ver reason ment and cts ... aherna they whate line it il and are residential uni reta eenv insite a co theed d s isntentthitle thir cessWestEdge. shleouDilla s with re tra g of new invest ey Gr ich it nd a On of hurdle ow r 16 le of in s’ he e pursu logy es pa 00 that all t Ky wh in ei tu t re in ro re if 4,0 use us techno Exction al zodin fee hedu are ne,g used to always be ate ; accord e abou about w id, stsaatid% of to replace those office, pany ethDeak is a cla comof Softw rkers to sc hall. er constru ernttidfun beca,000e square k.

By Alexandria Ng Longrts say full’s tourism away. at-bring in just worker 15 letre majeure a courts. Page 8 deal donto th front par , 200 them es wer ch are center sa least Og int alsojobs the ms eGra la aft ’t ity from d of roo renew utility line dockwo tside union rv cally ars teras Expe arleston onbil Force wlia wach ” rdable Charleston ang@scbiznews.com ninsu illing th increase en es. perty we leave.

Typicre rese nd, whi l, the l to at ou . 7-a be ye es their the pro for affo ximately an hour from Interstate t, sues ua shifts ows the pe ” by landf nces23. opportuniti of of Ch ry may 2 ’ reresemrvoves uphold nera ................................

Appro al fu Upfront msta dis-of Charleston ed ou o acror training es eq st p sh13 claimed Savannah, with In ge he isCOVID-19 pandemic has taken its 5 rosscircu ents spell Tw ates unablegto mage serv Briefs ................ indu 15 d lab city Biz News 2 an houre from it, Colleton County 49Pa be. SC “re and .......... ev id st 3 etc hinPageac Page 3 reseen rtain e n an to the city. .. n3 mpany was hom for re gh An 18 la was tioed spoton the economy, bringing nation4 DGof Upfront ....................

ETS,unfo ve ce Page er sa the es su ...... nu aim Best runni se ag.co la, str t to ingng athrouas a reasonably priced toll lia site 95 .Advice .......................... ntnin .......... ent ac excusin ve su nd lud Briefs et gno m ou ha ce BU penin rl ted News inc Ma rn n Biz es ou o hou e e pe..................10-11 va storefronts SC al unemployment numbers to 13.3% ,7 the protests Vantage ha ...... usMany (Photo/Shawnda late, May. als on KingrsStreet thPoint during oning itselfPoynter) to locate in the Lowkeep t budg ago od4plainnts .......... positi , gove wereesdamaged all ar.......... ingill,the eSe in anclaele ers C Yea E, Pageind Chicrykeproducers ea l flo is 2 Best ustrial flood ost claus a wAdvice lity in May and shutting down some businesses in crossInStFocus: anies looking thre ts tha gine coastaClu RC l fire,wo ............ spita forIA,comp n nd Page 6 tion:In Focus: laEngineering but m e ho Poult Setoe FOsevera al thr rts. yputes,rk. ur nsulbaderal coArchitecture, of En iorbo ............... rat permanently. But donors across the country ...... 3 ial solu ps ry. rpo MAGNOL ing o nsition ls to on vir HanEngine ill onwa19y theAfter countand peniering Seeinventory ecture, Upfront ..... s Briefs .......... nt st Thm questions about reviews ficia Construction 15 ing ofand looted the fire, e fegin a car watch ze U.S. expo Roll trucks tra private hbors. a night of smashed windows,Constru te. 4 rmy Cor Archite worker ton .......... are rallying $3 14 around nonprofits at a time when arlsle............... ction po.....

Chna SC Biz New ...............a..... rlesuction rdi reithma..... alth pro A Trident COLLETON, Page hsio ge .............32 See Homebuilders fes List: e A gan itsandCConstr ha rt he frdom WestEdCharleston-area an ice the jeopa Food ss from ing neig try at companies d they are most needed. say g some curfews, No Th and Adv protests 6 handled ars e. jobsite officials t public how Under e ye ston Bes t an work at the 5 ne thCharle ndin menne At Work ..............................35 13t be of 25 -23servet in toge e in ewid Pa ....ic in Charleston.once again. busi s to serv Page Tim Winkler is CEO of the Winkler Group, ..........

WestEdg to restore order to stat NGd, uipmen Stephen develop ith fuuction sigDI........15 In fFocus: ources .......... businesses theirment Distr udy ge 8 36 de wConstr site at 22 ction) govern Res orkersPaSlifer.....................

FLOO e eq partie 19 ape and g st17 er 20d18with tours the ns) H2of Human (Photo/Trident Constru List: Landsc Se ...ob re alth w Viewpoint .......................... oteectiv.......... om Office Supplyto.....in Hospita38lity, (Photo/Andy Owe rick .....ct ........ s.cList he...26 See NONPROFITS, Page 5 Page at.... cture FirmsS. rs al pr with BNG P.... ew.. 4 : O rtne Page 6 Archite Deawlers aC. zn....

Charleston. ent ho ....y.... of C........... 27 Club and partnerMar s suffeyee .......... es ty ..........

S. e pa ...w18ith person ul on ....bi.... .... 5Equipm keting in loye ........B ....

Work s si At sin ....sc f@ nt our 31 y ns Emp ng : er ....... of bu fro Harb Flair plo ni ei .... Bon iv udus Bo List ..........

Up y ..... ph ..... ed..... 19 ical Un r of The vice ....

Small s under 500 em ID-19. ........ h cipal with .. 2 a st to rm Viewpoint .......... s ..... ad..... n peker A manage loon ers, prin ...... . 3 Best AdNews Briefs gis tics 13Ben sse ed es efit Bro es COV general th ...... llivan Sell g ane..... .....t .....

Lo roug ha. rl S.C. busine most affected by Page 2 ...... ............ 4 rts .....

9 ne,g with Susan O’Su a fo.....r .M21 geJim8-Coy SC Biz s: Po ing,kpl inpu ay, th....th....e....C.... ld ggle durin nic in..... ...... ..... icies odWor o At . 19 Ch D ..... ong n bl h alon Focu alfw ...... Briefs ... ........... flo .... am COVI ..23 m t tio May Pa rs ru n es In pu pert ..... nt with l pa pe Linta .. 21 how they e tribuotecight as .......... os Coping ing Pro fro Upfro z News ............ es o nies st 19 ha ....ekHot t .......... Phot l asked businesses Fre co ........ and Dis pr odlts. ucworry that shopfresh se mic. torom ViewpoinStory, ....ers is....

SC Bi Advice ...

Horsage compaas COVID-Pr ..... 15 The Business Journa ss model during the pande .....27 ....ne m ssers List: Mo fr 20 nerm busine urism ay fro er rk ........gi ........ ....... 31 Best cus: Carri season m busiFa are shifting their d To ......... ve aw At Wo ofpeEn Who is building what in the Charleston area? nk .... rties .... is In Fo itality an ctions ......... 21 Pro ................ may mo as they hu . ortps peak son tour Pages 6-12 CHo Projects, companies, prices, projected timelines, photos and stories. ce oint Hosp Area Attra............ .........23 produ quarantine Viewp in-per 15 in List: ork ......... ............

Page 19 down Page At W point ......

14 Page View ork netw

ork netw

SINE theNBU CHARLEofSTO

Part of

the

STONBUSINESS R 9 ■ CHARLE SS.COM VOLUME 26 NUMBE

ractu ring cle a cont Godn?’eoampletion c ‘act of

STILL UNCDTIOERN

T

T

CONSTRU C

A

mic boosting econo ort development eff

E

R HE COOPE Y T a M O e R s F SHLE k tIhCeAL

Nonprofit donations increase despite COVID-19 pressures

A cT ngCbRa I TOOTHE i d l o H G ing

orps rmy C

A INSIDE

E

INSID

H

nts po

prese

CAR

INSIDEtential

on to soluti

flood astaDEl coINSI

INSIDE

T

CHARLESTON UNDER CONSTRUCTION

PRINT EDITIONS:

Business leaders rely on the Charleston Regional Business Journal to provide the Lowcountry business community with the most comprehensive coverage of local business news and analysis.

ANNUAL SUPPLEMENTS:

Our annual supplements offer an in-depth look at Lowcountry business that can’t be found anywhere else.

Book of Lists • Profiles in Business Market Facts • Giving Event Planning Guide • Newsmakers

DAILY EMAIL NEWS:

Tip Sheet provides the top business announcements in the Lowcountry.

Daily Journal covers the top business news in the Lowcountry every afternoon.

Weekend Tip Sheet brings you the top 10 things happening in the Lowcountry this weekend.

Begin your subscription today!

Go to charlestonbusiness.com/subscribe to subscribe.

IT’S BUSINESS IT’S TIME TIME TO TO BINGE BINGE BUSINESS What’s SCBIZtv? What’s new new on on SCBIZtv?

With channel features featuresaawide widevariety varietyofofbusinessbusinessWithnearly nearly150 150videos videos(and (andcounting), counting), our our YouTube YouTube channel related content.

From recognition events to one-on-one interviews with high-level business related content. From recognition events to one-on-one interviews with high-level business executives our playlists playlistshave havesomething somethingfor foreveryone. everyone. executivestotoin-depth in-depthdiscussions discussions with with industry industry leaders, leaders, our Here’s you’ll fi find on SCBIZtv. SCBIZtv. Here’saa sampling sampling of what you’ll nd on What’s New and What’s Hot!

Check out our new content as well as our trending videos on this ever-changing playlist.

9

Recognition Events

With events like Women of Influence in the Upstate, Icons and Phenoms in the Midlands and Health Care Heroes in the Lowcountry, SC Biz News honors the movers and shakers across the state.

Coping with COVID

Explore the impact the coronavirus is having on our daily lives, both at home and at the office.

9

Coffee With

This ongoing video series features business executives sharing insight about their business, the industry in which they work and the community in which they live.

Subscribe to SCBIZtv and stay in tune with what’s happening across South Carolina. https://www.youtube.com/scbiztv Subscribe to SCBIZtv and stay in tune with what’s happening across South Carolina. https://www.youtube.com/scbiztv

The Business Journal provides business news and analysis to Charleston’s business community with an emphasis on accurate, high quality business journalism.

The Business Journal focuses on the sectors vital to economic growth in Charleston, including education; research and development; knowledge- and technology-based businesses; manufacturing; and transportation. The Business Journal helps business leaders understand the important links among government, education and entrepreneurship that are vital to our economy.

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

» WELCOME Editor’s note: Many of the events, venues and businesses included in this publication have been adversely affected by the coronavirus pandemic. While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of our content, the changing nature of the pandemic and its effects make it impossible to guarantee all information within is current or valid.

T

he Charleston region is full of life, history and opportunity. You have probably already discovered this as you are considering, or have already chosen, the region as your new home.

On the surface, the region’s beauty is impossible to ignore. In fact, it’s probably one of the many things that attracted you to the area. Rivers serenely wind through scenic marshlands. Historic buildings are shaded by grand live oaks draped in Spanish moss.

But much deeper than the region’s beauty is its history, which dates back to 1670 when the first English settlers arrived and established Charles Towne on the banks of the Ashley River. As a favorite destination for travelers, the Charleston region proudly celebrates its history and the people who have helped shape the area into what it is today.

Quality of life is something each community takes seriously.

Schools are a high priority. New pedestrian- and family-friendly neighborhoods are being built that mix seamlessly with established neighborhoods. There are abundant opportunities to experience arts, culture, outdoor recreation, shopping, dining and nightlife.

We invite you to explore the region, get to know your neighbors and discover the charms of the Lowcountry. We’re certainly glad you’re here. Welcome home. •

WELCOME |

1

» WE’VE GOT IT ALL

INTRO CHARLESTON EDITORIAL Special Projects Editor - Steve McDaniel smcdaniel@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3123

Charleston was ranked No. 18 among the World's Best Cities in 2021 — the top U.S. destination on the list — and has been voted the Best City in the U.S. for nine years in a

Associate Editor, Special Projects - Jim Tatum jtatum@scbiznews.com • 864.720.2269

row by Travel & Leisure magazine. Here are a few reasons why:

Research Specialist - Paige Wills pwills@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3125

Atmosphere and Ambiance

Arts and History The Charleston area is the home of many firsts. The city was founded in 1670, and you can barely take a step in any direction without seeing a historic building, plantation or other landmark.

The St. Lawrence String Quartet performing at the 2019 From Rainbow Row and the City Market Spoleto Festival. downtown to Fort Moultrie on Sullivan’s Island, there is much to see and learn about. The Charleston arts scene is vibrant as well. Performing and visual arts come together in the annual Spoleto Festival.

Photo/Spoleto Festival USA

Day or night, Charleston’s atmosphere and ambiance beckon. Take a carriage ride to learn about the historic area, watch a sunset at a rooftop bar or venture to the beach to relax.

Charleston gets into your soul and we think you’ll agree there’s nothing quite like it.

Friendliness

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Director of Business Development - Mark Wright mwright@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3143 LOWCOUNTRY NEWSROOM Executive Editor - Andy Owens aowens@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3142 Staff Writer - Teri Errico Griffis tgriffis@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3144 News Editor - Alex Ng ang@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3124 Digital Editor - Rob Lyle rlyle@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3119 LOWCOUNTRY ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Account Executive - Amanda Alford aalford@bridgetowermedia.com • 843.849.3109

Our reputation for friendliness and manners is something we’re proud of. We take life a little slower here in Charleston and extend to visitors and newcomers the same hospitality that the city’s founders did. It won’t be long before you, too, will be saying, “Welcome, y’all!”

Lodging Want to stay in a historic inn? No problem. Like the beach with a golf course nearby? You can stay there, too. Luxury hotel, bed and breakfast, marsh or ocean view, harbor or skyline vista?

If you can dream it, we probably have it.

Photo/Alina Tyulyu, courtesy of Charleston Wine+Food

Restaurants Charleston is known worldwide as a hot spot on the gourmet food scene. Chefs focus on using farm-fresh produce and seafood straight from local waters. Lots of festivals and events feature our local cuisine, from spontaneous food truck rodeos to the annual Wine and Food Festival.

Shopping

Corkscrews and Campfires event held during the Charleston Wine and Food festival.

2

| WELCOME

Pick up a handmade sweetgrass basket in the City Market or shop the latest fashions on King Street downtown. Head out to the Tanger Outlets in North Charleston if you’re looking for a great deal or swing by Towne Centre in Mount Pleasant for trendy shops and locally owned boutiques. Whatever you’re looking for, you can find it here.

Group Publisher - Rick Jenkins rjenkins@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1224 Director of Advertising - Robert Reilly rreilly@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3107 Events Director - Kim McManus kmcmanus@scbiznews.com • 843.849.3116 Events Account Executive - Melissa Tomberg mtomberg@scbiznews.com • 864.720.1220 Accounting - Linda Burnette ar@bridgetowermedia.com • 704.247.2900 Subscription Services service@bridgetowermedia.com • 877.615.9536

NWS Company LLC A portfolio company of BridgeTower Media

The entire contents of this publication are copyright by NWS Company LLC with all rights reserved. Any reproduction or use of the content in this publication without permission is prohibited.

SCBIZ and South Carolina’s Media Engine for Economic Growth are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

» WHY I LIVE HERE

Welcome messages from our sponsors

I enjoy living in Charleston for the main reasons people enjoy vacationing here: The miles of stunning beaches, the culture, the awardwinning restaurants, and the unmatched Southern hospitality.

Since I moved to Charleston, I have been able to network and connect with likeminded individuals with whom I have built longstanding business relationships.

Charleston’s growing economy makes the city an excellent place for job seekers and business owners. With so many people making the decision to move out of large cities into a small-town feel, it’s no wonder so many people are relocating to Charleston. In addition, the cohesive communities make this city a great place to raise a family.

Attending a quality, ranked, and affordable faith-based college in America’s #1 City is a huge draw for Charleston Southern University students. In fact, many of them stay in the region after they graduate to live, work, and play. A beautiful campus with a small town feel nestled in the heart of the Charleston metro area makes CSU a great choice for students who prefer to commute as well as adults seeking to begin or finish a degree.

As one of South Carolina’s largest independent, private universities, Charleston Southern offers opportunities for a quality education, NCAA Division I athletics, campus ministries and a vibrant campus life. Topping the US News and World Report’s Online Bachelor’s lists for several years in a row, we remain the top-ranked in the state with more than 20 fully online programs.

Come visit the place where servant leaders pursue significant lives.

Dottie Karst, CPC, CSP

President, Charleston Southern University

President, Charles Foster

Dondi Costin

My family and I moved to the Lowcountry from Los Angeles in 2019, and we keep discovering new things to love about the area every day. As a native of California, it was important for us to be close to the water. From walks downtown on the harbor to trips to Sullivan’s Island, the beaches, marshes and waterways of the Lowcountry provide ample opportunity for recreation and relaxation. The area exudes a unique charm and grace thanks to the beauty of the land, the historical preservation that has been prioritized, and most importantly, the people. We enjoy the perks of big-city living — art, culture, amazing restaurants, to name a few — with the “small town” feeling that remains a part of this community.

Dr. Lori Robbins Palmetto Digestive Health Specialists & Endoscopy Center

WELCOME |

3

Photo/College of Charleston

22 Photo/Daniel Island Development Company

contents

»Welcome

2021 Volume 13

Photo/Volvo Car Open by Lee Deas of Obviouslee Marketing

56

| WELCOME

» Living In 40 Historic Charleston 42 North Charleston 44 Mount Pleasant 46 Daniel Island 48 West Ashley 50 James Island and Folly Beach 52 Summerville 54 Moncks Corner 56 Goose Creek 58 Kiawah and Seabrook Islands 59 Johns and Wadmalaw Islands 60 IOP and Sullivan’s Island 61 Jedburg and Ridgeville

» Resource Guide

62 4

2 Introduction to Charleston 3 Sponsors’ Welcome 6 Why, Thank You 8 Market Facts 16 Education in the Lowcountry 22 Higher Education 26 Health and Wellness

62 Sports and Recreation 66 Dog Parks 69 Golf Courses 70 Places to Stay 73 Arts Abound 75 Dining Out 76 Attractions and Tours 80 Newcomer Information and Map

Photo/Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Pineapple Fountain is a focal point of Waterfront Park in downtown Charleston.

40 Photo/Fleet Landing

Shrimp and grits, as pictured above from Fleet Landing in downtown Charleston, is a staple of Charleston cuisine.

75 WELCOME |

5

Photo/South Carolina Aquarium

WHY, THANK

YOU

The Charleston area keeps racking up the recognition in many areas.

Here are a few examples. We’re flattered ...

Charleston is the No. 1 U.S. Best City - Travel & Leisure, 2021 (ninth year in a row) No. 18 Best City in the World - Travel & Leisure, 2021 No. 2 Small U.S. City - Conde Nast Traveler, Readers’ Choice Awards, 2021 (11th year in a row in top 10)

The two-story, 385,000-gallon Great Ocean Tank at the South Carolina Aquarium in downto wn Charleston.

No. 2 The South’s Best City and Best Food City - Southern Living, 2020 No. 45 50 Best Places to Live in America - Businessinsider.com, 2020 No. 47 Best Places to Live in the

What are Market Facts and Lists?

ess.com

SPONSORED BY

No. 6 Most Fun Places to Live in the U.S. - U.S. News & World Report, 2021 No. 3 U.S. Island Destination, Kiawah Island - Travel & Leisure, 2021

BOOKofLISTS February 28, 2021

NBUSINESS.COM

WWW.CHARLESTO

| WELCOME

August 2021 | www.Charl estonBusin

BOOK OF LISTS

6

MARKETFACTS

2021 CHARLESTON

Each year, the Charleston Regional Business Journal collects all kinds of data and facts about our region. These are presented in a visual way in Market Facts, which is published annually. In the following pages, you will be introduced to a sampling of this data, presented in chart, graph and table format.

You will also be treated to samples from our annual Book of Lists. The lists are just what they sound like: listings of businesses and other organizations by category. The information is ranked by number of employees or other criteria such as capacity or revenue, and details about each company are painstakingly gathered by our researchers.

The facts and lists published here are ones that will be of interest to newcomers. We hope you enjoy both of these added features to Intro Charleston.

U.S. - Niche.com, 2021

SPONSORED BY

| Volume 27, No. 5

| www.CharlestonBusiness.co

m

Sources: Charleston County Economic Development, Charleston Regional Development Alliance

3

ent,

360 MEETING STREET

CHARLESTONMUSEUM.ORG

843-722-2996

C

Market Facts

harleston’s economy has been growing and diversifying at a steady pace, with technology, engineering, architecture, service industries and health care ranking as the area’s fastest-growing job sectors.

The coronavirus pandemic has had far-reaching effects on the world economy, and it is no different here. While tourism and hospitality numbers were down significantly in 2020, those sectors have rebounded in 2021. Some sectors, namely real estate, technology and many digital services, actually saw record growth due to pandemic-related changes in the workplace and consumer behavior in homebuying.

An economic driver for the entire state, the Port of Charleston consistently posts records for traffic and volume while navigating an increasingly complex and fluid global economy.

Ports, logistics, manufacturing and distribution companies account for a significant amount of economic activity in the Charleston region.

Financial institutions operating in the Charleston area represent more than 25% of the financial assets in banks across the state.

In the pages that follow we give you a visual representation of some data on the Charleston market through Market Facts. Each year, the Charleston Regional Business Journal publishes Market Facts: data and facts about our region presented in chart, graph and table format. The information here is from the most recent Market Facts publication.

Sponsored by

8

| MARKET FACTS

In this section Economic Drivers...............................................10 Hospitality & Tourism........................................ 11 Area Information................................................. 13 Real Estate............................................................. 14

» ECONOMIC DRIVERS Manufacturing

Mercedes-Benz Vans and Volvo Cars are manufacturing motor vehicles in the Lowcountry, and Boeing S.C. in North Charleston is now the exclusive builder of the company’s 787 commercial jet. The companies lead a slate of manufacturers in the Charleston region responsible for more than 10,000 jobs, including Robert Bosch,

KapStone, Nucor Steel, Cummins Turbo Technologies, Century Aluminum, JW Aluminum and more. The addition of Volvo and the Mercedes-Benz expansion are also drawing attention to the region from thirdparty companies that serve those major automakers’ supply-chain needs.

Source: Charleston Regional Business Journal

The 14,000-TEU APL Sentosa docks at the Wando Welch Terminal on the Wando River. (Photos/English Purcell, S.C. State Ports Authority)

Port of Charleston The S.C. State Ports Authority handled 1.4 million containers in fiscal year 2021, a 9.6% increase over fiscal year 2020 that reflects a surge in consumer spending during the pandemic. Charleston’s port is the ninth largest in the U.S., behind Savannah, Ga., its nearest competitor geographically, which ranks fourth in terms of total containers handled each year.

Container handling The S.C. State Ports Authority handled a total of

1,418,865 pier containers in fiscal year 2021.

Create a Life You Love in Charleston Visit CharlestonCommunityGuide.com and CharlestonCareers.org to help discover your new life – from diverse career opportunities to ways to get connected and involved in your community.

Find it all in Charleston | SC

Source: S.C. State Ports Authority

10

| MARKET FACTS

Photo/File

Hospitality & Tourism Hospitality and tourism pump billions of dollars each year into the economies of Charleston and South Carolina as a whole.

The robust sector serves as a major economic driver for businesses and communities across the state.

While the coronavirus pandemic cut

2020 numbers drastically, visitors returned to near pre-pandemic numbers in 2021.

The year-round tourist season in the Lowcountry pulls visitors to the Charleston area in support of a vibrant food-and-beverage sector with world-class cuisine and events, including Spoleto,

Charleston Restaurant Week and many other festivals and events that center around culinary arts.

The area’s natural beauty only enhances the cultural allure to the region, making the Lowcountry a natural choice for vacationers and sightseers.

MARKET FACTS |

11

Photo/Senior Airman Dennis Sloan

Photo/File

Get surprisingly great Home & Auto rates.

Defense Sector

­

­ ­

®

­

®

­

­

12

| MARKET FACTS

­ ­

­

Joint Base Charleston, which was created when the Naval Weapons Station and the Charleston Air Force Base joined into one military team, serves as the largest employer in the area with more than 20,000 employees. The defense sector continues to be a major job creator with manufacturing, technology, cybersecurity and contracting through Naval Information Warfare Center Atlantic (formerly known as SPAWAR), Lockheed, General Dynamics, SRC and other defense contractors in the region.

» AREA INFORMATION

Population growth by county, 2010-2020 – Dorchester County

– Berkeley County

19.1%

– Charleston County

increase from 2010 – 2020

450K

33

417,981

400K 350K

Number of new residents moving to the region each day

Source: Charleston Regional Development Alliance

350,998

31.5%

300K 250K 200K

179,492

150K

137,005

235,987

increase from 2010 – 2020

165,737

21.0%

100K

increase from 2010 – 2020

819,705

50K

Total Charleston MSA Population, 2020

0

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

MARKET FACTS |

13

Residential home sales in the Charleston region Days on the market until sale, Jan. 2020 - June 2021 69 70

THE TREND:

HOMES SELLING IMMEDIATELY

With for-sale inventory plummeting, homes sell rapidly and often for more than asking price. This is positive for sellers but has led to an extremely competitive market for buyers.

60

50

40

30

20

-76.8%

16

decrease from Feb. 2021 to June 2021

10

0 Jan. 2020 Feb. 2020 Mar. 2020 Apr. 2020 May 2020 June 2020 July 2020 Aug. 2020 Sept. 2020 Oct. 2020 Nov. 2020 Dec. 2020 Jan. 2021 Feb. 2021 Mar. 2021 Apr. 2021 May 2021 June 2021

Source: Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, Monthly Indicators Report - June 2021

Median sales price in the Charleston region – 2020

– 2021

– Percent Change

$400K $375K $350K

+11.7% +9.5%

$325K $300K

+17.4%

+17.5%

+22.8% $353,544

$348,795

$340,628

$337,000

$329,433

+21.1%

$314,900

$287,545

$294,990 $287,000

$290,000

$288,000

$287,800

THE TREND:

$275K

MEDIAN SALES PRICE SKYROCKETING The lack of housing for sale, low interest rates and high demand to buy a home in the Charleston region have led to a rapid increase in the median sales price.

$250K $225K $200K

January

February

March

April

May

June

Source: Charleston Trident Association of Realtors, Monthly Indicators Report - June 2021

14

| MARKET FACTS

Charleston-area apartment market Average monthly rent in the Charleston area

$1,348

Total apartment units – Dorchester County

$1250 $1225

$1075 $1050 $1025 $1000 $975 $950 $925 $900 $875 $850 $825 $800 $775

Aug. 2014

5,593

10,092

$1175 $1150 $1125

– Charleston County

– Average Monthly Rent

$1200

$1100

– Berkeley County

Goose Creek

Summerville

THE TREND:

RENT CONTINUES TO RISE

Rents started to plateau in 2018 to early 2019. However, rates began to increase from August 2019 to August 2020, despite the spread of COVID-19 during this time.

PERCENTAGE GROWTH IN RENT FROM AUG. 2014 - AUG. 2020

41+59

$

1,183

$1,234

4,792

North Charleston $

8,954

1,099

Mount Pleasant

9,880

41%

West Ashley $

1,226

2,287

James Island

1,465

$

Aug. 2020

3,553

$1,604

Downtown

$1,872

Source: Real Data, Charleston Apartment Index, August 2020

An inspection is PROTECTION

ALSO AVAILABLE: Mold Sampling • Pools • Spas • Elevators Insurance Exams • Sprinklers • CL-100’s and much more!

Call (843) 849-0455 or schedule online at

www.ACEPreferredInspections.com

MARKET FACTS |

15

Education T

he greater Charleston region has four school districts covering areas from downtown to suburban neighborhoods to rural and beach communities. Each district offers a variety of school programs, including magnet and charter schools with specialized curricula.

Charleston County School District is the largest in the region and second largest in the state, serving nearly 47,000 students countywide. Students living in the cities of Charleston, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant all attend Charleston County schools, as well as those on James Island, Johns Island and Sullivan’s Island.

Berkeley County School District serves more than 35,000 students in 40-plus schools that span the largely rural and suburban county. Students in such areas as Goose Creek, Hanahan, Cane Bay, Daniel Island and Moncks Corner attend these schools.

Dorchester County is divided into two districts that serve approximately 27,000 students. Dorchester School District 2 includes nearly 25,000 students in Summerville and surrounding areas. Dorchester School District 4 educates almost 2,000 children in the more rural parts of the county, including St. George, Ridgeville and Harleyville.

Details on each district are given on the pages that follow.

Sponsored by

16

| EDUCATION

In this section School Districts................................................... 19 Private Schools................................................... 20 Higher Education............................................... 22 Colleges and Universities.............................. 23

M t C

I c e s e e

Meet your future at the Lowcountry’s only Christian university.

In addition to obtaining a solid background in communication, critical thinking, and reasoning – skills employers desire – choose a program in high demand such as financial management, business analytics, engineering, nursing, cybersecurity, computer science, education, and much more.

100% of new, entering freshmen are awarded an academic scholarship. CSU awarded more than $76 million in financial aid during the last academic year.

A 13-to-1 ratio of students-to-faculty means small class sizes and a chance to interact directly with your professors.

CSU is on America’s 100 Best College Buys, America’s Best Christian Colleges, and U.S. News Best Colleges lists.

If you prefer an Online program, CSU offers one of the best in the country, according to U.S. News: No. 21 in online bachelor’s programs, No. 13 in online bachelor’s programs for veterans.

Experience the thrill of game day with Buccaneer athletics, playing at the NCAA Division 1 level, while enjoying the advantages of a small university.

INTEGRATING FAITH IN LEARNING, LEADING, AND SERVING Learn more at charlestonsouthern.edu or call 843-863-7050 CH A R LE S TO N SO U TH E R N U N IV E R S IT Y

C S U N IV

CH A R LE S TO N SO U TH E R N

Photos /Ryan Johnson, City of North Charleston

model site for arts infusion in South Carolina and was selected in 2007 as a Kennedy Center Creative Ticket School of Excellence and in 2010 as a National Blue Ribbon School. The Berkeley Center for the Arts at Goose Creek High School offers programs in creative writing, dance, orchestral strings, theater, visual arts, vocal music, and wind and percussion studies.

Other innovative programs and schools include Berkeley County Middle College High School, a magnet school on Trident Technical College’s Berkeley Campus, and Scholars Academy, the district’s International Baccalaureate program. Marrington Middle School of the Arts is a National Blue Ribbon School that incorporates the arts as an essential component of the curriculum.

The Gifted and Talented program serves academically advanced students. They are enrolled in classes to enrich and accelerate learning beyond the regular school curriculum, including in English and mathematics.

Charleston County School District

Berkeley County School District 107 E. Main St. Moncks Corner, SC 29461 843-899-8600 www.bcsdschools.net For a complete list of schools in Berkeley County School District, visit www.bcsdschools.net, Schools tab.

To determine your neighborhood school based on home address, contact the school district office. Register your child online under the Students and Parents tab.

18

| EDUCATION

Berkeley County School District, the fourth-largest school system in the state, is growing by about 1,000 students per year. It serves more than 35,000 students and operates 43 schools, including nine high schools, 12 middle schools, 24 elementary schools and three alternative and adult option schools.

Berkeley County provides arts magnet schools at each level of elementary, middle and high school. Howe Hall Arts Infused Magnet School serves students in kindergarten through fifth grade who are selected through a lottery process. Howe Hall is a

75 Calhoun St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-937-6300 www.ccsdschools.com For information on all the individual schools in the district, along with information on registering your child in the district, visit www.ccsdschools.com/Schools.

To look up your neighborhood school based on home address, visit croppermap. com/charleston.

Charleston County School District is the second-largest school system in South Carolina, representing a blend of urban, suburban and rural schools over nearly 1,000 square miles. The district serves almost 47,000 students in 83 schools and several specialized programs.

In Charleston County, each school-aged child is assigned to a neighborhood school based on grade level and home address.

In addition, the district offers specialized programs, magnet schools and charter schools, including such specialized programming as Montessori, International Baccalau-

» School District Overview School District Map

Student enrollment, 2019-2020

In Dorchester County, the districts divide along Eagle Drive, Indigo Road and Cummings Chapel Road.

Berkeley Dorchester County School County School District District 4

50,000 40,000

49,495 36,812

30,000

26,228

20,000 10,000

2,263

Dorchester County School District 2

Berkeley

Charleston County School District

reate, military-infused, math and science, arts and technology programs.

A number of options for adult education are also offered in the Charleston district, which strives to close the achievement gap and increase the graduation rate.

The district has completed a new strategic plan with the focus on ensuring college, career and citizenship readiness for all students.

Charleston

Per-pupil expenditure, 2019-2020 $11,000

$10,836

Dorchester 4

$13,574

$13,500

$11,719 $9,010

$8,500 $6,000 $3,500 Berkeley

Charleston

Dorchester 2

Dorchester 4

Source: South Carolina Department of Education

Dorchester School District 2 115 Devon Road Summerville, SC 29483 843-873-2901 www.ddtwo.org For a complete list of schools, look under the District Information tab on the website.

This link has a list of schools for each subdivision in the area.

For questions about attendance zones and which neighborhood school your child would attend, call the district office.

Dorchester School District 2 is the largest employer in Dorchester County. The district serves about 25,000 students in suburban Summerville through three high schools, six middle schools and 15 elementary schools, plus an alternative program for grades six to 12 and an adult community education program.

Dorchester 2

A school improvement program is underway that provided three new elementary schools. A new Rollings Middle School of the Arts opened in early 2018. The improvement program will also fund major expansions and renovations at five elementary and three middle schools. All three high schools will have classroom additions to accommodate increased career-readiness and technology programs to prepare students for college and the workforce. The new schools are helping alleviate overcrowding at all schools in the district.

Recognized as a school system of excellence, Dorchester 2 has been awarded district-wide National Accreditation from the AdvancED Accreditation Commission.

Dorchester School District 4 500 Ridge St. St. George, SC 29477 843-563-4535 www.dorchester4.k12.sc.us For a complete list of schools in the district, visit the website and check the Schools tab.

To determine your neighborhood school zone, call the district office.

Dorchester School District 4 is home to six schools — three elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school — and the Odyssey Educational Center, serving a student population of about 2,000. The district offers honors/advanced placement, college prep, tech prep and occupational courses.

•

EDUCATION |

19

For more lists subscribe to:

Private Schools

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

In the Charleston Area, Ranked by No. of Teachers

• •

20

Institution Name

Phone / Website / Email

Administrator / Year Founded

Palmetto Christian Academy 361 Egypt Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-881-9967 www.palmettochristianacademy.org lisas@palmettochristianacademy.org

J.D. Zubia 1992

Porter-Gaud School 300 Albemarle Road Charleston, SC 29407

843-556-3620 www.portergaud.edu communications@portergaud.edu

David DuBose Egleston 1867

Ashley Hall 172 Rutledge Ave. Charleston, SC 29403

843-722-4088 www.ashleyhall.org

Sundrops Montessori School 955 Houston Northcutt Blvd.

Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Teachers / 1 Enrollment

Student:Teacher Ratio 2

Affiliation / Accreditations

Grades Taught

113 738

15:1

SCISA, SACS

Pre-K through 12th

110 1,044

11:1

NAES, NAIS, SCISA, CASE, PAIS, The College Board

K through 12th

1909

94 685

8:1

SACS, SAIS, NAIS, NCGS

K2 through 12th

843-849-3652 www.sundropsmontessori.com info@sundropsmontessori.com

Shannon Smith, Jeanie M. Douglass 1998

88 350

9:1

AMS

6 weeks through 9th

Northwood Academy 104 Charger Drive Summerville, SC 29486

843-764-2284 www.northwoodacademy.com admissions@northwoodacademy.com

Christina Furrow, Larry L. Evanoff, Melanie Van Deusen 1978

75 857

13:1

AdvancED, ACSI, SCISA Advanced Accreditation, IFSCA, GCAPS, College Board

Infant through 12th

Bishop England High School 363 Seven Farms Drive Charleston, SC 29492

843-849-9599 www.behs.com rryan@behs.com

Patrick Finneran, Mary Anne Tucker 1915

68 730

11:1

Roman Catholic, Diocese of Charleston, SC High School Athletic League, AdvancED, NCEA, NASS, SACAC, NACAC

9th through 12th

Christ Our King - Stella Maris School 1183 Russell Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-884-4721 www.coksm.org frontoffice@coksm.org

John Byrnes, Susan Splendido 1950

56 635

12:1

Roman Catholic

Pre-K through 8th

James Island Christian School 15 Crosscreek Drive Charleston, SC 29412

843-795-1762 www.jics.org jics@jics.org

Leigh Ann White, Layton Powers, Cindy Hunter 1994

40 263

18:1

ACSI, SCISA, AdvancEd, NonDenominational Christian

K2 through 8th

Faith Christian School 337 Farmington Road Summerville, SC 29486

843-873-8464 www.faithchristiansc.net admin@faithchristiansc.net

David Freberg 1987

37 315

15:1

SCISA, AdvancED, ACTS

K3 through 12th

Charleston Day School 15 Archdale St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-377-0315 www.charlestondayschool.org admissions@charlestonday.org

Judith Foley Arnstein 1937

36 266

9:1

ISM, NAIS, SAIS, NBOA, MISBO, SAIC, PAIS

K through 8th

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.

1 Enrollment may be projected 2 Some schools include volunteers and part-time teachers in their student:teacher ratio.

| EDUCATION

Researched by Paige Wills

For more lists subscribe to:

Private Schools

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

In the Charleston Area, Ranked by No. of Teachers

• •

Institution Name

Phone / Website / Email

Administrator / Year Founded

Northside Christian School 7800 Northside Drive North Charleston, SC 29420

843-797-2690 www.northsidecharleston.com glockaby@northsideministries.com

Gavin Lockaby 1975

Cathedral Academy 3790 Ashley Phosphate Road North Charleston, SC 29418

843-760-1192 www.cathedralacademy.com contact@cathedralemail.com

Ridge Christian Academy 2168 Ridge Church Road Summerville, SC 29486

Teachers / 1 Enrollment

Student:Teacher Ratio 2

Affiliation / Accreditations

Grades Taught

35 300

13:1

SCACS, NAACSA, NCPSA, COGNIA

K2 through 12th

Patrick Stuart 1999

28 365

20:1

Cathedral of Praise

K4 through 12th

843-873-9856 www.ridgechristian.info mrsbray@ridgechristian.info

Gentry Ard, Maria P. Bray 1998

22 200

10:1

Ridge Baptist Church; SCISA

Infant daycare through 12th

The Charleston Christian School 2014 Bees Ferry Road Charleston, SC 29414

843-556-4480 www.charlestonchristian.org achandler@charlestonchristian.org

Ashley M. Chandler 1981

20 132

14:1

SCISA

K through 8th

Trident Academy 1455 Wakendaw Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-884-7046 www.tridentacademy.com admissions@tridentacademy.com

Betsy A. Fanning 1972

20 50

5:1

SAIS, SACS, SCISA, Academy of Orton-Gillingham Practitioners & Educators, NAIS, PAIS, International Dyslexia Association

K5 through 12th

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.

1 Enrollment may be projected 2 Some schools include volunteers and part-time teachers in their student:teacher ratio.

Researched by Paige Wills

EDUCATION |

21

Photo/Mike Ledford/College of Charleston

The College of Charleston.

» HIGHER EDUCATION

W

hether you are a college-bound student, a college football fanatic, an employee or a resident interested in lectures and continuing education opportunities, there’s a good chance you will find what you are looking for in South Carolina’s higher education system.

More than 232,000 students were enrolled in South Carolina’s public and independent two- and four-year institutions as of fall 2019, the latest data available from the S.C. Commission on Higher Education.

The College of Charleston, founded in 1770, is the oldest institution of higher learning in the Lowcountry and among Photo/Charleston Southern University

22

| EDUCATION

the oldest in the nation. It is a nationally recognized public liberal arts and sciences university located in the heart of historic Charleston. Enrollment as of fall 2020 was about 10,300 students, who attend class in centuries-old buildings, and many spend their evenings working as waiters and bartenders — or pedaling tourists around in rickshaws. Their work ethic and spending power make the students a vital part of Charleston’s thriving hospitality industry.

The Citadel is another college with deep roots in Charleston. It’s not uncommon to spot a “knob” walking the Lowcountry’s streets. The freshman class is easily identified

South Carolina is home to 84 institutions of higher learning, including: •

Three research institutions

•

10 comprehensive teachi ng institutions

•

Four regional campuses of

•

16 technical colleges

•

23 independent senior ins

•

Two two-year independe nt institutions

•

Two private professional

•

24 out-of-state degree-grant ing institutions

USC

titutions

schools

For more lists subscribe to:

Colleges & Universities

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Ranked by Fall 2020 Enrollment Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Enrollment / FT Faculty

Trident Technical College 7000 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406

843-574-6111 www.tridenttech.edu infocenter.ttc@tridenttech.edu

Mary Thornley 1964

College of Charleston 66 George St. Charleston, SC 29424

843-953-5670 www.cofc.edu admissions@cofc.edu

Charleston Southern University 9200 University Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29406

843-863-7955 www.charlestonsouthern.edu enroll@csuniv.edu

Medical University of South Carolina 171 Ashley Ave. Charleston, SC 29425

Public / Private

Top Three Majors, by Enrollment

11,650 245

Public

Associate in Arts, Associate in Science, Associate Degree Nursing

Andrew T. Hsu 1770

9,300 509

Public

Biology, Psychology, Business Administration

Dondi E. Costin 1964

3,378 192

Private

Nursing, Biology, Kinesiology

843-792-2300 www.musc.edu

Lisa K. Saladin, David J. Cole 1824

3,148 -

Public

Nursing, RN to BSN, Healthcare Studies

The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina 171 Moultrie St. Charleston, SC 29409

843-225-3294 www.go.citadel.edu ocm@citadel.edu

Glenn M. Walters 1842

2,858 208

Public

Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering, Criminal Justice

Charleston School of Law 385 Mary St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-329-1000 www.charlestonlaw.edu info@charlestonlaw.edu

Larry Cunningham, Ed Bell 2004

560 22

Private

Juris Doctor

ECPI University & Medical Careers Institute 7410 Northside Drive Charleston, SC 29420

843-414-0350 www.ecpi.edu jweaver@ecpi.edu

James Weaver 1966

480 -

Private

Nursing, Computer and Information Science, Electronics Engineering Technology

Southeastern College 2431 W. Aviation Ave., Suite 703 North Charleston, SC 29406

843-747-1279 www.sec.edu tvanhorn@sec.edu

2007

220 19

Private

AAS Radiology Technology, AAS Diagnostic Medical Sonography, AAS Medical Assisting

Miller-Motte College 8085 Rivers Ave., Suite E North Charleston, SC 29406

843-574-0101 www.miller-motte.edu vanessa.euresti@miller-motte.edu

Vanessa Euresti 1916

200 33

Private

Medical Clinical Assisting, Medical Billing and Coding, CDL(Commercial Drivers License Program)

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 101 W. Hill Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29404

843-767-8912 www.erau.edu/charleston charleston@erau.edu

P. Barry Butler 2006

178 153

Private

Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics, Bachelor of Science in Aviation Maintenance, Bachelor of Science in Technical Management

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.

Researched by Business Journal staff

EDUCATION |

23

Photo/File

Photo/MUSC

Left: The Medical University of South Carolina is a leading research and teaching institution and hospital in Charleston. It is also one of the largest employers in the Lowcountry.

Right: Cadets marching at The Citadel in Charleston.

by the men’s shaved heads that resemble doorknobs — hence the nickname. A few dozen women also attend the military college, although females were not allowed until 1996. The school is unique because it offers a classic military education described as “intense, meaningful and academically strong.” It differs from the nation’s traditional military schools because students are not required to join the service upon graduation. Approximately 3,300 students attend The Citadel.

The Medical University of South Carolina has a total enrollment of about 3,100 students and is one of the area’s premier hospitals. Its specialty degree programs include dental, graduate studies, medicine, nursing and pharmacy. It is also one of the region’s largest employers, and the research conducted there is a vital part of the region’s high-tech biomedical industry.

Charleston Southern University, a private, church-supported school in North Charleston, has grown steadily along with the Charleston metro area. Beginning as Baptist College in 1965, the liberal-arts school has an enrollment of more than 3,300 students pursuing four-year and postgraduate degrees in a variety of disciplines. It was recently named among the top 25 online bachelor’s degree programs in the country by U.S. News & World Report.

The Charleston School of Law is a private institution serving about 600 students in downtown Charleston. While the school was founded in 2003, like most things in this city, it is steeped in history.

In November 1825, a group of Charleston attorneys petitioned the S.C. General Assembly for a charter institution. The following year, the Forensic Club started offering law lectures, beginning the South-

east’s earliest law school. In 2002, prominent Charleston judges and attorneys set out to establish a law school that would continue the 19th-century club’s tradition.

The school earned accreditation in 2006 and graduated its first class the following year.

The Charleston region is also home to several technical colleges that offer a host of two-year degrees and trade certifications. These include Trident Technical College in North Charleston, the state’s largest two-year school with an enrollment of about 12,000. Trident Tech has partnered with Boeing since the global aerospace company established its North Charleston campus in 2009 to help fill the demand for trained, skilled workers in the aeronautics industry. The school has opened a new South Carolina Aeronautical Training Center that will consolidate all aspects of its =]

Photos/Trident Technical College

Trident Technical College offers classes and certifications in a variety of high-demand fields, including welding, emergency medicine and others.

24

| EDUCATION

Photo/Charleston Southern University

The Health Science building at Charleston Southern University.

aircraft and avionics curriculum. Trident Tech also offers training for workers in the surging automotive industry in the Lowcountry to meet workforce demands for Volvo, Mercedes-Benz and their suppliers.

Students also have the option of attending satellite campuses for specialty training, such as Embry Riddle Aeronautical University's two Lowcountry locations at Joint Base Charleston and in North Charleston.

Charleston is also home to the American College of the Building Arts, which trains students in historical building trades such as ironwork or plaster.

The Lowcountry Graduate Center in North Charleston is an organization that formed to help working professionals gain advanced degrees through collaboration between the state’s colleges and universities.

Despite myriad choices, South Carolina,

like many states, is at a crossroads when it comes to higher education.

Many exciting programs are underway here, including the South Carolina Centers for Economic Excellence program.

The state created the Centers for Economic Excellence program in 2002 to provide incentives for the state’s research universities to raise capital from private sources to fund endowments for specialized research professorships. The professorships serve a unique role in helping cultivate critical public-private industrial partnerships and expanding the state’s knowledge base.

At the same time, South Carolina is grappling with decreasing state funds and increased tuition costs. Without money for new facilities, demand in the coming years may outstrip capacity.

The good news is that university officials and lawmakers spend countless hours studying, debating and creating innovative ways to advance higher learning in South Carolina, without putting the financial burden on students and their families.

The state’s colleges and universities, including many in the Lowcountry, help fuel the local economy by serving as some of the area’s largest employers, by luring students and families to town, and by fostering relationships with the community and businesses. The Lowcountry’s institutions of higher learning are — and will continue to be — a major part of the cultural fabric of this region.

For more information on higher education institutions in South Carolina, visit the S.C. Commission on Higher Education at www.che.sc.gov.

•

Photo/College of Charleston

The Rita Liddy Hollings Science Center and Observatory at the College of Charleston.

EDUCATION |

25

Health and Wellness W

e like to take things easy here in the Lowcountry, but that doesn’t mean we don’t give attention to a diet and activity level that contributes to our health and wellbeing.

In this section you will read about all the reasons living here can help inspire you to healthy living. And when medical care is what you need, we offer the finest in physicians, clinics and hospitals. Charleston has long been home to some of the top hospitals in South Carolina.

When you are moving to a new place, finding out about health care can be a challenge. In these pages, we give you a list of urgent care centers, hospitals and retirement communities with full information about each.

We hope you’ll find our guide useful in helping you settle into a healthy lifestyle. It’s one of Charleston’s charms.

Sponsored by

26

| HEALTH EDUCATION AND WELLNESS

In this section Senior Centers.................................................... 34 Urgent Care Centers........................................ 34 Hospitals................................................................ 36 Retirement Communities................................37

Photo/Charleston County Parks and Recreation

Laurel Hill County Park off S.C. Highway 41 in Mount Pleasant has over 745 acres with running, walking and biking trails.

A

ll the pieces are in place for a healthy lifestyle when you move to Charleston. The weather is mild all year, fresh food and outdoor activities are readily available, and when you need it, topnotch medical care is close by.

So what are you waiting for?

If you need a nudge to get started, there are organized efforts to help you.

Just one of the many possibilities is Adventure Out, an outdoor fitness program presented by a partnership of Medical University of South Carolina and City of Charleston Parks and Recreation Department. Every week, a free fitness class is offered in a city park. It might be yoga at Brittle Bank Park or Hampton Park. It’s a great way to try out something new. For a schedule, see www.musc.edu/adventureout or the Adventure Out page on Facebook.

If you prefer to exercise independently,

28

| HEALTH AND WELLNESS

try walking, swimming or hiking, suggests Suzie Walters, fitness specialist program coordinator in Health Sciences at Trident Technical College. “You have to enjoy what you do,” Walters said, so that you’ll stick with it.

Just think about walking across the Arthur J. Ravenel Jr. bridge over the Cooper River or jogging along Folly Beach for inspiration. If you tire of the scenery in your own neighborhood, go walk downtown or along the water.

You’re never more than 10 minutes away from a public park, and Charleston area parks have dozens of activities on the weekend. MUSC also partners with other groups on programs that promote the active lifestyle.

One of those programs is the Charleston Healthy Business Challenge. It is free for any business and includes a website with scorecard and tips to help improve the cul-

ture of wellness with stress management, healthy eating and exercise. Go to www. chbchallenge.com for more information.

Like to run or walk with a lot of new friends? Find organized events and get registered at www.eventbrite.com/d/sc-Charleston/races/ Honoring a former MUSC president, the Greenberg Greenway is a series of greenscapes that connect people with places that support the environment and ecology of the MUSC campus, provide opportunities for hands-on learning, and create an inviting space for exercise and other health-promoting activities.

Components of the Greenway include the MUSC Arboretum, Urban Farm, Porcher Medicinal Garden, Walking Trails and the MUSC Fitness Park. The greenway will continue to evolve with the campus. For information, visit musc.edu, Office of Health Promotion.

For learning about healthy food — and observing how it grows — the Urban Farm at MUSC is a marvelous resource. “It’s five acres on the MUSC campus. We grow crops year-round, with 40 varieties of fruits, herbs and vegetables,” said Susan Johnson, director of Health Promotion at MUSC. The farm, at the corner of Bee and President streets, offers free gardening and health programs, field trips for school children, a wellness and dietitian program, guest speakers and community events. Visitors are invited to take a self-guided tour, or volunteer to help with gardening tasks. You won’t go home empty-handed, as the harvested crops are shared with the community.

“It’s a free resource for our community,” Johnson said. There are Saturday work and learn programs with a kid focus. You just might be inspired to plant your own garden – and the Lowcountry climate is congenial for that.

During the growing season, fresh foods are always available at the many farmers markets in the Lowcountry. Two of the larger

The Charleston Farmers Market has opened to a handful of farmers to ease back into the weekly event amid concerns about the coronavirus. (Photo/Teri Errico Griffis)

ones are at Marion Square downtown and in Mount Pleasant. Another way to get your fresh food is by CSA – Community Supported Agriculture. About 10 farms in the area de-

liver fresh produce weekly to those who purchase a CSA membership. Information about CSAs, farmers markets and roadside markets can be found at agriculture.sc.gov.

Landscape Architecture CHARLESTON 843.952.7817 WEB REMARKSTUDIOLLC.COM

HEALTH AND WELLNESS |

29

Photo/Alexandria Ng, Charleston Regional Business Journal

“When you buy local, you’re not promoting use of fossil fuels,” said Walters. “It’s also fresher and better for us.”

She pointed out that fresh seafoods are also easily found in the Lowcountry. The local seafood won’t contain the antibiotics of farmed seafoods and will be much fresher.

When your quest for wellness means you need medical care, you’re in a good place. The Lowcountry is home to several major hospitals and many specialty clinics, rehabilitation services, nursing homes and assisted living facilities.

MUSC recently completed construction of a new hospital on the Charleston peninsula dedicated to the care of women and children. The MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital and Pearl Tourville Women’s Pavilion opened in February 2020. The hospital has a 10-story patient tower, with the top floor dedicated to children’s cancer care, and a five-story inpatient procedure area, with a dedicated floor for labor and delivery.

Ground was broken for the hospital, at Calhoun and Courtenay streets, in August

Children can visit the outdoor playground on the seventh floor of the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, which includes a movie screening area and a view of the city.

2016. Patient rooms are larger and furnished to accommodate short or long stays by patients and their families.

The hospital has a neonatal intensive care unit and a comprehensive pediatric heart center. The Advanced Fetal Care Center is the state’s first comprehensive prenatal center for

families expecting babies with complex congenital birth defects and medical problems.

In addition, Roper St. Francis has opened a hospital and medical office building at Carnes Crossroads, where U.S. Highways 17-A and 176 intersect near Goose Creek, which will serve growing Berkeley County.

•

» MAKE ROOM FOR GOOD HEALTH IN YOUR BUSY DAY Always on the run with no time to exercise or plan meals?

Here are some tips to help:

1. Don’t allow technology to get in the way. Take the stairs, park a couple of blocks away from your destination, and at the golf course, walk rather than taking a cart.

2. At work, incorporate a treadmill desk if possible. You can walk at low speed while talking on the phone or reading reports.

3. Schedule workout meetings, where you walk while you talk.

4. With your children, look for exercisebased outdoor fun. Go to a park or seek out a “Mommy and Me” exercise class.

Exercising with kids builds family bonds and healthy habits. When you play with your children, you’re creating memories.

5. When you’re doing household chores or gardening, add a deep knee bend or squat in between steps of a task. Do arm curls with the cans while putting away groceries.

6. Choose the manual tool rather than the power tool when doing chores. A broom or rake gives you more exercise than a power blower.

7. When you’re tired at the end of the day, try the “10-minute ticker.” You can do anything for 10 minutes – such as walking or using the treadmill – and once you start, you’ll continue longer and feel energized.

8. Find a support group to walk or run with. You’ll make new friends and strengthen bonds with your community.

9. Learn to read food labels. Watch out for high levels of sugar and sodium in processed foods. Be sure to eat breakfast to get your metabolism going.

10. Make family meals a time to nourish your body and family by spending quality time with each other. Research suggests that eating family meals at home helps reduce risk of obesity in kids and helps adults maintain healthy weight.

11. Grow your own vegetables to provide fresh produce while improving health, easing stress and building family connections.

12. Teach the value of exercise by teaming up with your children for a fund-raising race. These 5Ks are usually family friendly with a mix of walkers and runners.

Source: Susan Johnson, director of Health Promotion, MUSC; Suzie Walters, fitness specialist program coordinator, Health Sciences, Trident Technical College

30

| HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Photos/Bishop Gadsden

Photo/Alexandria Ng, Charleston Regional Business Journal

» RETIRING WELL

E

ach year, more and more retirees discover the benefits of relocating to the Charleston area. The mild weather, historic surroundings and idyllic location make it a picturesque place to celebrate days of leisure.

South Carolina also has low property taxes and no estate tax, enticing retirees to move to the area. The cost of living is at the national average and crime remains low in the Charleston area.

The price of new and existing homes varies significantly in the Lowcountry, depending on how close to the water you want to live and which county you choose. As in most parts of the country during the pandemic, home prices have surged due to high demand and low sup-

ply. Charleston County homes sell for a median price of $500,000, while the median price in Berkeley County is $332,000 and in Dorchester County is $310,000.

Attached townhomes and condominiums sell at a median price of about $297,500 in Charleston County, $226,000 in Dorchester and $229,000 in Berkeley.

Of course, homes in penisular Charleston and those with deep-water or beach access can easily cost in the millions.

A robust economy, quality health care facilities and a host of recreational activities give the Charleston area everything retirees require for a relaxing lifestyle.

Located on James Isla nd, Bishop Gadsden ha s more than 450 The population of those 65 retired residents an d 300 employees.

HEALTH AND WELLNESS |

31

Photo/Daniel Island Development Company

years and older is growing nationwide, and the Charleston area is no exception. That means planning for more health care facilities, more affordable housing and recreational activities to address the needs of the aging population.

The Medical University of South Carolina, Roper St. Francis Healthcare and East Cooper Medical Center all serve area health care needs. Trident Health Care System is another provider in the Charleston area, with locations in Summerville and Moncks Corner. The Summerville Medical Center has found a niche in treating ailments common in seniors, routinely scoring top points from the Joint Commission for its treatment of heart attacks, heart failure and pneumonia. Palmetto Primary Care Physicians has built a new medical campus in the Nexton community near Summerville.

32

| HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Berkeley County recently added its first full-service hospital when Roper-St. Francis’ new facility at Carnes Crossroads in Goose Creek opened in 2019. The Medical University of South Carolina has preliminary plans for a proposed 125-bed hospital in Nexton that could open in 2023.

The Lowcountry offers many public recreational activities and options for a healthy lifestyle. The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission has a host of parks and waterfront piers and offers senior discounts on yearly memberships. The James Island County Park, Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park and North Charleston Wannamaker County Park have walking trails, canoeing, kayaking and shelters. The West Ashley Greenway is an 8-mile walking and biking trail that stretches from near the Ashley River to Johns Island.

For those looking for an easy stroll along the beach, there’s the Isle of Palms County Park and Kiawah Beachwalker Park. The Folly Beach Edwin S. Taylor Fishing Pier is closed while undergoing replacement due to insect damage and is set to reopen in 2023.

Charleston County is adding more biking options. In the next several years, the county plans to construct the Lowcountry Lowline, which will add miles of bike trails to connect all of the county’s parks.

Numerous farmers markets offer fresh, local produce. A weekly Saturday morning market is popular in downtown Charleston between April and November. A similar market draws residents and visitors in Mount Pleasant on Tuesday afternoons. Food stands dot the landscape, and most accept vouchers for seniors under the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program.

•

Welcome to the

Neighborhood

No matter where you live in the Tri-County area, we’re close by. With four hospitals, six ER’s and more than a hundred locations, getting the care you need is convenient and easy.

rsfh.com/welcomehome

HEALTH AND WELLNESS |

33

» SENIOR CENTERS

For more lists subscribe to:

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

IN THE CHARLESTON AREA, LISTED ALPHABETICALLY James Island County Park Awendaw Senior Center 6655 U.S. Highway 17 N. Awendaw, SC 29429 843-928-4700 CASC Senior Center 259 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-722-4127 www.charlestonareaseniors.org donnac@charlestonareaseniors.com David Sojourner Senior Center 5361 E. Jim Bilton Blvd.

St. George, SC 29477 843-563-3709 www.dorchesterseniors.com

103 Gulledge St. Moncks Corner, SC 29461 843-761-0396

Faith Sellers Senior Center 312 N. Laurel St. Summerville, SC 29483 843-871-5053

Mount Pleasant Senior Center 840 Von Kolnitz Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-856-2166 www.mtpleasantrec.com recfrontdesks@tompsc.com

Johns Island Post Acute 3647 Maybank Highway Johns Island, SC 29455 843-559-5888 Moncks Corner Senior Center

843-567-2674 South Berkeley Senior Center 103 Thurgood Road Goose Creek, SC 29455 843-572-2423

Saint Stephen Senior Center 1266 Russelville Road St. Stephen, SC 29469

Urgent Care Centers

Ranked by No. of Physicians in the Charleston Area Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Physicians

Employees / PAs

Charlestonarea Locations

Centre Pointe Emergency 5249 Emmett I. Davis Jr. Ave. North Charleston, SC 29418

843-746-2400 www.tridenthealthsystem.com

Christina Oh, Rod Whiting 2014

600

600 100

1

24/7 emergency services, telemedicine for stroke and behavioral health patients, lab, imaging

Moncks Corner Medical Center 401 N. Live Oak Drive Moncks Corner, SC 29461

843-761-8721 www.tridenthealthsystem.com trid.questionscomments@hcahealthcare.com

Christina Oh, Rod Whiting 1986

600

2,800 100

1

Patients receive ER care and have access to lab and imaging services, which include 3D mammography, DEXA scan, X-ray and CT

Doctors Care Urgent Care 1014 St. Andrews Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29407

843-556-5585 www.doctorscare.com info@doctorscare.com

Alice Savage 1981

15

400 20

13

Urgent care, family care, occupational medicine, workers' comp., telemedicine, online check-in

Roper St. Francis Express Care 319 Folly Road Charleston, SC 29412

843-402-LATE www.rsfh.com/express-care

Kathy Guatteri, Robert Oliverio 2005

12

139 8

6

On-site lab and x-rays; minor injuries or illnesses such as cold or flu symptoms, sore throats, sinus infections, earaches, upset stomachs, diarrhea or vomiting, sprained ankles and minor cuts

CareNow Urgent Care 515 St. James Ave. Goose Creek, SC 29445

843-507-8925 www.carenow.com tiesha.trappier@hcahealthcare.com

Tiesha Trappier 2018

3

18 7

2

Urgent care; medical staff trained in family practice, emergency medicine and occupational health services; range of primary and urgent care services for family

Holy City Med Urgent & Primary Care 2039 Savannah Highway Charleston, SC 29407

843-465-9248 www.holycitymed.com info@holycitymed.com

2

Onsite X-ray, EKG, in house labs, prescriptions, flu testing, strep, testing, UA testing, A1C testing, CBC testing, lipid testing, drive thru COVID testing, flu shots, primary care, physicals

Frank Wells 2020

3

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.

34

| HEALTH AND WELLNESS

60 5

Services

Researched by Paige Wills

C

Feel better faster.

We’re taking extra measures to keep you safe.

Physical distancing measures Precautionary face coverings Online check-in to limit lobby time Increased cleaning & sanitization

Open late and weekends. Walk-ins welcome.

9 Convenient Charleston Area Locations: Charleston West

Ivy Hall

3424 Shelby Ray Court Charleston, SC (843) 402-6834

3074 Highway 17 North Mt. Pleasant, SC (843) 884-6424

James Island 743 Folly Road Charleston, SC (843) 762-2360

Moncks Corner 459 Highway 52 North Moncks Corner, SC (843) 899-3870

Mount Pleasant

631 Johnnie Dodds Blvd.

Mt. Pleasant, SC (843) 881-0815

Northwoods

8091 Rivers Avenue N. Charleston, SC (843) 572-7000

West Ashley

1014 St. Andrews Blvd.

Charleston, SC (843) 556-5585

Summerville

410 North Main Street Summerville, SC (843) 871-3277

Dorchester Road 10160 Dorchester Road Summerville, SC (843) 871-7900

Check in online at DoctorsCare.com

Hospitals

For more lists subscribe to:

Ranked by No. of Licensed Beds

• •

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Company

Phone / Website / Email

Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

MUSC Health University Medical Center 171 Ashley Ave. Charleston, SC 29425

843-792-2300 www.muschealth.org muschlth@musc.edu

Patrick J. Cawley, David J. Cole 1824

790

-

Roper St. Francis Healthcare 125 Doughty St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-724-2000 www.rsfh.com

Jeffrey DiLisi 1852

657

645 1,562

Christina Oh 1975

445

600 800

1

Beds

Active Staff Physicians / Registered Nurses

Trident Health 2 9330 Medical Plaza Drive Charleston, SC 29406

843-797-7000 www.tridenthealthsystem.com trid.questionscomments@hcahealthcare.com

Ralph H. Johnson VA Health Care System 109 Bee St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-5011 www.charleston.va.gov

Scott R. Isaacks 1966

152

252 704

East Cooper Medical Center 2000 Hospital Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-881-0100 www.eastcoopermedctr.com tracy.hunter@tenethealth.com

Patrick Downes, Patrick Beaver 1986

130

-

Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health 2777 Speissegger Drive Charleston, SC 29405

843-747-5830 www.palmettobehavioralhealth.com

Timothy Miller 2000

108

-

Vibra Hospital of Charleston 1200 Hospital Drive Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-508-8911 www.vhcharleston.com

Brad Hollinger 2004

59

-

Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Charleston 9181 Medcom St. Charleston, SC 29406

843-820-7777 www.encompasshealth.com/charlestonrehab

Elizabeth Gibson 1993

49

-

The Citadel Infirmary 171 Moultrie St. Charleston, SC 29409

843-953-6847 www.citadel.edu/infirmary

Carey Capell 1843

38

-

Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center - General Infirmary 3841 Leeds Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405

843-529-7300 www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/sheriff/detention.php

W. Beatty 1996

22

-

Lieber Correctional Institute Infirmary Ridgeville, SC 29472

803-896-5257 www.doc.sc.gov/institutions/lieber.html corrections.info@doc.sc.gov

Brian Kendall 1986

10

-

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.

1 Locations include Bon Secours St. Francis Xavier Hospital, Mount Pleasant Hospital, Roper Hospital and Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital.

2 Locations include Trident Medical Center and Summerville Medical Center.

36

| HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Source: South Carolina Department of Health & Environmental Control, Oct. 2, 2020 (latest available at time of publication); researched by Paige Wills

Retirement Communities

For more lists subscribe to:

Ranked by No. of Beds/Units in the Charleston Area

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Bed/Units / Employees

Fitness Facility

General Store

Guest Apartment

Library

Personal Laundry

Bishop Gadsden Episcopal Retirement Community 1 Bishop Gadsden Way Charleston, SC 29412

843-762-3300 www.bishopgadsden.org contactus@bishopgadsden.org

Aaron Roop, Sarah E.H. Tipton 1850

406 420

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

Franke at Seaside 1885 Rifle Range Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-856-4700 www.frankeatseaside.org marketing@frankeatseaside.org

Sandy Stoll 1892

321 200

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

The Palms of Mount Pleasant 937 Bowman Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-884-6949 www.thepalmsofmtpleasant.com -

Rhonda Hammers, Joe Carr, Lisa Bell 1983

194 125

✔

✔

✔

NHC HealthCare Charleston 2230 Ashley Crossing Drive Charleston, SC 29414

843-766-5228 www.nhccare.com/locations/charleston/ tyler.bartlett@nhccare.com

Tyler Bartlett 1990

117 215

✔

✔

The Blake at Carnes Crossroads 4015 Second Ave. Summerville, SC 29486

843-376-3996 www.blakeliving.com/carnescrossroads/home info.carnescrossroads@blakeliving.com

Christine Hames 2017

100 80

✔

✔

Sherman House 1635 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29407

843-763-2242 www.theshermanhouse.org shermanhouse@bellsouth.net

Rebekah Kinsella 1984

56 4

Carter May Senior Living 1660 Ingram Road Charleston, SC 29407

843-556-8314 www.charitiessc.org janine@charlestondiocese.org

Janine N. Bauder 1929

25 25

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.

✔

Transportation

Administrator(s) / Year Founded

Sched. Activities

Phone / Website / Email

Physician Office

Company

Salon/Barber

Services

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

✔

Researched by Paige Wills

HEALTH AND WELLNESS |

37

Living In Editor’s note: Many of the events, businesses and venues included in this section have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and the consequent economic effects and restrictions placed on gatherings or site availability.

N

ow that you have decided to make the Charleston area your new home, you’ll need to decide where you want to live. There are so many choices, and all have something unique to offer.

You could live in the historic downtown, across the harbor in Mount Pleasant, in a suburban neighborhood or at the beach. You really can’t go wrong, whether you settle in booming North Charleston or neighborly Moncks Corner.

In these pages, we tell you at length about each of the possibilities. We talk about the community, the history, the neighborhoods and businesses and a touch of the lifestyle you can expect. To help you visualize, we show some photos of each area.

And when you get ready to move in, you’ll find phone numbers and websites to help you get settled.

Enjoy!

40 38

| LIVING IN HISTORIC CHARLESTON

In this section Historic Charleston.................................... 40

North Charleston.........................................42

42

Mount Pleasant............................................ 44

44

Daniel Island................................................. 46

West Ashley................................................... 48

46

James Island and Folly Beach.............. 50

48

Summerville....................................................52

Moncks Corner............................................ 54

50

Goose Creek.................................................. 56

Kiawah and Seabrook Islands.............. 58

52

Johns and Wadmalaw Islands.............. 59

Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island..... 60

59

Jedburg and Ridgeville.............................. 61

60 LIVING IN |

39

Photo/File

Aerial view of Charleston, with The Battery in the foreground.

LIVING IN

Historic Charleston A blend of old Southern charm and new development

A

city that defines Southern grace and charm, Charleston draws in visitors and residents with its rich history, vibrant culture and waterfront panoramas. Stroll down King Street to browse boutiques, wander through art galleries in the French Quarter, or tour some of the city’s wonderful old homes and churches.

Fine dining has become synonymous with the Lowcountry, and downtown Charleston is the heart of a growing world-class culinary scene. Unforgettable dining experiences abound throughout the peninsula.

Charleston is home to a well-established higher education community. The College of Charleston was granted a charter in 1785 and the school maintains a large presence downtown.

In 1824, the Medical University of South

40

| LIVING IN HISTORIC CHARLESTON

Carolina was founded, becoming the first medical school in the South. The MUSC campus and hospital occupy a large area on the peninsula’s western side between Calhoun and Bee streets, along with other health care providers, such as Roper St. Francis and the VA Medical Center.

The Citadel, established in 1842 and originally located at Marion Square, now occupies a large section of the Hampton Park area along the banks of the Ashley River in the northern section of downtown. The school’s rich military history has been the subject of many books and movies.

MOVING IN

Sweetgrass Baskets One of the oldest handcrafts of African origin in the U.S. Numerous resident artists still create these baskets from indigenous plants at the Charleston City Market.

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

City of Charleston................................................. 577-6970 www.charleston-sc.gov Citizens Service Desk.......................................724-7311 Charleston County School District.........937-6300

Building permits....................................................577-5550 Charleston Water System..............................727-6800 Dominion Energy SC................................800-251-7234 Trash and recycling............................................724-7364

The Pineapple Fountain is an iconic landmark in downtown Charleston. (Photos/File)

Charleston is an old city, but new projects have risen all over the peninsula.

A surge in renovation and construction, spurred by record tourism numbers and a thriving economy, has added numerous hotels, mixed-use and retail spaces.

But the old charm prevails. Despite widespread damage from a major earthquake in 1886 and Hurricane Hugo in 1989, Charleston still has some of the most historic homes and buildings in the South. A designated “historic district” preserves many residential properties.

Above: Many of Charleston’s historic properties feature beautifully manicured gardens.

Right: Rainbow Row is one of the most famous landmarks on the peninsula.

Neighborhoods The housing options downtown range from the sprawling, pastel-colored, multimillion-dollar homes to new luxury condos overlooking the Ashley River. The median price of homes downtown is higher than surrounding areas.

South of Broad is the neighborhood literally south of Broad Street that includes the often-photographed Battery and Waterfront Park. This area has some of the most expensive real estate in Charleston with most of the houses coming with a price tag in the millions. Walk down the streets in this quiet, storied neighborhood to catch a glimpse of traditional Charleston gardens and verandas.

The French Quarter is bound by Market and Meeting streets and Waterfront Park.

It is characterized by the many art galleries, cobblestone streets and restaurants that fill the area, and it’s named for the French merchants who once occupied the area.

Above the French Quarter is Ansonborough, the peninsula’s first neighborhood, although much of it was destroyed in a fire in 1838 and had to be rebuilt. Many of the houses have Greek Revival characteristics

and were built by some of Charleston’s oldest family names, such as Joseph Legare and Edward McCrady.

Harleston Village is another one of the old neighborhoods that was developed in 1770. It encompasses the area north of Broad Street to Calhoun Street. It includes Colonial Lake, which was set aside for public use in 1768. Renovations in 2016 added more seating and pathways, popular with joggers and dog walkers. The architecture includes Italian and Georgian, as well as styles that span the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries.

Radcliffeborough is bound by King, Vanderhorst, Smith and Radcliffe streets and contains much of the College of Charleston campus. Many of the houses have Italian and Gothic Revival influences.

To the west and north of Radcliffeborough are Cannonborough and Elliottborough, where homes are being renovated at a rapid rate. Close to MUSC, this area is popular with medical students and families who want a house downtown without the price of a lower-peninsula property.

To the east of Radcliffeborough is the

Mazyck-Wraggborough neighborhood, which stretches from King over to Washington Street. Anchoring the area is the landmark Marion Square, the 10-acre public park that houses a farmers market on Saturdays from April to December The area also includes the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, the Charleston Museum and the newly renovated Gaillard Center, Charleston’s premier venue for performances and special events.

Farther up the peninsula, Hampton Park Terrace and Wagener Terrace offer more housing options with turn-of-the-century and brick bungalow homes.

New developments are opening up residential spaces, such as the Midtown project on upper King Street that includes condominiums and single-family houses mixed in with commercial space.

The WestEdge project is revitalizing areas near the medical district and the Ashley River. The massive project will ultimately include medical research, residential, retail and office space.

•

LIVING IN HISTORIC CHARLESTON |

41

Photo/City of North Charleston

The 53,000-square-foot North Charleston Aquatic Center opened its doors to the community in July 2020.

LIVING IN

North Charleston

Area is home to Boeing, ice hockey, concerts and conventions

N

orth Charleston is an area in transition. With industrial and military roots, the city in recent years has committed to redeveloping its central neighborhoods and reinventing itself as a trendy yet affordable place to live.

The area north of Charleston was developed as plantations by early colonists, but after the Civil War, it grew into an industrial center. Early in the 20th century, the U.S. Navy targeted a huge swath of land along the Cooper River for a new naval base, and planned neighborhoods were created to house workers, the military and their families.

The North Charleston area boomed during World War II. The dynamic area incorporated as a city in 1972 and has expanded to include land in Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties.

42

| LIVING IN NORTH CHARLESTON

In the 1990s, the federal government closed the navy base in North Charleston.

The city of North Charleston has since partnered with developers to infuse new life into the area’s historic neighborhoods.

Redevelopment areas include Park Circle, a community of neighborhoods planned early in the 20th century. Park Circle is now a trendy and vibrant community with a number of restaurants and bars.

Riverfront Park on the old Navy base hosts festivals, concerts and other events throughout the year, and North Charleston has become a haven for craft breweries in

MOVING IN

recent years. Several breweries operate in the city, with plans for more.

Residential developments such as Oak Terrace Preserve have earned a reputation for their sustainable building practices. Nearby Montague Avenue is a Main Street of the past alive again with shops and restaurants.

Redevelopment is ongoing on the former Navy base as well, where once-empty military buildings now bustle with art studios, private offices and other commercial activity collectively known as the Navy Yard at Noisette.

North Charleston is a center of business

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

City of North Charleston ..............................554-5700 www.northcharleston.org Charleston County School District ........937-6300 Building permits .................................................. 740-2578

Charleston Water System ............................727-6800 Dominion Energy SC................................800-251-7234 Trash ...............................................................................745-1026 Recycling (Charleston County).....................720-7111

Photo/Commonhouse Aleworks

THE MUST

DO’S Photo/Ryan Johnson/City of North Charleston

Commonhouse Aleworks in the popular Park Circle neighborhood boasts a number of signature beers and a large outdoor area with plenty of space to gather.

activity for the region, with many of the Charleston area’s commercial and industrial employers located there. Boeing Co. builds its 787 Dreamliner commercial airplane in North Charleston, and Mercedes-Benz Vans has embarked on a major expansion of its manufacturing facility in the Ladson area.

North Charleston is home to Joint Base Charleston, a combined Navy and Air Force operation and a major employer in the region. It shares some facilities with Charleston International Airport, which had, until the coronavirus pandemic, set new passenger records yearly since 2015 and is in the midst of expansion and improvement projects.

One of the area’s major attractions is the

North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center and adjacent Charleston Area Convention Center. The complex is home to the Stingrays, a minor league hockey team, and is a venue for concerts, performances and meetings large and small.

Nearby shopping centers include the Tanger Outlet Center and Northwoods Mall.

The Rivers Avenue corridor is home to one of the region’s largest concentration of national and local retailers.

Interstate 26 runs through North Charleston east to Charleston and west toward Columbia. Interstate 526, which has terminal points in Mount Pleasant and West Ashley, reaches its peak in North Charleston.

North Charleston Farmers Market The market takes place every Thursday from May through October at the Felix C. Davis Community Center. Due to Covid-19 this is currently operating as an “Essentials Goods Mini Market” focused on fresh food from farmers and will feature one food truck per week.

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE

•

Photo/Ryan Johnson/City of North Charleston

The MUSC Children’s Health R. Keith Summey Medical Pavilion offers pediatric services in North Charleston.

Craft brewery capital of the Lowcountry North Charleston boasts many breweries, with more on the way.

To imbibe on the local brews check out: • Coast Brewing Co. • Freehouse Brewery • Holy City Brewing Co. • Lo-Fi Brewing • Rusty Bull Brewing Co. • Commonhouse Aleworks LIVING IN NORTH CHARLESTON |

43

LIVING IN

Mount Pleasant

Town across the harbor offers many residential options

D

espite its reputation as a suburban gateway to Charleston and the East Cooper beaches, the historic heart of Mount Pleasant can still be found near picturesque Shem Creek, where the fishing fleet docks beside popular local eateries. The Old Village, founded in 1680 and incorporated in 1837, sits on breezy bluffs that overlook the harbor just seaward of Shem Creek.

The opening of the $650 million Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in 2005 marked the beginning of a new era of growth for what is now the state’s fourth-largest municipality.

The U.S. Census population is now 90,000, up more than 30% from the 2010 population of 68,000.

Locals still treasure the area’s 18th century homes, quaint Pitt Street commercial district and the neighborhood’s authentic

44

| LIVING IN MOUNT PLEASANT

shade-drenched ambiance. Residents and visitors alike enjoy trips to Alhambra Hall Park and the nearby Pitt Street Bridge, which once connected the town to Sullivan’s Island by trolley but now offers views of Charleston Harbor and easy access to fishing and crabbing.

Other glimpses of Mount Pleasant’s past can be found across town on scenic Long Point Road.

On one side of the road, motorists may turn off and wander down a broad alley of oaks that leads to Boone Hall Plantation.

Settled in 1743, it remains a working plan-

MOVING IN

Shrimp season Fresh shrimp can be bought right off the boat on Shem Creek. Typically, brown shrimp are caught from May to August and white shrimp from September to December.

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Town of Mount Pleasant .................................884-8517 www.tompsc.com Charleston County School District ........937-6300 Building permits ..................................................884-5184

Mount Pleasant Waterworks ....................884-9626 Dominion Energy SC................................800-251-7234 Blue Flame Gas ......................................................884-2017 Trash and recycling ...........................................884-8518

Photo/File

Tucked away at the end of Pitt Street in the Old Village area of Mount Pleasant, the Pitt Street Bridge offers sweeping views of the Lowcountry and plenty of spots to drop a fishing line.

Photo/File

tation. Its “you-pick ’em” fields and seasonal events are beloved by local families.

On the other side of Long Point Road, the Charles Pinckney National Historic Site interprets life at Snee Farm Plantation, home of one of the original signers of the U.S. Constitution. The U.S. Park Service staff makes a special effort to explain and preserve the region’s Gullah culture.

Glimpses of that Gullah heritage can be seen along U.S. 17, where the area’s “basket ladies” still make and sell the Lowcountry’s signature sweetgrass baskets from simple roadside stands.

A weekly farmers market on Tuesday afternoons from April to October gives access to affordable, healthy food. The town unveiled two new modern hospitals in 2010.

East Cooper Regional Medical Center and Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital.

Fitness has also been on the upswing since the Ravenel bridge opened with a lane for bicyclists and pedestrians. Residents make extensive use of the town’s numerous parks, ballfields and gyms, and recreational sports leagues are numerous.

Palmetto Islands County Park, a 943acre facility, has nature trails, picnic areas, a water park and pedal boat rentals. Patriots Point on Charleston Harbor boasts a staterun military museum that displays World War II-era vessels, featuring the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, and more than a dozen vintage aircraft. Patriots Point also connects

Shrimp boats and restaurants line Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant.

to the Ravenel Bridge by way of Memorial Waterfront Park.

Mount Pleasant’s neighborhoods have varying styles and offer residents a range of choices, including large historic homes in the town’s Old Village, new family home construction in many neighborhood developments and upscale condominium communities.

I’On, a new-urbanist development off Mathis Ferry Road, is an award-winning neighborhood of beautiful homes, elaborate public spaces and mixed-use construction.

Farther out, the sprawling developments of Park West, Dunes West and Carolina Park are moving the geographic and population center of town more to the north.

With people come businesses, most of them oriented on either U.S. Highway 17 or Coleman Boulevard. The town’s most prominent shopping area is Towne Centre, between the Isle of Palms Connector and the end of Interstate 526 along U.S. 17.

In keeping with tradition, the town loves a good festival. Mount Pleasant hosts festivals for the arts, oysters, Scottish games, local foodies and children. Every April, the town turns out for the annual Blessing of the Fleet at Memorial Waterfront Park. The Christmas parade is a big draw, as is the Cooper River Bridge Run, which attracts runners and walkers by the tens of thousands each spring.

•

Photo/Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

The USS Yorktown as seen from Patriots Point.

LIVING IN MOUNT PLEASANT |

45

Photos/Daniel Island Development Company

Daniel Island’s neighborhoods are family-friendly with ample green space and beautiful homes.

LIVING IN

Daniel Island

A master plan guides development of luxury neighborhoods

T

he Lowcountry’s newest address is also one of its most attractive. Daniel Island has grown from an undeveloped expanse of forest and farmland into a thriving community of more than 5,000 people.

The 4,000-acre island at the tip of the Cainhoy Peninsula was essentially uninhabited when Interstate 526 crossed it in the 1990s, linking the land between the Wando and Cooper rivers to the mainland for the first time. Development, guided by a master plan worked out in conjunction with the Guggenheim Foundation (which owned the island from 1947 to 1997), began in the

46

| LIVING IN DANIEL ISLAND

late 1990s. Today, the Daniel Island community spans nine neighborhoods, a central commercial district, more than 400 acres of public parkland, 25 miles of walking trails, two golf courses and a world-class tennis facility.

Daniel Island is incorporated into the city of Charleston, even though it is located in Berkeley County and residents must pass through Mount Pleasant or North

MOVING IN

Charleston on Interstate 526 to reach it.

Though generally considered a bedroom community, the island’s daytime population swells to an estimated 8,500, thanks to employers such as software firms Blackbaud and Benefitfocus and the 34-acre campus of Bishop England High School, which moved to the island in 1998 after more than 80 years in downtown Charleston.

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Daniel Island/City of Charleston .............724-3765 www.danielisland.com Berkeley County School District ............899-8600 City of Charleston building permits ..... 724-7320

Charleston Water System ............................727-6800 Dominion Energy SC................................800-251-7234 Trash (City of Charleston) .............................724-7364 Recycling (Berkeley County).......................719-2383

Photos/Daniel Island Development Company

THE MUST

DO’S Veronika Kudermetova won the 2021 WTA tournament on Daniel Island. (Photo/Charleston Tennis LLC/Chris Smith)

Credit One Charleston Open

Daniel Island offers pleny of places to enjoy with your four-legged friend.

There is a premium on home prices here as many properties are located on or near deep-water access. The median home price is nearly $900,000, with condominiums and townhomes starting in the $300,000 range.

Several large multi-family projects are in various stages of development and plans point toward an eventual population of 15,000.

While Daniel Island is clearly oriented to residential living, its commercial component is vibrant and expanding. Blackbaud, a provider of fundraising software for the nonprofit and education sectors, recently opened a new, 172,000-square-foot facility to house many of its 1,400 employees. The company is also constructing a second, larger building in anticipation of additional hiring in the near future.

Benefitfocus, a human resources software firm, employs approximately 1,500 people across all divisions and has experienced strong growth in recent years.

The island’s main business district is populated with small businesses, restau-

rants and shops. New retail shops, restaurants and mixed-use projects are going up on the island to support a growing population and healthy economy.

Life on the island benefits from 23 miles of shoreline, much of it open to the public, and the extensive system of parks and docks give neighborhoods plenty of public spaces and room to socialize.

The island’s event calendar gets more crowded every year, thanks in large part to the Credit One Stadium, which hosts the Credit One Charleston Open (formerly the Volvo Car Open) Women’s Tennis Association tournament in April. The center also hosts a variety of concerts and other events during the year.

MUSC Health Stadium, home pitch for the Charleston Battery Soccer Club since 1999, was sold in late 2019 to developers with plans for mixed-use construction at the site. The Battery have relocated to the Patriots Point soccer facility in Mount Pleasant.

•

The Credit One Charleston Open, formerly the Volvo Car Open, is the largest women’s only tennis tournament in North America.

Every April, Charleston welcomes 90,000 spectators and more than 100 world-class, women athletes to the Credit One Stadium to participate in the excitement. Records are broken and memories are made as extraordinary tennis stars take Stadium Court to compete for the coveted title.

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE

Osprey Ospreys are large raptors that nest near water. Several osprey nests are located on Daniel Island, prompting The Daniel Island School to name the bird as its mascot. The Daniel Island Garden Club built an “Osprey Trail” garden oasis with an 11-foot-tall copper osprey sculpture for the community to enjoy.

LIVING IN DANIEL ISLAND |

47

Photos/Charleston Regional Business Journal

The Avondale Point area of West Ashley bustles with shops, restaurants and bars.

LIVING IN

West Ashley

One of the first suburbs has old plantations, visionary greenway

T

he area west of the Ashley

New residential development has continued

River in Charleston is home to

in recent years, especially past the western

some of the area’s oldest sub-

boundary of Interstate 526, in neighborhoods

urban neighborhoods and, a

like Shadowmoss and Carolina Bay.

little farther out, some of the newest.

West Ashley, as it’s called, also features a

Long-ago residents of West Ashley have left behind several historic plantations and

range of old and new shopping centers and

gardens that have been preserved and are

restaurants, historic plantations and other

open for tours. Magnolia Plantation, Middle-

Charles Towne Landing

attractions, and a unique outdoor walking trail.

ton Place and Drayton Hall Plantation allow

Neighborhoods closest to the Charleston

visitors to learn about the architecture and

Guests can step aboard and tour the Adventure, Charleston’s only 17th-century replica sailing ship, see cannons fired, or take a peek at otters, bears, bison and more at the Animal Forest natural habitat zoo.

peninsula were built in the 1920s through the

life of South Carolinians in the 1700s and the

1950s. Among the older subdivisions are Old

centuries following.

Windermere, Byrnes Down, Moreland, Avondale and The Crescent. Development continued through the 1970s and 1980s in neighborhoods farther out from the city, such as Northbridge, Northbridge Terrace and Wespanee Plantation.

48

| LIVING IN WEST ASHLEY

MOVING IN

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

West Ashley/City of Charleston ..............724-3765 www.charleston-sc.gov Charleston County School District ........937-6300 City of Charleston building permits ..... 724-7320

Charleston Water System ............................727-6800 Dominion Energy SC................................800-251-7234 Trash ..............................................................................724-7364 Recycling (Charleston County).....................720-7111

Photo/Charleston County Parks and Recreation

THE MUST

DO’S Photo/Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Middleton Place Middleton Place’s 110 vibrant acres include 65 acres of America’s oldest landscaped gardens — floral allées, terraced lawns, a pair of ornamental lakes shaped like butterfly wings — as well as a house museum, Eliza’s House, working stableyards with artisans and

Old Towne Creek County Park is an ideal setting for weddings, corporate picnics, oyster roasts or any occasion where a convenient and secluded location is needed.

heritage breed animals, a restaurant, inn and organic farm, all waiting to be explored.

Another historic destination in West site of the English settlement that would become the Carolina colony. The 664acre attraction is a state park.

Photo/Avondale 5K board

Photo/Gavin Lyons

Ashley is Charles Towne Landing, the

When getting around by car, main highway corridors in West Ashley are U.S. 17, called Savannah Highway, and S.C. 61, also known as Ashley River Road. The two highways are connected

by S.C. 7, also called Sam Rittenberg Boulevard. Interstates 526 and 26 connect West

Braised Keegan Filion Pork Belly plate at The Glass Onion in West Ashley.

This popular annual neighborhood 5K

Ashley to North Charleston to the north and Mount Pleasant to the east.

For those interested in seeing West Ashley

Avondale 5K

Shopping is plentiful in West Ashley.

Shopping centers anchored by national retailers

race winds through the scenic Avondale subdivision in West Ashley with a lively

by foot or bike, the West Ashley Greenway is

and restaurants are located all along Savannah

a good option. This 8-mile walking and biking

Highway and Sam Rittenberg Boulevard. West

path weaves among residential areas and

Ashley also includes eclectic shopping strips

shopping centers and through small marshy

filled with many locally owned stores and eat-

The race benefits Charleston’s Charles

areas and swaths of trees. The trail starts near

eries, such as the Avondale shopping area along

Webb Center, which serves children with

the South Windermere Shopping Center and

U.S. 17.

special needs.

•

after-party at the Triangle Char + Bar parking lot. Strollers and dogs are welcome.

stretches to Johns Island.

LIVING IN WEST ASHLEY |

49

Photo/File

Beautiful sunsets are a common occurrence at the “Edge of America” on Folly Beach.

LIVING IN

James Island and Folly Beach Looking for the beauty of nature? You’ll find it here

J

ames Island and Folly Beach, located just south of Charleston, represent a distinctly independent streak in the Lowcountry character.

Long a semirural area, James Island has seen its population boom since the early 1990s and the opening of the James Island Connector, a bridge that links the island directly to the Charleston peninsula.

James Island is bounded by Wappoo Creek, Charleston Harbor and the Stono and Folly rivers. Its network of marshes, inlets, sounds and creeks gives it one of the most scenic natural environments in the region. It was a strategic key to Charleston during the Revolutionary and Civil wars.

50

The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter began in 1861 with a shot from the island’s Fort Johnson, modern-day home of a stateof-the-art government marine science research facility.

McLeod Plantation, with its alley of slave cabins visible from Folly Road near the foot of the Wappoo Bridge, stands near the entrance to the private Country Club of Charleston. The Riverland Terrace neigh-

| LIVING IN JAMES ISLAND AND FOLLY BEACH

MOVING IN

borhood, located between Maybank Highway and Wappoo Creek, features enormous live oaks and deeply shaded lanes. A nearby commercial district offers fine restaurants, antiques and the Terrace Theatre, the area’s only art-house cinema.

Recreational options include the recently renovated Charleston Municipal Golf Course and James Island County Park, a 643-acre facility with trails, fishing docks, a

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Town of James Island .........................................795-4141 www.jamesislandsc.us City of Folly Beach .............................................588-2447 www.cityoffollybeach.com Charleston County School District ........937-6300 City of Charleston building permits ..... 724-7320

Charleston Water System ............................727-6800 Dominion Energy SC................................800-251-7234 Berkeley Electric Cooperative...................559-2458 James Island trash .........................795-9060, ext. 118 Folly Beach Public Works ...............................513-1831 Recycling (Charleston County).....................720-7111

Photo/Charleston County Parks and Recreation

THE MUST

DO’S Holiday Festival of Lights The James Island County Park lights up for the holidays with more than three miles of 700 light displays. It has been named one of the best holiday displays in the country.

ntures

n Outdoor Adve

been closed because of extensive damage from shipworms. A new pier is under construcition and is expected to open in spring 2023.

The undeveloped eastern end of the island was the longtime site of a Coast Guard station. Morris Island, where the Union assault depicted in the Civil War movie Glory took place, lies across the inlet from the old station. The island has been heavily eroded, and the Morris Island Lighthouse has been surrounded by water for decades.

Long described as the Lowcountry’s “poor man’s beach,” Folly’s signature shacks ceased to be affordable escapes for drifters, starving artists and beach bums a decade ago. Nonetheless, the island’s 2,300 yearround residents preserve its identity as a place where corporate homogenization hasn’t taken over – yet.

LOCAL

KNOWLEDGE Milton P. Demetre Park Formerly known as 'Sunrise Park,' it offers sweeping views of the harbor from James Island.

Photo/Ryan Wilcox

50-foot climbing wall, kayak rentals, picnic areas and a campground. The park’s Splash Zone water park is extremely popular with families during summer months, and the county park’s annual Holiday Festival of Lights attracts motorists on winter nights.

James Island ends where Folly Road enters a marsh marked by the landmark “Folly Boat,” an abandoned hull that was deposited on the roadside by Hurricane Hugo. Locals have been painting messages on it ever since.

Another treasured local landmark – Bowen’s Island Restaurant – sits on a tidal creek in a hummock of trees in the vast marsh between James Island and Folly Beach.

Folly Beach calls itself “The Edge of America,” and the seven-mile island certainly seems to take the nickname seriously. The island celebrates its bars, fishing shacks, funky eateries and nefarious characters, and East Coast surfers swarm to the spot they call “The Washout” whenever an Atlantic swell pushes big waves ashore.

A popular, county-run 1,000-foot fishing pier that marks the center of the island has

Photo/Charlesto

Above: Kayakers at the James Island County Park.

Right: A dolphin swims by the Morris Island lighthouse.

•

LIVING IN JAMES ISLAND AND FOLLY BEACH |

51

All Photos/Visit Summerville.com

The newly developed Hutchinson Square in Summerville’s historic downtown.

LIVING IN

Summerville

Town is alive with family-friendly festivals and natural beauty

S

ummerville is a community that still gathers at Town Square to celebrate the Fourth of July and a place where Friday night high school football draws a spirited crowd. In early December, the holiday season is ushered in with an annual Christmas tree lighting downtown. In this modern Southern city, progress and preservation are inextricably intertwined, making it a dynamic and diverse place to live and work.

Downtown Restoration, Enhancement and Management (D.R.E.A.M.), a nonprofit group spearheaded by local residents, has done much since its inception in 1992 to bring focus and support to Summerville and its historic downtown district. The commercial area is bustling again with unique shops, a local bookstore, art galleries and eateries. Guerin’s Pharmacy — the oldest still operating in South Carolina — contains antiques, a full-service pharmacy and an

52

| LIVING IN SUMMERVILLE

old-style soda fountain that serves drug store classics such as cherry and vanilla Cokes, milkshakes and chili dogs.

The Summerville Dorchester Museum documents cultural and natural history with a film and exhibits of colonial settlers, early churches and architecture. More than 700 buildings have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Summerville traces its roots to the 1780s, when it was known as Pineland Village to plantation owners wanting to escape the swamp fever and insects of the Lowcountry summer. After being deemed by medical specialists in 1899 as one of the best areas in the world for lung and

MOVING IN

throat disorders, the area experienced a golden era, with special lodgings and resorts springing up to accommodate pulmonary patients. The most famous was Pine Forest Inn, which sometimes served as the Winter White House for Presidents William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt.

Today, Summerville is Dorchester County’s largest city with a 2020 census population of more than 53,000. Named one of the 50 best small towns in America by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, Summerville offers residents the best of both worlds in terms of quality of life and housing. Known for its stately Victorian homes, the city also offers a variety of new construction options

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Town of Summerville..........................................851-4201 www.summervillesc.gov Dorchester District 2 schools......................873-2901 www.ddtwo.org

Building permits....................................................851-4220 Public Works............................................................851-4225 Dominion Energy SC................................800-251-7234 Waste Pro (trash)..................................................619-0800

attracting families, businesses and military personnel to the area.

Dubbed “Flower Town in the Pines,” Summerville still gets high marks for natural attributes. The Flowertown Festival draws more than 200,000 people every spring for a weekend dedicated to artisans and crafts amid the profusion of blooms in Azalea Park.

This event is consistently ranked one of the Top 20 events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Azalea Park, a 12-acre oasis of ponds, paths, fountains and tennis courts, has also been the site for one of South Carolina’s premiere outdoor arts events, Sculpture in the South. This exhibit and sale of original sculpture typically features more than 30 artists from across the country representing a range of sculpture from Western to whimsical. During the event, patrons also can explore 22 permanent sculptures displayed in public places in Summerville.

Summerville residents can take to the trails at nearby Givhans Ferry State Park, on the former site of an 18th-century ferry that once crossed the Edisto River. The park features camping, cabins, fishing, picnic areas and river access.

At Francis Beidler Forest in Four Holes Swamp, about 20 minutes north of town, shaded boardwalks wind through ancient groves of cypress and Pleistocene swamps.

The forest, a National Natural Landmark, is protected and managed by the National Audubon Society and is the largest remaining virgin stand of bald cypress in the world.

A popular destination for visitors, Summerville offers plenty of hotel rooms and bed and breakfast inns, including the Linwood Bed & Breakfast, built in 1883 by Julia Drayton Hastie, heiress to Magnolia Plantation. The Victorian mansion is surrounded by nearly two acres of award-winning landscaped gardens. The mansion itself is appointed with heart of pine floors, high ceilings, chandeliers, Victorian bays and triple sash windows, many with original glass.

Summerville has plenty of fine and fun dining options. Across the board, restaurants use style and originality to create menus that

Azalea Park is the starting point (right) for the town’s self-guided Walking Tour of Homes and Flowers.

appeal to an array of tastes. Summerville’s eateries include both chain and independently owned restaurants. Downtown, you’ll find an area called Short Central, a cobblestoned, pedestrian-only streetscape with shops and cafés located a block from Town Hall.

For those interested in stocking up on ingredients to create a feast at home, Summerville’s farmers market is a popular event. It runs weekly on Saturdays from April to November and is located near Town Hall.

A major addition to the many established neighborhoods and communities is Nexton, a 4,500-acre master planned community located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 17-A and I-26. It includes offices, hotels, apartments, schools, parks and trails, and several options for dining, entertainment and shopping.

Nexton was South Carolina’s first gigabit community, which means internet speeds are 100 times faster than the average fixed highspeed Internet connection, a plus for businesses that want to send large files quickly.

Adding to the town’s many things to do and places to go, Summerville officials have created a Sweet Tea Trail that promises an

adventure in Southern hospitality through history, food and shopping.

The trail tells the story of sweet tea’s birth in Summerville. It’s said that tea plants landed in Summerville in the late 1700s by way of the Ashley River. Andre Michaux, a French explorer and botanist, imported them along with varieties of camellias, gardenias and azaleas near Charleston at what is now known as Middleton Place Plantation.

In 1888, a wealthy scientific philanthropist acquired 600 acres in Summerville and established the Pinehurst Tea Plantation.

The plants were eventually moved to a spot on Wadmalaw Island, which is now known as the Charleston Tea Garden and is owned by Bigelow.

The town has held a Sweet Tea Festival in recent years to celebrate Southern traditions and, of course, sweet tea.

From its Friday night football games to its annual festivals, Summerville is a place where rich history and progress mix seamlessly. Leaders focus on stimulating economic development while making sure Flower Town in the Pines does not lose its small-town charm.

•

LIVING IN SUMMERVILLE |

53

Photo/Cypress Gardens

Cypress Gardens has been a popular destination since 1932.

LIVING IN

Moncks Corner

Quiet, close-knit community boasts proximity to major industries and nature

M

oncks Corner was a colonial trading post with a history that dates back to 1735. It was founded by landowner Thomas Monck, for whom the town was named. In 1853, Moncks Corner became an official scheduled stop on the North East Railroad and two buildings were subsequently built to accommodate freight and passengers.

The original train depot was destroyed by fire in 1915, and the existing building was constructed at the current site. The train depot was an important social landmark for residents in the early 1900s, just as it is today. Officials renovated the historic building in 2000 to serve as the town’s visitor and cultural center. Special events are held at the depot throughout the year, including the Fourth of July Street Dance and Christmas festivities. Residents also can rent it for special events.

54

| LIVING IN MONCKS CORNER

Moncks Corner today has nearly 12,500 residents and is the Berkeley County seat.

The original downtown is populated with progressive shops and restaurants and the town has positioned itself for growth.

Moncks Corner is home to the corporate office for Santee Cooper, a state-owned utility company. Google established two data centers in 2007 between Goose Creek and Moncks Corner at a cost of $600 million, and the facility was expanded in 2013 with another $600 million project. The company announced another $500 million expansion in March 2021.

Swedish automaker Volvo has established its first North American manufac-

MOVING IN

turing facility at the Camp Hall tract about 15 miles west of town. The company plans to eventually hire up to 4,000 workers, and other new jobs will likely be created as suppliers bring their operations to nearby locations.

With the area’s growth, Moncks Corner’s neighborhoods offer residents a convenient location in a quiet community. Neighborhoods include Cypress Ridge, Fairmont South, Stoney Creek and Foxbank Plantation.

There are several options for schools in Moncks Corner. Students attend public schools within the award winning Berkeley County School District. Private schools also are available.

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Town of Moncks Corner...................................719-7900 www.monckscornersc.gov Berkeley County School District.............899-8600 www.berkeley.k12.sc.us Moncks Corner building permits..............719-7900

Berkeley Electric Cooperative.....................761-8200 Public Works Commission.............................719-7965 Berkeley County Water & Sanitation...... 761-8817 Santee Cooper Electric Utility....................761-8000 Republic Services (recycling).....................552-4751

damage in 2015.

World-class waterskiing, wind surfing, sailing, boating and fishing are popular on man-made Lake Moultrie and, farther inland, Lake Marion. The two massive bodies make up the Santee-Cooper Reservoir, which provides hydroelectric power and recreation. The Palmetto Trail, a recreational trail that stretches statewide, takes trekkers off the beaten path for a closer experience with Southern fauna and wildlife.

In addition to these options, a 52-acre recreation complex in the center of town opened in 2015 with four lighted baseball fields, paved parking, a concession stand/press box, event signs, paved access road, an irrigation system and walking trails. The complex is also home to the Moncks Corner Farmers Market from 3-7 p.m. Thursdays from April to December.

The town invested $5.4 million into phase one of the center with future plans for tennis courts and a recreation center with a basketball court, swimming pool, jogging track and community rooms. Picnic areas and playgrounds are also planned for the complex.

•

THE MUST

DO’S Photo/Town of Moncks Corner

Moncks Corner’s proximity to area attractions, parks and more make it a match for residents who enjoy outdoor living.

Old Santee Canal Park commemorates America’s first summit canal, which began operating in 1800. In addition to tours of the historic site, the park features the Berkeley County Museum and Heritage Center. Exhibits and artifacts portray the region’s history, including that of Brig. Gen. Francis Marion, who was also known as the “Swamp Fox” and was born near Moncks Corner. The museum also includes the history of Native Americans, colonial life, the Civil War and the Francis Marion National Forest.

Mepkin Abbey, a former plantation perched on bluffs above the Cooper River, now serves as home to a Trappist monastery with a garden and chapel open to the public. Visitors can tour the monastery and gardens, or take part in spiritual retreats.

Cypress Gardens, a county-owned public park and well-known tourist attraction, has reopened after being closed for more than three years since sustaining significant flood

Regional Recreation Complex The Moncks Corner Recreation Complex hosts baseball and softball games, and attracts travel softball and baseball tournaments. A farmers market is also held at the complex from April to December with vendors selling homegrown, homemade and hand-crafted products.

Sunrise at Lake Moultrie.

LIVING IN MONCKS CORNER |

55

Photos/City of Goose Creek

Carnes Crossroads is one of several large residential developments near Goose Creek.

LIVING IN

Goose Creek

Suburban neighborhoods, growing community nestled in historic settings

T

he magazine Bloomberg Businessweek reported in 2012, “Goose Creek is on our list of best places to raise kids for the second year in a row. There are more than a few reasons. This quiet, pretty suburb of Charleston has much to offer, from great parks to solid schools, to rolling bike trails.”

Indeed, Goose Creek, located about 20 miles north of Charleston, has become a very desirable place to live in the Lowcountry. It ranks as the state’s eighth largest municipality with nearly 45,000 residents.

While the exact origin of the city’s name is unknown, this area of the Lowcountry has been called Goose Creek since the late 1600s. Early settlers were planters from

56

| LIVING IN GOOSE CREEK

Barbados who brought with them knowledge of various crops, including rice and indigo. These crops were successfully grown in the region for more than 100 years.

Fast forward to 1961, when the city of Goose Creek was incorporated and farmlands in the area began to be sold and subdivided to accommodate the fast-growing area and subsequent housing boom.

Today Goose Creek is the most densely populated city in Berkeley County. Its easy

MOVING IN

access to I-26 and proximity to Charleston continue to make it a popular bedroom community in the region. Well-known housing developments include Carnes Crossroads, Crowfield Plantation and Cane Bay Plantation. Crowfield, a former rice plantation, spans 382 acres and includes residential housing, as well as commercial development, churches and schools. Its recreation amenities include a golf course and country club, lakes, hiking and biking trails, and rec-

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

City of Goose Creek............................................ 797-6220 www.cityofgoosecreek.com Berkeley County School District.............899-8600 www.berkeley.k12.sc.us/ Building permits..............................797-6220, ext. 1100 Garbage......................................................................824-2200

Berkeley Electric Cooperative.....................761-8200 Dominion Energy SC................................800-251-7234 Goose Creek water service...........797-6220, ext. 0 Berkeley County Water & Sanitation...... 761-8817 Charleston Water System ............................727-6800

Photos/City of Goose Creek

reational areas. Cane Bay Plantation spans 4,500 acres and includes several neighborhoods — including Del Webb, an active senior living neighborhood — as well as schools, parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, hiking and biking trails, and retail centers.

Carnes Crossroads is a another sprawling, planned community of 2,300 acres near the intersection of U.S. Highways 176 and 17-A. It is projected to be home to more than 15,000 people at final buildout.

Opportunities for outdoor living in the Lowcountry are plentiful and Goose Creek is no different. The city’s recreation department has constructed several parks throughout the area featuring playgrounds, picnic areas and ball fields. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy 18 holes at Crowfield Golf and Country Club, which also has tennis and swimming.

There also are plenty of activities within a short drive of Goose Creek. Tennis fans can watch the Credit One Charleston Open (formerly the Volvo Car Open) tennis tournament, held each spring on nearby Daniel Island. The Charleston Riverdogs, a minor league baseball team, play home games at Joe Riley Jr. Park, about a 30-minute drive.

Goose Creek is home to the Naval Weapons Station, which is part of the Lowcountry’s largest employer, Joint Base Charleston.

The Naval Weapons Station employs nearly 13,500 and is the command center for the

Windmill Station restaurant at Carnes Crossroads.

U.S. Navy’s Nuclear Power Training program.

Other major employers in Goose Creek include aluminum manufacturers Century Aluminum Mount Holly and JW Aluminum, and lighting manufacturer Quoizel Lighting.

Quoizel, founded in 1930 in New York, relocated its headquarters to a state-of-the-art, 500,000-square-foot facility in Goose Creek.

Google built a $600 million data center in 2008 in Mount Holly, just north of Goose Creek. The internet search engine expanded its facility with a $600 million investment

in 2013 and announced another $500 million expansion in March 2021. In addition to creating jobs, Google helped fund the city’s free WiFi network that has been implemented at four locations in the county, including Central Avenue downtown.

Swedish automaker Volvo operates its first North American manufacturing facility at the Camp Hall tract, about 25 miles northwest of town. It has a workforce of around 1,500 and expects to eventually hire up to 4,000 workers.

•

Crowfield Plantation offers residents a premier golf experience.

LIVING IN GOOSE CREEK |

57

LIVING IN

Kiawah and Seabrook Islands Life on private islands is like a vacation every day

58

Photo/Kiawah Island Resort

K

iawah and Seabrook islands, two private resort communities south of Charleston, offer a quality of life that includes world-class golf, upscale homes and breathtaking views of the Lowcountry’s landscape.

Pottery found on Kiawah Island dates as far back as 4,000 years. Ownership of the island changed many times through the years from the Indians to the British and then to some of the earliest “Charlestonians.” Its history is linked to names you may already be familiar with: Gibbes, Vanderhorst and Middleton, to name a few.

Development of the island loosely began in the 1950s when C.C. Royal, who made his fortune in the lumber business, purchased the island. He built a home for his wife and seven children and then sold 65 lots to friends. In 1974, the Kuwait Investment Co. purchased the island from Royal’s heirs and created a land plan that consisted of a resort and residential development. Kiawah Development Partners is currently the master developer of the island.

Approximately 1,700 full-time residents inhabit the island, but the population swells in the spring and summer when about 600 of the island’s properties are rented.

The island is also home to the Kiawah Island Golf Resort, which includes five public golf courses and two private courses; The Sanctuary, a AAA Five Diamond hotel; an award-winning spa; and several restaurants.

The resort’s Ocean Course is a world-renowned site of high-profile golf. In fact, it hosted its third major global event with the 2021 PGA Championship. As a brand-new course, it hosted the classic and controversial 1991 Ryder Cup competition, which became

Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course played host to the 2012 and 2021 PGA Championships.

known as the “War by the Shore” and marked a turning point in the tenor surrounding the then 64-year-old, biennial event. The course also hosted the 2012 PGA Championship, an event that generated more than $200 million of economic impact.

Outside of golf, the island also caters to tennis players and is a destination for runners during the annual Kiawah Island Marathon, held each December.

Seabrook Island, just across the marsh from Kiawah Island, is a 2,200-acre mix of forest, salt marsh and beach. The island was discovered by settlers in 1666 and indigo and rice were its first cash crops. The island was first called Jones Island, then Simmons Island and finally Seabrook when it was purchased by William Seabrook in 1816.

Originally developed in 1972 as a resort and conference center location, the island

| LIVING IN KIAWAH AND SEABROOK ISLANDS

MOVING IN

has evolved into a private, oceanfront community with more than 2,500 properties and almost 1,900 residents living on the island year round.

There is no shortage of things to do on Seabrook Island, from golfing on two private courses, to playing tennis, horseback riding, biking and boating. There are also several restaurants to choose from.

Nature is always close by with plenty of opportunities to observe and study wildlife, whether strolling on the beach or exploring the waterways via kayak or canoe.

Just 30 minutes from Charleston, the islands are close enough for a day trip into the city. There are several opportunities for shopping excursions on both islands. Freshfields Village, at the crossroads between the two islands, offers a variety of retail stores and several restaurants.

•

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Town of Kiawah Island .................................... 768-9166 www.kiawahisland.org Town of Seabrook Island .................................768-9121 www.townofseabrookisland.org Charleston County School District ........937-6300 Town of Kiawah building permits .......... 768-9166

Kiawah Island Utility (water)......................768-0641 Berkeley Electric Cooperative...................559-2458 Kiawah trash and recycling ....................... 768-9166 Seabrook Island building permits............768-9121 Seabrook Island Utility Commission......768-0102

LIVING IN

Johns and Wadmalaw Islands Home to many farms, plant nurseries and produce stands, these are among the Lowcountry’s last rural sea islands Photo/Liz Segrist/Charleston Regional Business Journal

J

The Angel Oak’s age is the subject of much debate. Estimates range from 400 years to more than 1,500 years.

The Charleston Executive Airport is a small facility that offers convenience to resort visitors and flying lessons for locals.

A 16,000-square-foot library, completed in 2004, is the county’s largest branch.

Much of the development on the island today is upscale, including The Preserve at Fenwick Hall. Other developments offer a mixture of affordable and luxury choices, varying from waterfront lots to Charlestonstyle urbanism to custom rural seclusion.

The island’s central commercial district is located at the intersection of Main, Maybank and Bohicket roads.

Johns Island is a stronghold of Gullah culture and holds a special place in the Lowcountry’s civil rights history. Native son Esau Jenkins, despite no formal education beyond fourth grade, understood in the 1950s and ‘60s that the future of the island’s black communities would depend on bootstrapping programs for their education

MOVING IN

and health. He and others founded “Citizenship Schools” that helped residents — many illiterate — qualify to vote, and their Sea Island Health Corp. brought doctors and nurses to rural corners that had never received proper care.

•

Photo/Johns Island Farmers Market

ohns Island, the Lowcountry’s last remaining rural sea island, is a vast swath of land between James Island, the mainland west of Charleston and the private barrier islands of Kiawah and Seabrook.

Its future is one of the most important undecided questions in the Lowcountry.

The island grows much of the area’s fresh organic produce and is home to numerous farms, nurseries, packing houses and produce stands. And though its main transportation arteries are heavily trafficked, the island has miles of long, quiet, tree-lined roads that attract Lowcountry bicyclists.

Traffic remains one of the island’s most pressing issues. The debate continues, as opponents don’t want to trade their rural way of life for the suburban development better roads would bring.

The island boasts the Angel Oak, believed to be one of the oldest trees east of the Mississippi River. Estimates of its age range from 400 years to more than 1,500 years. However old it is, this ancient oak is a graceful giant, 65 feet tall and more than 25 feet around. Owned by the city of Charleston, it is open to the public.

Another local gem is the village of Rockville at the end of neighboring Wadmalaw Island. This remote, picturesque village plays host each August to the Rockville Regatta, an event that dates back more than 100 years and marks the end of the Lowcountry’s competitive sailing season.

Horses raised for work, transportation or recreation have long been a part of life on the island. The public Mullet Hall Equestrian Center at Johns Island County Park provides facilities for horse shows, plus 20 miles of riding trails.

Johns Island Farmers Market The market features more than 50 local farmers and artisans, food vendors and live music. Check out goods like breads and pastries, local seafood, free-range eggs, handcrafted cheeses, olives and olive oil, pet food, kosher honey, pickled products and more.

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

City of Charleston ............................................... 724-3745 www.charleston-sc.gov Charleston County School District ........937-6300 City of Charleston building permits ..... 724-7320 Charleston Water System ............................727-6800

St. John’s Water Co..............................................559-0186 Dominion Energy SC................................800-251-7234 Berkeley Electric Cooperative...................559-2458 Republic Services (trash)............................. 937-4048 Recycling (Charleston County): ..................720-7111 LIVING IN JOHNS AND WADMALAW ISLANDS |

59

LIVING IN

Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island For a day’s visit or a lifetime, islands’ beaches beckon

60

Photo/City of Isle of Palms

E

ast Cooper’s two beach-front islands are connected by one bridge but represent two distinct lifestyles.

Sullivan’s Island lies at the entrance to Charleston Harbor and spent much of its history as a slave port. Its strategic position made it a key to the seaward defense of the city of Charleston and it was fortified well into the 20th century. To Charlestonians of the late 19th and early 20th century, Sullivan’s Island was the beach to which they escaped by boat when the summer heat grew unbearable.

Today, the island’s military and beach-retreat heritage give the place an elegantly shabby, slow-moving style that is unique among Southern beach communities. Islanders have adapted abandoned fortifications and disused buildings from Fort Moultrie’s sprawling past into creative living spaces and public uses. Victorian homes line shaded streets.

About 2,000 people live on the 3.3-square-mile island, which remains a popular destination for beach-goers from Charleston and Mount Pleasant. But with no hotels, the beach is seldom crowded.

Easements and strict regulations protect the island’s dunes and maritime forests, and its lighthouse, which began operation in 1962, was conveyed to the National Parks Service in 2008.

Though Sullivan’s Island was home to two settlements in the 19th century, the neighboring Isle of Palms remained a remote, sparsely populated vacation spot until the early 20th century. A 50-room hotel opened in 1906, followed in 1912 by a beach pavilion and amusement park.

First known as Hunting Island, and then

Aerial view of Isle of Palms.

Long Island, developers renamed it the Isle of Palms in 1913 to attract tourists. Development of the 5.6-square-mile island didn’t begin in earnest until the 1940s.

The boom started in 1944 with the purchase of 1,300 acres by The Beach Co., which laid out roads and began building a mixture of vacation and affordable housing.

The Ben Sawyer Bridge connecting Mount Pleasant to Sullivan’s Island completed the Charleston-to-IOP automobile link in 1945 and more growth followed.

By the 1970s, developers turned their eyes toward a 1,600-acre tract on the northern end of IOP and began construction of what is today the gated Wild Dunes Resort.

This exclusive community features two golf courses, extensive tennis facilities and a system of walking and bicycling trails.

Hurricane Hugo destroyed 95% of the IOP’s buildings in 1989 and the influx of insurance cash led to a burst of luxurious

MOVING IN

•

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

City of Isle of Palms...........................................886-6428 www.iop.net Town of Sullivan’s Island.................................883-3198 www.sullivansisland.sc.gov Charleston County School District.........937-6300 Isle of Palms building permits...................886-9912 Isle of Palms Water and Sewer.................886-6148

| LIVING IN ISLE OF PALMS AND SULLIVAN’S ISLAND

gentrification. Today, the island has a population of more than 4,500, multimillion-dollar homes line the water and its Front Beach commercial district bustles with restaurants and shops.

The IOP’s Windjammer Lounge is a classic beachfront bar and music venue, and the annual Polar Bear Swim on Sullivan’s Island, which draws thousands of high-spirited bathers every New Year’s Day, originates at Dunleavy’s Pub in the island’s tiny downtown.

Life on the islands offers distinct choices for those who can afford them — the upscale energy of the IOP versus the quirkier charms of Sullivan’s Island. Residents of both islands benefit from one of the area's finest elementary schools, enjoy easy access to shopping in nearby Mount Pleasant via the Isle of Palms Connector and can often be spotted tooling around in their ubiquitous electric golf carts.

City of Isle of Palms trash..................................720-7111 Sullivan’s Island building permits...........883-5727 Sullivan’s Island water system................. 883-3947 Sullivan’s Island trash.......................................884-8518 Dominion Energy SC................................800-251-7234 Recycling (Charleston County).....................720-7111

LIVING IN

Jedburg and Ridgeville Rural countryside poised to change with industrial development Photo/Kathy Allen

T

Photo/Volvo Cars

he suburban sprawl that has enveloped the Lowcountry slowly fades as you head northwest out of Summerville on U.S. Highway 78, past Jedburg Road, and approach the town of Ridgeville.

But that rural, small-town feel belies the fact that this part of Dorchester County is undergoing a profound change.

That transformation started in 2015 when Swedish automaker Volvo announced its first North American production facility at the Camp Hall tract, about seven miles northeast of Ridgeville across Interstate 26 in Berkeley County. The campus currently runs manufacturing operations of the S60 sedan and has hired around 1,500 workers.

The company’s long-range plan is to add production lines to build the XC90 SUV by 2022 and hire a total of 4,000 workers, a number that could rise based on demand for the two models that will be built there.

That influx of skilled automotive workers will change forever this sleepy stretch of pine forests, farmland and small communities.

A drive through Ridgeville’s business district will take you into a quintessential Southern railroad town, past barbecue restaurants, a general store and other small businesses. It’s a place where just about everybody knows each other, where store owners have served multiple generations of the same families. The U.S. Census lists Ridgeville’s population at approximately 1,800, but that includes nearly 900 inmates at the state’s Lieber Correctional Institute on the outskirts of town.

Quiet and close to nature, Ridgeville is just minutes from the Francis Beidler Forest, a National Audubon Society wildlife sanctuary, and Givhans Ferry State Park,

Downtown Ridgeville (above) is a mix of family-owned restaurants, retail and other businessess typical of a small Southern town. The final assembly facility (right) for Volvo’s new automotive manufacturing plant near Ridgeville is the largest building on the site.

along the Edisto River. The Cypress Methodist Camp Ground off S.C. Highway 173, a religious and community gathering place established more than 200 years ago, is still in use and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Volvo project is also attracting other new industry and infrastructure improvements. A large industrial park has opened near the intersection of U.S. 78 and S.C. Highway 27, and a new interchange near Volvo at Interstate 26 was completed in 2019 to accommodate the increase in commuter and commercial traffic.

MOVING IN

Growth is also evident in the area around Jedburg Road. New businesses have opened in anticipation of increasing demand for gas, food and other consumer needs. Developers have initial plans for several new residential communities to meet expected demand from Volvo workers and a growing population in the Summerville area.

Other large employers in the area include Showa Denko Carbon, which supplies a key component for steel manufacturing, and Key West Boats, a recreational boat maker.

•

All phone numbers are 843 area code, except where noted

Town of Ridgeville.................................................871-7960 Email..............ridgevilleclerk.treasurer@gmail.com Dorchester School District 4......................563-4535 Building permits..................................................... 832-0011

Ridgeville Water Dept.......................................873-3286 Dominion Energy SC................................800-251-7234 Edisto Electric Cooperative............................245-5141 Waste Pro (trash and recycling)..............619-0800 LIVING IN JEDBURG AND RIDGEVILLE |

61

Sports and Recreation Editor’s note: Many of the events, businesses and venues mentioned in this section have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and the consequent economic effects and restrictions placed on gatherings or site availability.

O

ne of the best things about life in the Lowcountry is the myriad opportunities for outdoor activities.

The weather is good most of the year, and sports and recreational activities are there for the taking. You can join an organized team or take up an individual activity, such as kayaking or paddle boarding.

Every community in the Charleston area has a well-developed sports and recreation program. In the pages that follow, we tell you about the recreation offerings for each city and town, with some of the highlights of the year.

There is also a listing of other recreational possibilities beyond the municipal departments, such as bocce, roller derby or rugby.

So, pick your favorite and get out there and enjoy yourself!

62

| SPORTS AND RECREATION

In this section City of Charleston Recreation Department.................................. 64 Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission............. 65 Dog Parks.............................................................. 66 North Charleston Parks and Recreation.......................................67 Mount Pleasant Recreation.......................... 68 Golf Courses........................................................ 69 Places to Stay...................................................... 70 Arts Abound..........................................................73 Dining Out..............................................................75 Attractions and Tours........................................76 Newcomer Information and Map.............. 80

SPORTS AND RECREATION |

63

City of Charleston Recreation Department

Soccer is widely popular and is offered by many recreation departments around the Lowcountry.

823 Meeting St., Charleston, SC 29403 843-724-7327 Laurie Yarbrough, director www.charleston-sc.gov/recreation www.facebook.com/chsrecreation The City of Charleston Recreation Department serves downtown Charleston, James Island, Johns Island, West Ashley and Daniel Island.

Youth sports offered: soccer, tackle football, baseball, softball, cheerleading, gymnastics, flag football, lacrosse, basketball, tennis, aquatics, track, cross country, wrestling, volleyball, golf

Other activities: summer camps, therapeutic recreation, adult sports, fitness classes, cooking, art, boxing, karate, environmental education, senior programs and trips, dance, tumbling, lifeguard training, manners classes and babysitting classes

START YOUR ADVENTURE

Top three citywide events of the year Easter Eggstravaganza: held near Easter;

CHARLESTON COUNTY

PARKS

egg hunt, activities, games; Hampton Park.

Celebration of Summer: An end-of-summer party held in Hampton Park in late July. Family friendly with pony rides, jump castles and more.

Trick or Treat in the Park: Halloween night; wear costumes and trick or treat at decorated cars; Hampton Park.

A few places to check out Park hours are dawn to dusk unless otherwise posted. Some of the city’s popular parks are:

Hazel Parker Playground 70 E. Bay St. A variety of family/community days each month

James Island Recreation Complex 1088 Quail Drive Gymnastics center, pool, camps, classes and sports for all ages

64

| SPORTS AND RECREATION

Photo/Charleston County Parks and Recreation

I

n the Lowcountry, outdoor living is a special draw. You can go surfing, kayaking, fishing or biking — all in the same weekend. But outdoor recreation is just the start.

When you move your family to a new community, a concern may be whether your new hometown offers the sports and recreational activities your family enjoys. In the Lowcountry, you will find most activities are available, even some you might not expect, such as lacrosse and ice hockey.

This section includes a listing of the offerings by the major parks and recreation departments in the area. The largest are City of Charleston, Mount Pleasant and North Charleston, but smaller departments such as Summerville and Isle of Palms also have a lot to offer. While recreation departments are set up to serve the residents of their communities, most allow non-residents to register for programs for an added fee.

Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission provides mostly individual park-based activities, such as kaya-

king, climbing and water parks. The county does run team sports in some rural areas that aren’t served by other departments.

Most parks offer programs for all ages, from preschool to senior adults. In general, permits are required to hold an event in a park; check with the local parks department to see what is needed.

And if your interest runs to college or professional sports, the Charleston area has a lot to offer. Charleston Southern University, The Citadel and College of Charleston all have standout sports programs.

The Lowcountry is home to three professional teams: the Charleston RiverDogs (baseball), a Class A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays; the Charleston Battery (soccer) of the United Soccer Leagues; and the South Carolina Stingrays (hockey), a member of the East Coast Hockey League affiliated with the 2018 Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals.

The Credit One Charleston Open tournament (formerly the Volvo Car

Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission 861 Riverland Drive, Charleston 29412 843-795-4386 David Bennett, executive director www.ccprc.com A clickable map is available at www.ccprc.com/DocumentCenter/14480/ AGENCY-MAP Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission provides park and recreation services but does not duplicate services provided by municipalities and other special recreation districts. The county commission has developed a countywide park system that emphasizes individual and family activities such as outdoor recreation, environmental education and public beach access. The commission runs rural recreation sports programs in areas not otherwise served at McClellanville, Johns Island and Hollywood.

Activities: Summer camps, water parks, climbing wall, geocaching, group and corporate services, nature and history programs, swim lessons and water safety

Top events Holiday Festival of Lights Popular family event held in November and December, James Island County Park

Charleston Sprint Triathlon Series Swim 600-yard freshwater lake; bike 12 miles; run 5K; held in May, June, July and August; James Island County Park

A few places to check out Some of the most popular parks are:

James Island County Park 871 Riverland Drive, James Island camping, challenge course, climbing wall, water park

CawCaw Interpretive Center 5200 Savannah Highway, Ravenel

SK8 Charleston Skate Park 1549 Oceanic St., Charleston

Palmetto Island County Park 444 Needlerush Pkwy, Mount Pleasant

Charlie is the mascot of the Riverdogs.

(Photo/Charleston Riverdogs)

Hampton Park 30 Mary Murray Dr., Charleston

SPORTS AND RECREATION |

65

Photo/Caw Caw Interpretive Center

Canoeing at Caw Caw Interpretive Center near Ravenel in southern Charleston County.

Open) brings women’s tennis stars to Daniel Island every spring.

For outdoor fun, Folly Beach is considered a top surfing destination on the East Coast, and you can check conditions at its storied “Washout” via webcam.

Kayaking in the blackwater rivers and swamps or quieter areas of Charleston Harbor is a favorite. There are outfitters along Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant that rent equipment.

Recreational boating and sailing are

local passions. Each April hundreds of sailors take to Charleston Harbor for Charleston Race Week, sponsored by the Charleston Ocean Racing Association. Deep sea fishing charters are available at Shem Creek and other locations.

Locals fish off piers at Folly Beach (closed until 2023 for repairs) or the Memorial Waterfront Park in Mount Pleasant, or net crabs in tidal creeks.

Running has grown in popularity since the first Cooper River Bridge Run in 1978.

Dog Parks Here are some parks set up expressly for dogs and their owners.

Charleston County

Ackerman Park Dog Run, 55 Sycamore Drive Bees Landing Recreation Complex, 1530 Ashley Gardens Blvd.

Cannon Park, 131 Rutledge Ave. East Bay Dog Park, 41 S. Adgers Wharf

North Charleston Wannamaker County Park, 8888 University Blvd.

Governor’s Park, 165 Fairbanks Oak Alley

All dogs must be up to date on vaccinations and must be under their owners’ supervision at all times.

66

City of Charleston

James Island County Park, 871 Riverland Drive

Mount Pleasant Palmetto Islands County Park, 444 Needlerush Parkway

| SPORTS AND RECREATION

The race takes place each April, attracting world-class 10K runners and tens of thousands of amateur athletes and walkers. It begins near Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant and ends in downtown Charleston.

The area’s flat roads make for fast cycling.

The Lowcountry hosts a series of popular cycling events, including group rides and races.

So, test out your old favorites or try something new. It’s all here.

Hampton Park Dog Run, corner of Rutledge Avenue and Grove Street Hazel Parker Dog Run, 70 E. Bay St. James Island Recreation Complex, 1088 Quail Drive

•

Photo/City of Charleston Recreation Deptartment

North Charleston Parks and Recreation

2500 City Hall Lane North Charleston, S.C. 29406 843-740-5814 Ed Barfield, recreation director www.northcharleston.org North Charleston Parks and Recreation serves the city of North Charleston.

Sports offered: Softball, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, wrestling, volleyball, track and field

Activities: Adult and senior fitness, after-school programs, aquatics, camps, ceramics, dance, disc golf, cheerleading

Top events Youth Pitch, Hit and Run: local competition held in April; winners advance to sectional competition Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark located within North Charleston’s Wannamaker County Park.

Other parks and recreation departments Isle of Palms Parks and Recreation

Hanahan Recreation and Parks 3100 Mabeline Road, Hanahan, SC 29410 www.cityofhanahan.com The department serves the city of Hanahan. Offered are basketball, football, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, as well as T-ball, dance, tumbling, camps and fitness.

515 W. Boundary St., Summerville, SC 29485 843-851-5211 www.summervillesc.gov Among the sports offered are softball, baseball, tennis, football and cricket. The town has a major sports center, the Jerry Blackwell Sports Complex, at 515 W. Boundary St. Also unique are the Sawmill Branch Trail and a skate park.

December for young children at Armory Park

A few places to check out Among North Charleston’s gems are: Photo/City of North Charleston

24 28th Ave., Isle of Palms, SC 29451 www.iop.net This department serves the Isle of Palms with baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball and soccer. Also offered are fitness, dance, taekwondo, gymnastics, and camps. Events include the Sand Sculpting Contest; the IOP Beach Run and Community Wellness Fair.

Summerville Parks and Recreation

Winter Wonderland: held in November and

Goose Creek Recreation 843-569-4242 www.goosecreekrecreation.com Goose Creek Recreation serves residents at Goose Creek Community Center and Goose Creek Activity Center, as well as a city pool and parks. Activities offered include baseball, softball, golf, basketball, volleyball, pickleball, football, cheerleading, gymnastics, camps, soccer and tennis.

Moncks Corner Recreation Department 118 Carolina Ave., Moncks Corner 843-719-7900 The recreation department offers baseball, T-ball, football, soccer, cheerleading, basketball and softball.

Riverfront Park 1001 Everglades Ave. On the Cooper River with beautiful views, a performance pavilion and meadow

Park Circle Butterfly Garden 4800 Park Circle Butterflies and plants, picnics, walking paths

SPORTS AND RECREATION |

67

Photo/City of Charleston Recreation Deptartment

Mount Pleasant Recreation 3 91 Egypt Road, Mount Pleasant 29464 843-884-2528 Steve Gergick, director www.tompsc.com Mount Pleasant Recreation Department serves the town of Mount Pleasant.

Sports offered: Tennis, baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, softball, track, cross country, football, lacrosse, volleyball

Also: Camps, art, therapeutic recreation, music, aquatics, dance, skate park A coach gives instructions to a young gymnast during practice.

Top events Spring Carnival: held in May, children’s activities; at Alhambra Hall Park

Blessing of the Fleet and Seafood Festival: held in April; blessing of the fleet ceremony, boat parade, seafood sampling, music, arts and crafts; Memorial Waterfront Park

Music and Movies in the Park: Fridays in August; Memorial Waterfront Park.

Old Village Harbor 5K Run, Walk, Stroller and Dog Jog: held in November starting at Alhambra Hall Park; for all ages

A few places to check out Some of Mount Pleasant’s best-loved parks are:

Other Sports and Rec Sports Event Organizers, Volunteer Groups, Training Resources and Sports Facilities

BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Charleston Beach Volleyball & Social Club www.charlestonvolleyball.net

BOCCE

Chucktown Bocce League www.facebook.com/ChucktownBocceLeague/

DANCE

Ballroom Dance Club of Charleston www.ballroomdancecharleston.org

Alhambra Hall and Park

Charleston Shag Club www.charlestonshagclub.com

131 Middle St. Reception hall, waterfront green space, playground.

DISABLED SPORTS

Park West Recreation Complex 1251 Park West Blvd.

Lighted tennis courts, indoor pool, athletic fields, lake pavilion, walking trails.

ICE HOCKEY /SKATING

Carolina Ice Palace www.carolinaicepalace.com Figure Skating Club of Charleston fscofcharleston.com

KICKBALL

Summerville Miracle League www.summervillemiracleleague.org

FOX HUNTING

Middleton Place Hounds Hunt Club www.middletonplacehounds.com

RUGBY

Charleston Outlaws Rugby Football Club www.charlestonrugby.com Charleston Hurricanes Women's Rugby www.facebook.com/ Charlestonwomensrugby

STANDUP PADDLE BOARDING SURFING

LACROSSE

Southern South Carolina/ Eastern Surfing Association ssc.surfesa.org

ULTIMATE FRISBEE

Charleston Ultimate Players Association www.charlestonultimate.com

WAKEBOARDING & WATERSKIING

MARTIAL ARTS

Charleston Martial Arts chas-ma.com

OCEAN RACING

Coastal Climbing coastalclimbing.com

www.charlestonsupsafaris.com

Charleston Sports & Social Club www.charlestonssc.com

Lowcountry Lacrosse Youth League www.lowlax.com

Fencing Fight Club facebook.com/fencingcharleston/

| SPORTS AND RECREATION

West Ashley Greenway Bike/Hike Trail www.westashleygreenway.org

Special Olympics of the Lowcountry www.facebook.com/solowcountry

FENCING

68

HIKING

Charleston Hurricanes Men’s Lacrosse Club facebook.com/CharlestonHurricanesLax

Low Country Dog Agility Club www.lowcountrydogagility.com

of Alhambra Hall.

ccprc.com

Gymnastics Academy of Charleston www.gymnasticsacademyofcharleston. com

Charleston Miracle League www.charlestonmiracleleague.org

DOG SPORTS

The view from the porch

GYMNASTICS

Trophy Lakes Watersports Center www.trophylakesports.com

Charleston Ocean Racing Association www.charlestonoceanracing.com

POLO

Charleston Polo Club charlestonpoloclub.com

ROCK CLIMBING (WALLS) Charleston County PRC

Source: Charleston Area Sports Commission

Golf Courses

For more lists subscribe to:

In the Charleston Area, Ranked by USGA Slope Rating

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Company

Phone / Website / Email

Superintendent / Year Opened

Slope Rating / Course Rating

The Ocean Course 1000 Ocean Course Drive Kiawah Island, SC 29455

843-768-2121 www.kiawahresort.com bryan_hunter@kiawahresort.com

Stephen Youngner 1991

155 79.1

18 72 7,849

$600

Pete Dye Stephen Youngner

Public; resort; with event facilities

Ocean Winds Golf Course 3772 Seabrook Island Road Seabrook Island, SC 29455

843-768-2529 www.seabrookisland.com golf@seabrookisland.com

Sean Hardwick 1973

144 74.1

18 72 6,802

$180

Rees Jones, Willard Byrd Brian Thelan

Private; with event facilities

Legend Oaks Golf & Tennis Club 118 Legend Oaks Way Summerville, SC 29485

843-821-4077 www.legendoaksgolf.com info@legendoaksgolf.com

Mike Ashton 1994

142 73.5

18 72 6,890

$55

Scott Poole Peter Skirptas

Public; semiprivate; with event facilities

Osprey Point 700 Governors Drive Kiawah Island, SC 29455

843-466-4640 www.kiawahresort.com bryan_hunter@kiawahresort.com

Steve Miller 1988

140 73.6

18 72 6,902

$280

Tom Fazio Ric Ferguson

Public; resort; with event facilities

Coosaw Creek Country Club 4110 Club Course Drive North Charleston, SC 29420

843-767-9000 www.coosawcreek.com mbenner@coosawcreek.com

Gordon Williams 1993

137 72.3

18 71 6,619

-

Arthur Hills Mike Benner

Private; with event facilities

Crooked Oaks Golf Course 3772 Seabrook Island Road Seabrook Island, SC 29455

843-768-2500 www.seabrookisland.com golf@seabrookisland.com

Sean Hardwick 1981

137 72.9

18 72 6,780

$180

Robert Jones Brian Thelan

Private; with event facilities

Cougar Point 12 Kiawah Beach Drive Kiawah Island, SC 29455

843-266-4020 www.kiawahresort.com bryan_hunter@kiawahresort.com

Brad French 1976

134 72.7

18 72 6,814

$280

Gary Player Josh Wagaman

Public; resort

Dunes West Golf & River Club 3535 Wando Plantation Way Mount Pleasant, SC 29466

843-856-9000 www.duneswestgolfclub.com kevin.zemnickas@duneswestgolfclub.com

Rich Rankin, Rob Mackie 1991

134 73.7

18 72 6,859

-

Arthur Hills Kevin Zemnickas

Public; semiprivate; with event facilities

Turtle Point 1 Turtle Point Lane Kiawah Island, SC 29455

843-266-4050 www.kiawahresort.com bryan_hunter@kiawahresort.com

Lance Stone 1981

134 73

18 72 6,911

$262

Jack Nicklaus Mark Schaffer

Public; resort; with event facilities

Wild Dunes Resort Harbor Course 5881 Palm Blvd.

Isle of Palms, SC 29451

855-998-5351 www.destinationhotels.com/wild-dunes/golf wilddunesreservations@destinationhotels.com

Jeff Minton 1980

131 71.4

18 70 6,359

-

Tom Fazio Jeff Minton

Public; resort; semiprivate; with event facilities

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.

Holes / Par / Yardage

Green Fees

Course Designer(s) / Head Pro

Course Type

Researched by Paige Wills

SPORTS AND RECREATION |

69

» PLACES TO STAY

For more lists subscribe to:

Hotels

In the Charleston Area, Ranked by No. of Guest Rooms

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Property

Phone / Website / Email

Sales Director / Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Wild Dunes Resort 1 Sundial Circle Isle of Palms, SC 29451

843-886-6000 www.destinationhotels.com/wild-dunes chsdh-reservations@hyatt.com

Jeffrey Payne 1972

486 18 $289

Business center; fitness center; free WiFi; on-site restaurant; pool; spa

Charleston Place 205 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-722-4900 www.belmond.com/charlestonplace info.cph@belmond.com

Charlie Wellman Rui Reis 1986

434 29 $300

24-hour room service; airport shuttle; business center; fitness center; free WiFi; on-site restaurant; pool; spa

Charleston Marriott 170 Lockwood Blvd.

Charleston, SC 29403

843-723-3000 www.marriottcharleston.com karen.dejong@marriott.com

Karen Burr Patrick Rogers 2007

344 13 $179

Business center; fitness center; on-site restaurant; pool

Hilton Garden Inn & Homewood Suites by Hilton Summerville 406 Sigma Drive Summerville, SC 29483

843-832-1304 www.lowcountryconferencecenter.com info@lowcountryconferencecenter.com

Jason Russo Keith Gaines 2020

255 10 $129

24-hour room service; airport shuttle; business center; fitness center; free breakfast; free Wi-Fi; in-room kitchen; on-site restaurant; pool

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort 1 Sanctuary Beach Drive Kiawah Island, SC 29455

843-768-6000 www.kiawahresort.com reservations@kiawahresort.com

Marty Couch Roger Warren 2004

255 15

24-hour room service; airport shuttle; business center; fitness center; free WiFi; on-site restaurant; pool; spa

Francis Marion Hotel 387 King St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-722-0600 www.francismarioncharleston.com info@thefrancismarion.com

Tripp Hays Gayle Karolczyk 1924

234 14 $169

Business center; fitness center; free WiFi; on-site restaurant; spa

The Mills House Wyndham Grand Hotel 115 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-2400 www.millshouse.com info@millshouse.com

Tim Kline Michael Linder 1853

216 10 $285

Business center; fitness center; free WiFi; on-site restaurant; pool

Emeline 181 Church St. Charleston, SC 29401

843-577-2644 www.hotelemeline.com hello@hotelemeline.com

Shannon H. Hartman, Adam Jimenez, Carly Skinner 2020

212 10

Fitness center; free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant

Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina 20 Patriots Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-284-7022 www.charlestonharborresort.com asmith@charlestonharborresort.com

Loyd Weston, Rand Pratt, Nick Saltmarsh 1997

204 10 $250

Business center; fitness center; free WiFi; on-site restaurant; pool; spa

Courtyard Charleston Waterfront 35 Lockwood Drive Charleston, SC 29401

843-722-7229 www.marriott.com/chscy christine.greenleaf@marriott.com

Christine Greenleaf Robert Heilman 1997

179 2 $159

Business center; fitness center; free WiFi; on-site restaurant; pool

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.

70

| PLACES TO STAY

Rooms / Meeting Rooms / Corporate Rate

Amenities

Researched by Paige Wills

For more lists subscribe to:

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

Hotels

In the Charleston Area, Ranked by No. of Guest Rooms Property

Phone / Website / Email

Sales Director / Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Hotel Bennett 404 King St. Charleston, SC 29403

888-424-6961 www.hotelbennett.com info@hotelbennett.com

Rachel Frost Marty Wall 2019

179 11 $400

24-hour room service; business center; fitness center; free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant; pool; spa

Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Harbor Mount Pleasant 100 Ferry Wharf Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-981-5700 www.embassysuites.charlestonharbor.com chssc_ds@hilton.com

Lindsey McQueary Kevin Eichman 2021

175 5 $189

Business center; fitness center; free breakfast; free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant; pool

Hampton Inn Charleston - Historic District 345 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-723-4000 www.charlestonhistoricdistrict.hamptoninn.com chshd_hampton@hilton.com

Connie Hess Kristy Watson 1992

170 1 $165

Business center; fitness center; free breakfast; free Wi-Fi; pool

Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Airport 5265 International Blvd.

North Charleston, SC 29418

843-308-9330 www.charlestonairport.hgi.com ashley.montano@hilton.com

Ashley Montano Grant Stiemke 2002

168 7 $129

Airport shuttle; business center; fitness center; free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant; pool

Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport Convention Center 4831 Tanger Outlet Blvd.

North Charleston, SC 29418

843-744-4422 www.crowneplaza.com/charlestonsc agibbs@charlestoncp.com

Angie Gibbs Cartha Cartwright, Mark Dancy 2010

166 5 $139

Airport shuttle; business center; free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant; pool

Hotel Indigo Mount Pleasant 250 Johnnie Dodds Blvd.

Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-884-6000 www.mountpleasantlyindigo.com cmlittle@northph.com

Caitla Little Kumar Jha 2018

158 6 $149

Business center; fitness center; free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant; pool

Embassy Suites by Hilton Charleston Historic 337 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-723-6900 www.historiccharleston.embassysuites.com chses_ds@hilton.com

Connie Hess Jose Machuca 1996

153 5 $179

Business center; fitness center; free breakfast; free Wi-Fi; pool

Doubletree by Hilton Hotel & Suites Charleston Airport 7401 Northwoods Blvd.

North Charleston, SC 29406

843-518-6200 www.charlestonairportsuites.doubletree.com chsnc_ds@hilton.com

Nancy Lee Jeromi Quincy 2011

149 6 $149

Airport shuttle; business center; fitness center; free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant; pool

DoubleTree by Hilton North Charleston Convention Center 5264 International Blvd.

North Charleston, SC 29418

843-576-0300 www.hilton.com bpainter@lowcountryhotels.com

Kristy Kinney Rick Buggle 2006

142 4 $129

Airport shuttle; business center; fitness center; free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant; pool

Hampton Inn & Suites Charleston Airport 3020 W. Montague Ave. North Charleston, SC 29418

843-990-5100 www.hamptoninn3.hilton.com chsap_hampton_suites@hilton.com

Ashley Adams Tara Bergin 2017

139 3 $129

Airport shuttle; business center; fitness center; free breakfast; free Wi-Fi; pool

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.

Rooms / Meeting Rooms / Corporate Rate

Amenities

Researched by Paige Wills

PLACES TO STAY |

71

For more lists subscribe to:

Hotels

www.CharlestonBusiness.com

In the Charleston Area, Ranked by No. of Guest Rooms Property

Phone / Website / Email

Sales Director / Top Local Official(s) / Year Founded

Homewood Suites Charleston Historic District 415 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-724-8800 www.tinyurl.com/homewoodchs chsms_ds@hilton.com

Diane Sweeda Britton Delis 2017

139 4 $189

Business center; fitness center; free breakfast; free Wi-Fi; in-room kitchen; pool

Courtyard by Marriott North Charleston Charleston 7465 Northside Drive North Charleston, SC 29420

843-572-7490 www.marriott.com/chsco sales@solarahotels.com

Sarah Kelly Andre Fontana 2019

138 2 $139

Business center; fitness center; free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant; pool

Hilton Garden Inn Charleston / Mount Pleasant 300 Wingo Way Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-606-4600 www.charlestonmtpleasant.hgi.com sarah.parrish@hilton.com

Sarah Parrish Sarah Parrish 2015

133 4 $199

24-hour room service; business center; fitness center; free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant; pool

Tides Folly Beach 1 Center St. Folly Beach, SC 29439

843-588-6464 www.tidesfollybeach.com sales@tidesfollybeach.com

Caitlin Corrigan Pietro Giardini 2010

132 5 $189

Free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant; pool

Courtyard by Marriott Mount Pleasant 1251 Woodland Ave. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

843-284-0900 www.marriott.com/chscm ashley.miller@marriott.com

Ashley Miller Cheryl M. Craven 2007

130 5 $159

Business center; fitness center; free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant; pool

Town & Country Inn & Suites 2008 Savannah Highway Charleston, SC 29407

843-571-1000 www.thetownandcountryinn.com sales@thetownandcountryinn.com

Stephen Clarke Demetrius E. Palassis 1984

129 6 $109

Fitness center; free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant; pool

Homewood Suites Charleston Airport 5048 International Blvd.

North Charleston, SC 29418

843-735-5000 www.hilton.com chshm_gm@hilton.com

Jon Sedgwick Joy Hazard 2007

128 4 $139

Airport shuttle; business center; fitness center; free breakfast; free Wi-Fi; in-room kitchen; pool

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Charleston Airport & Convention Center 3025 W. Montague Ave. North Charleston, SC 29418

843-554-2100 www.ihg.com/holidayinnexpress/hotels chsfdexpress@lowcountryhotels.com

Lauren Miller Aaron Wilkins 2012

127 1 $124

Airport shuttle; business center; fitness center; free breakfast; free Wi-Fi; pool

Hyatt Place Charleston Airport / Convention Center 3234 W. Montague Ave. North Charleston, SC 29418

843-302-8600 www.charlestonairport.place.hyatt.com dos.northcharleston.convention@hyatt.com

Lindsay Ovens Lindsay Ovens 2010

127 2 $139

Airport shuttle; business center; fitness center; free breakfast; free Wi-Fi; on-site restaurant; pool

TownePlace Suites Airport / Convention Center 5001 Fashion Ave. North Charleston, SC 29418

843-990-7777 www.marriott.com/chsto lisa.holley2@marriott.com

Lisa Holley Tryena Jones 2017

127 1 $134

Airport shuttle; business center; fitness center; free breakfast; free Wi-Fi; in-room kitchen; pool

Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com.

72

| PLACES TO STAY

Rooms / Meeting Rooms / Corporate Rate

Amenities

Researched by Paige Wills

» ARTS ABOUND

Editor’s note: Please check with venues for changes in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

From established galleries and historic theaters to funky festivals and improv comedy, the Holy City and surrounding areas have much to offer. Following is just a sample what’s available.

Photo/Spoleto Festival USA

Visual arts Charleston Gallery Association www.charlestongalleryassociation.com The Charleston Gallery Association is made up of more than 40 galleries showcasing local, regional and national artists’ work.

The association holds art walks four times a year, on the first Friday of March, May, October and December.

Charleston Renaissance Gallery fineartsouth.com Focusing on fine art of the American South, the Charleston Renaissance Gallery has offerings ranging from 18th century portraits and engravings to contemporary paintings and sculpture. 103 Church St., Charleston; 843-723-0025 City Gallery at Waterfront Park citygalleryatwaterfrontpark.com The City Gallery presents several exhibits each year focusing on contemporary visual arts created by local, regional, national and international artists. 34 Prioleau St., Charleston; 843-958-6484.

Gallery Chuma www.gallerychuma.com Specializing in the works of the Gullah people of coastal South Carolina, Gallery Chuma features Gullah art, books, crafts, storytelling, tours and food. 188 Meeting St., #N1, Charleston; 843-722-1702.

Gibbes Museum of Art www.gibbesmuseum.org As Charleston’s only visual arts museum, the Gibbes also offers educational programs, group tours and art discovery walking tours. The museum recently completed extensive renovations.

135 Meeting St., Charleston; 843-722-2706.

Shakespeare’s Globe presents The Comedy of Errors at the Dock Street Theatre during Spoleto Festival USA in downtown Charleston.

Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art halsey.cofc.edu Administered by the School of the Arts at the College of Charleston, the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art was created to advocate, exhibit and interpret visual art, with an emphasis on contemporary art.

161 Calhoun St., Charleston; 843-953-4422.

Spoleto Festival USA spoletousa.org Held each spring since 1977, this 17-day festival features visual art exhibits and more than 120 performances from opera to jazz music. 843-579-3100.

MOJA Arts Festival www.mojafestival.com Started in 1984, the annual MOJA Arts Festival is a celebration of African American and Caribbean arts and features music, visual art, storytelling, performances, crafts, children’s activities and more. 843-724-7305.

The Actors’ Theatre of South Carolina www.actorstheatreofsc.org Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Charleston, the Actors’ Theatre has members who travel the state presenting a full season of performances as well as acting classes and a film division. 843-696-2761.

North Charleston City Gallery www.northcharleston.org, arts and culture tab Located in the commons area at the Charleston Area Convention Center, the North Charleston City Gallery features exhibits that are rotated on a monthly basis.

5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston; 843-740-5854.

American Theater www.pphgcharleston.com/venues/ the-american-theater The American Theater opened in 1942 as one of Charleston’s premier movie houses. It closed in 1977 but was revitalized and reopened in 2005 as a state-of-the-art meeting and conference facility. It also hosts a variety of performances, including Spoleto activities. 446 King St., Charleston; 843-853-1810.

Piccolo Spoleto www.piccolospoleto.com Piccolo Spoleto was created in 1979 to coincide with the international Spoleto Festival USA and primarily features artists from the Southeast. Held at a variety of locations in downtown Charleston. 843-724-7305.

Performing arts

Charleston Music Hall www.charlestonmusichall.com Said to offer some of the best acoustics in Charleston, the Charleston Music Hall welcomes a variety of performers throughout ARTS ABOUND |

73

Photo/Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

The Gaillard Center at dusk in downtown Charleston.

the year from bluegrass to blues.

37 John St., Charleston; 843-853-2252.

Charleston Stage www.charlestonstage.com Charleston Stage, which calls the renovated Dock Street Theatre home, was founded in 1978 and is the state’s largest professional theater company. 843-577-7183.

Charleston Symphony Orchestra charlestonsymphony.org Founded in 1936, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra is known for its Masterworks and Pops series. The CSO also offers holiday performances and family concerts throughout the year. CSO makes its home at the newly renovated performance hall at the Gaillard Center. 843-723-7528.

Dock Street Theatre www.charlestonstage.com/dock-streettheatre.html The historic Dock Street Theatre is managed by the city of Charleston. It originally opened in 1736 and was the first building in America built specifically for theatrical productions. It completed a $19 million, three-year renovation in 2010 and is a performance venue for Spoleto Festival USA and home of Charleston Stage.

135 Church St., Charleston; 843-577-7183.

Flowertown Players www.flowertownplayers.org This community theater presents a range of productions from musicals to serious dramas as well as performances and classes for children. 133 S. Main St., Summerville; 843-875-9251.

74

| ARTS ABOUND

Footlight Players Theatre www.footlightplayers.net Since 1931, the Footlight Players Theatre has presented a variety of stage productions and has become known as one of the top community theaters in the South. A typical season includes six performances.

20 Queen St., Charleston; 843-722-4487.

The Gaillard Center www.gaillardcenter.com Recently renovated and reopened, the $142 million Gaillard Center is a world-class performing venue. It hosts a multitude of events and performances from Charleston Symphony Orchestra concerts to rock-‘n’roll. 95 Calhoun St., Charleston; 843-242-3099.

The Have Nots! Comedy Improv theatre99.com Theatre 99 has developed into a company of about 50 individuals, who along with visiting artists create affordable improv, sketch and stand-up offerings three or four nights a week. Local shows are held at Theatre 99, the group’s own theater. 280 Meeting St., Charleston; 843-853-6687.

Memminger Auditorium memmingerauditorium.com Built in the 1930s as an auditorium for Memminger High School, the building had stood vacant since the 1960s and was severely damaged by Hurricane Hugo in 1989.

Spoleto Festival USA played a large part in the building’s recent $6 million renovation and the facility reopened in 2008. Now used for a variety of performances and also available for rental for events.

56 Beaufain St., Charleston; 843-724-1196.

North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center www.northcharlestoncoliseumpac.com The North Charleston Coliseum and Performing Arts Center hosts events as varied as hockey games and Broadway shows throughout the year. The coliseum seats 13,000-plus for concert performances. The Performing Arts Center seats 2,300. 5001 Coliseum Drive, North Charleston; 843-529-5000.

PURE Theatre puretheatre.org PURE Theatre has gained respect as a small professional theater focusing on the works of contemporary playwrights.

477 King St., Charleston; 843-723-4444.

Sottile Theatre sottile.cofc.edu The Sottile Theatre opened in 1927 as the Gloria Theater and hosted the premiere of Gone With the Wind in 1939. It’s now the home of various events, including Charleston Comedy Festival performances.

44 George St., Charleston; 843-953-6340.

South of Broadway Theatre Co. southofbroadway.com The South of Broadway Theatre Company produces a season of seven shows plus PlayFest, showcasing local playwrights and actors. The theater also offers classes and Summer Theatre Camp.

1080 E. Montague Ave., North Charleston; 843-745-0317.

Woolfe Street Playhouse woolfestreetplayhouse.com The 200-seat Woolfe Street Playhouse is home to the Village Repertory Co., which brings bold productions of new and established works. The company moved into a century-old meatpacking warehouse in the former industrial center of the Charleston peninsula. 34 Woolfe St., Charleston; 843-856-1579.

•

For more about arts events in the area, visit charlestonarts.org.

Photo/Kwei Fei

Photo/Commonhouse Aleworks

Explore the flavors of Western China at Kwei Fei on James Island.

Photo/Bon Bahn Mi

Relax with a cold brew and food from Florie’s at Commonhouse Aleworks in Park Circle.

Bon Bahn Mi offers Southeastern Asian cuisine with locations in Charleston and Mount Pleasant.

» DINING OUT Editor’s note: Many restaurants and bars have pandemic-related restrictions and policies in place as this guide goes to press. It is recommended that you call ahead before visiting area food and beverage establishments for hours of operation and information on restrictions in place.

C

harleston loves to eat well.

The view is beautiful, the things to do are fun, the beach beckons – but soon after you get here (maybe even before), you’ll find yourself hungry.

And luckily, there’s a world of good food to choose from.

The signature dish of Charleston may be shrimp and grits. It’s so popular that most every restaurant has its own version, sometimes in a tomato sauce, other times in a cream sauce. The shrimp will be fresh from the sea and the grits ground in a

nearby mill. It makes a filling meal that marries the two flavors perfectly.

If grits aren’t on your menu of likes, then you might like to try Lowcountry boil.

This hefty stew generally includes shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes, but once again, everybody has their own version. Some recipes include oysters, fish or mussels, depending on the season. In any event, when the concoction is turned out hot and steaming onto a sideboard, you’ll find your mouth watering.

Speaking of oysters, there’s no better season of the year than oyster season – late fall through March – in our opinion.

The plump bivalves roasted outside are the food of the gods. There’s just enough work involved to get them out of the shell.

Immediately, you feel a connection to the sea.

Seafood not your favorite? Then head out for barbecue. South Carolinians lay claim to originating mustard-based sauce, but many places offer a variety including vinegar-based and tomato-laden. The slowsmoked meat is the most important factor anyway.

If your passion is fried chicken, then you’re in luck. Southern home cooking restaurants and even pickup places pride themselves on the tastiness of their chicken. And you’ll want to pair it with fresh biscuits and sweet tea.

Charleston is home to dozens of top-notch restaurants. Eating out or meeting friends for drinks is treated with reverence here. Whenever there’s a contest for the best city for food, Charleston is in the running.

•

DINING OUT |

75

Photo/South Carolina Aquarium

Marine life from South Carolina swims in the main tank at the South Carolina Aquarium.

» AREA ATTRACTIONS RANKED BY AVERAGE ANNUAL ATTENDANCE

James Island County Park 871 Riverland Drive Charleston, SC 29412 843-406-6990 www.charlestoncountyparks.com/jicp customerservice@ccprc.com Top Local Official(s): Kristen Allen Year Founded: 1990 Avg. Annual Attendance: 719,500 Single Adult Admission: $2 Group Rates: No Description: 643-acre park with crabbing, fishing, biking, lagoon boating, dog park, playgrounds, shelters, climbing wall, cottages, campsites and challenge course

Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482 843-883-3123 www.nps.gov/fosu fosu_information@nps.gov Top Local Official(s): Tracy Stakely Year Founded: 1948 Avg. Annual Attendance: 676,057 Single Adult Admission: $10 for Fort Moultrie; $30 for Fort Sumter concession ferry Group Rates: Yes Description: Two forts span history from 1776-1947, including the start of the American Civil War; Fort Sumter is accessible only by concession-operated ferry

Fort Sumter & Fort Moultrie National Historical Park 1214 Middle St.1

South Carolina Aquarium 100 Aquarium Wharf Charleston , SC 29401

76

| ATTRACTIONS AND TOURS

843-577-3474 www.scaquarium.org information@scaquarium.org Top Local Official(s): Kevin Mills Year Founded: 2000 Avg. Annual Attendance: 450,000 Single Adult Admission: $29.95 Group Rates: Yes Description: Home to thousands of aquatic animals, including otters, sharks and sea turtles in more than 60 exhibits representing biodiversity of South Carolina Wannamaker County Park 8888 University Blvd.

North Charleston, SC 29406 843-762-5585 www.charlestoncountyparks.com customerservice@ccprc.com

Top Local Official(s): Edmonds Brown Year Founded: 1998 Avg. Annual Attendance: 347,000 Single Adult Admission: $2 Group Rates: No Description: 1,015-acre park, two playgrounds, dog park, play hill, picnic sites with grills, open meadows, paved trails, boat rentals, waterpark, meeting spaces Mount Pleasant Pier 71 Harry Hallman Blvd.

Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-762-9946 www.charlestoncountyparks.com customerservice@ccprc.com Top Local Official(s): Chris Pounder Year Founded: 2009 Avg. Annual Attendance: 307,000

Single Adult Admission: Free admission, $5 fishing fee Group Rates: Yes Description: 1,250-foot-long pier at the foot of the Ravenel Bridge featuring covered pavilion, cafe, gift shop, fishing equipment rentals, seating, restrooms Exchange Park 9850 U.S. Highway 78 Ladson, SC 29456 843-572-3161 www.exchangepark.org denise@exchangepark.org Top Local Official(s): Denise Carner, Michael Carney Year Founded: 1979 Avg. Annual Attendance: 285,000 Single Adult Admission: Varies per event Group Rates: No Description: More than 170-acre multipurpose event complex for a wide variety of special-event programming and meetings with indoor and outdoor spaces available Isle of Palms County Park 1 14th Ave. Isle of Palms, SC 29451 843-762-9957 www.charlestoncountyparks.com customerservice@ccprc.com Top Local Official(s): Cynthia Wilson, Laura Edwards Year Founded: 1996 Avg. Annual Attendance: 246,862 Single Adult Admission: $5-$15 per vehicle depending on season Group Rates: No Description: Dunes, boardwalk, showers, restrooms, lifeguards, vending, 350 parking spaces Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier 101 E. Arctic Ave. Folly Beach, SC 29439 843-588-3474 www.charlestoncountyparks.com customerservice@ccprc.com Top Local Official(s): Mark Patrick Year Founded: 1995 Avg. Annual Attendance: 231,000 Single Adult Admission: $10 per vehicle Group Rates: No Description: Pier closed for construction until early 2023; currently open at the site is the snack bar, restrooms, showers, beach access Folly Beach County Park 1100 W. Ashley Ave. Folly Beach, SC 29439 843-762-9516 www.charlestoncountyparks.com customerservice@ccprc.com Top Local Official(s): Mark Patrick Year Founded: 1982 Avg. Annual Attendance: 221,495 Single Adult Admission: $5-$15 per vehicle depending on season Group Rates: No Description: Restrooms, outdoor showers,

parking, designated swimming area with lifeguards, snack bar, chair and umbrella rentals and wheelchair accessibility Charleston RiverDogs 360 Fishburne St. Charleston, SC 29403 843-577-3647 www.riverdogs.com dave@riverdogs.com Top Local Official(s): Dave Echols Year Founded: 1994 Avg. Annual Attendance: 208,641 Single Adult Admission: $8 Group Rates: Yes Description: Minor league baseball team; facility hosts non-baseball events, fundraisers, concerts; Segra Club located within The Joe is a full scale event space Palmetto Islands County Park 444 Needlerush Parkway Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-406-6950 www.charlestoncountyparks.com/picp customerservice@ccprc.com Top Local Official(s): Kevin Gillum, Jason Woodrum Year Founded: 1979 Avg. Annual Attendance: 186,000 Single Adult Admission: $2 Group Rates: No Description: 943-acre nature-based park with playgrounds, trails, boating, biking, shelters, water park, special events South Carolina Stingrays 5050 Etna St., Suite B North Charleston, SC 29418 843-744-2248 www.stingrayshockey.com info@stingrayshockey.com Top Local Official(s): Rob Concannon Year Founded: 1993 Avg. Annual Attendance: 162,000 Single Adult Admission: $20 Group Rates: Yes Description: Minor professional hockey team, ECHL (AA) affiliate of the Washington Capitals, hosts 36 games at the North Charleston Coliseum each year Wild Blue Ropes Adventure Park 1595 Highland Ave. Charleston, SC 29412 843-225-1555 www.wildblueropes.com hugh@wildblueropes.com Top Local Official(s): Hugh Corcoran Year Founded: 2014 Avg. Annual Attendance: 150,000 Single Adult Admission: $45 Group Rates: Yes Description: Locally owned, family operated outdoor adventure park offering team building, class trips, birthday parties, after school programs and summer camps The Charleston Museum 360 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29403

843-722-2996 www.charlestonmuseum.org cborick@charlestonmuseum.org Top Local Official(s): Carl P. Borick Year Founded: 1773 Avg. Annual Attendance: 115,000 Single Adult Admission: $12 Group Rates: Yes Description: Overview of Lowcountry cultural and natural history; exhibits and two historic houses, the Heyward-Washington and Joseph Manigault House Charleston Harbor Tours & Events 10 Wharfside St. Charleston , SC 29413 843-722-1112 www.charlestonharbortours.com sales@charlestonharbortours.com Top Local Official(s): Drew K. Yochum Year Founded: 1908 Avg. Annual Attendance: 100,000 Single Adult Admission: $30 and up Group Rates: Yes Description: Harbor tours, combination tours, group tours, corporate events, weddings, social events, four vessels of varying sizes for private events Wescott Park 9006 Dorchester Road North Charleston, SC 29420 843-767-0782 www.northcharleston.org rconnolly@northcharleston.org Top Local Official(s): TJ Rostin, Kathy Kackley , Ryan Connolly Year Founded: 2013 Avg. Annual Attendance: 100,000 Single Adult Admission: Varies by event Group Rates: No Description: Enclosed shelter, open shelters, playgrounds, adult fitness area, ball fields, batting cages, Ripken training area, dog parks Kiawah Beachwalker Park 8 Beachwalker Drive Kiawah Island, SC 29455 843-762-9964 www.charlestoncountyparks.com customerservice@ccprc.com Top Local Official(s): Charlie Vance Year Founded: 1976 Avg. Annual Attendance: 97,000 Single Adult Admission: $5-$15 per vehicle depending on season Group Rates: No Description: Beach access park with 300 feet of ocean frontage, dressing areas, outdoor showers, restrooms and seasonal lifeguards and snack bar Whirlin’ Waters Adventure Waterpark 8888 University Blvd.

North Charleston, SC 29406 843-762-5585 www.charlestoncountyparks.com customerservice@ccprc.com Top Local Official(s): Mindy Perrault, Edmonds Brown Year Founded: 2001

Avg. Annual Attendance: 80,820 Single Adult Admission: $21.99 Group Rates: Yes Description: 27,000-square-foot wave pool, lazy river, play structures, kiddie pool, 7-story multislide complex, racer slides, two 65-foottall slides The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon 122 E. Bay St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-727-2165 www.oldexchange.org youmanst@charleston-sc.gov Top Local Official(s): Tony Youmans Year Founded: 1771 Avg. Annual Attendance: 75,000 Single Adult Admission: $12 Group Rates: Yes Description: Revolutionary War museum completed in 1771, featuring historical artifacts from Charleston’s colonial, Revolutionary and Civil War periods Firefly Distillery 4201 Spruill Ave. North Charleston, SC 29405 843-577-1405 www.fireflydistillery.com info@fireflyvodka.com Top Local Official(s): Jay Macmurphy, Scott Newitt Year Founded: 2008 Avg. Annual Attendance: 70,000 Single Adult Admission: $10 Group Rates: Yes Description: Distillery, tasting room, gift shop, barrel warehouse, events indoors and outdoors on 15 acres; parking for 300 cars Old Slave Mart Museum 6 Chalmers St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-958-6467 www.charleston-sc.gov/160/Old-Slave-MartMuseum youmanst@charleston-sc.gov Top Local Official(s): Tony Youmans Year Founded: 2007 Avg. Annual Attendance: 70,000 Single Adult Admission: $8 Group Rates: No Description: Historic site interpreting the domestic slave trade in the United States from 1856 to 1865 Charleston Stage 135 Church St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-577-7183 www.charlestonstage.com email@charlestonstage.com Top Local Official(s): Beth A. Curley Year Founded: 1978 Avg. Annual Attendance: 55,000 Single Adult Admission: $32-$75 Group Rates: Yes Description: Professional theatre company in residence at the Historic Dock Street Theatre, producing a full season of plays and musicals ATTRACTIONS AND TOURS |

77

SK8 Charleston 1549 Oceanic St. Charleston, SC 29403 843-795-4386 www.charlestoncountyparks.com customerservice@ccprc.com Top Local Official(s): Josh McFadden Year Founded: 2017 Avg. Annual Attendance: 39,000 Single Adult Admission: $3 Group Rates: Yes Description: 32,500-square-foot skate park with a raised building, viewing deck and skate shop Caw Caw Interpretive Center 5200 Savannah Highway Ravenel, SC 29470 843-889-8898 www.charlestoncountyparks.com customerservice@ccprc.com Top Local Official(s): Thomas Thornton Year Founded: 2000 Avg. Annual Attendance: 36,800 Single Adult Admission: $2 Group Rates: Yes Description: 654-acre site with intact rice fields, interpretive trails, exhibit center, wildlife Charles Pinckney National Historic Site 1254 Long Point Road Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-881-5516 www.nps.gov/chpi chpi_information@nps.gov Top Local Official(s): Tracy Stakely Year Founded: 1988 Avg. Annual Attendance: 33,226 Single Adult Admission: Free Group Rates: No Description: One of Charles Pinckney’s plantations, Snee Farm; Constitution and African American history, archaeology; closed Mondays and Tuesdays McLeod Plantation Historic Site 325 Country Club Drive Charleston, SC 29412 843-795-4386 customerservice@ccprc.com Top Local Official(s): Cole Thomas Year Founded: 2015 Avg. Annual Attendance: 26,000 Single Adult Admission: $15 Group Rates: No Description: Former 37-acre sea island cotton plantation; Gullah and Geechee

78

| ATTRACTIONS AND TOURS

Photo/Andy Hagedon/Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry

Gibbes Museum of Art 135 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-722-2706 www.gibbesmuseum.org Top Local Official(s): Angela D. Mack Year Founded: 1858 Avg. Annual Attendance: 40,000 Single Adult Admission: $12 Group Rates: Yes Description: Collecting and preserving art that touches Charleston

Your child’s imagination comes alive in the Medieval Creativity Castle at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry in downtown Charleston. heritage site; preserved in recognition of its cultural and historical significance Joseph Manigault House 350 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29403 843-723-2926 www.charlestonmuseum.org info@charlestonmuseum.org Top Local Official(s): Carl P. Borick, Stephanie Thomas Year Founded: 1803 Avg. Annual Attendance: 23,200 Single Adult Admission: $12 Group Rates: Yes Description: Example of Federal period architecture with a collection of early 19th century furnishings Buxton Books 160 King St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-723-1670 www.buxtonbooks.com hello@buxtonbooks.com Top Local Official(s): Polly Buxton, Julian T. Buxton Year Founded: 2016 Avg. Annual Attendance: 20,000 Single Adult Admission: Free Group Rates: No Description: Local bookstore with new books, author events, gift cards, complimentary gift wrap and walking ghost and history tour sales Drayton Hall 3380 Ashley River Road Charleston, SC 29414 843-769-2608 www.draytonhall.org info@draytonhall.org Top Local Official(s): Carter C. Hudgins Year Founded: 1738

Avg. Annual Attendance: 20,000 Single Adult Admission: $24 Group Rates: Yes Description: Colonial American site and preserved plantation house open to the public, with 1790s African-American cemetery Friends of the Hunley 1250 Supply St. North Charleston, SC 29405 843-743-4865 www.hunley.org kellen@hunley.org Top Local Official(s): Kellen Butler Year Founded: 1997 Avg. Annual Attendance: 15,000 Single Adult Admission: $16 Group Rates: Yes Description: Weekend tours of the Hunley, interactive experience, explores the mysteries surrounding the Hunley, the first successful combat submarine in history Johns Island County Park 2662 Mullet Hall Road Johns Island, SC 29455 843-768-5867 www.charlestoncountyparks.com customerservice@ccprc.com Top Local Official(s): Phillip Eldred Year Founded: 2001 Avg. Annual Attendance: 13,000 Single Adult Admission: $1 Group Rates: Yes Description: Miles of unpaved trails, archery ranges, Mullet Hall, a 738-acre host site for competitive horse shows, events and exhibitions The Powder Magazine 79 Cumberland St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-722-9350 www.powdermag.org

info@powdermag.org Top Local Official(s): Katherine Pemberton Year Founded: 1713 Avg. Annual Attendance: 13,000 Single Adult Admission: $6 Group Rates: Yes Description: Public building in South Carolina, stored gunpowder from 1713-1748 and during the Revolution; now is a colonial military history museum Avian Conservation Center / Center for Birds of Prey 4719 U.S. Highway 17 N. Charleston, SC 29402 843-971-7474 www.thecenterforbirdsofprey.org info@thecenterforbirdsofprey.org Top Local Official(s): Stephen Schabel, James D. Elliott Year Founded: 1991 Avg. Annual Attendance: 10,000 Single Adult Admission: $20 Group Rates: Yes Description: Collections of live birds of prey; guided tours and flight demonstrations Legare Farms Pumpkin Patch 2620 Hanscombe Point Road Johns Island, SC 29455 843-559-0788 www.legarefarms.com info@legarefarms.com Top Local Official(s): Thomas Legare Year Founded: 1725 Avg. Annual Attendance: 10,000 Single Adult Admission: $1 Group Rates: Yes Description: 300-acre farm on the Stono River; provides food products and holds family events year-round North Charleston Riverfront Park

Photo/Andrew Cebulka/Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

Patriot’s Point Naval & Maritime Musuem in Mount Pleasant offers families an informative and entertaining experience.

1311 Navy Way North Charleston, SC 29405 843-308-4746 riverfrontpark@northcharleston.org lreynolds@northcharleston.org Top Local Official(s): Alex Pridgen, Lisa Reynolds, Amy Heath Year Founded: 2007 Avg. Annual Attendance: 10,000 Single Adult Admission: Free Group Rates: No Description: Open 7 days a week sunrise to 10 p.m.; home to concerts and festivals; space to gather, historical venues Charleston Pirate Tours 79 Cumberland St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-442-7299 www.charlestonpiratetour.com info@charlestonpiratetour.com Top Local Official(s): Sabrina Lavender, Eric Lavender Year Founded: 2009 Avg. Annual Attendance: 9,000 Single Adult Admission: $25 Group Rates: Yes Description: History tours, pirate tours, ghost tours, children’s tours, event entertainment; appearances on Today Show, Travel Channel, Lifetime, PBS, A&E, NPR Nature Adventures LLC 1 Shrimp Boat Lane Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-568-3222 www.natureadventureschs.com

info@natureadventureschs.com Top Local Official(s): Dana Toy Year Founded: 2017 Avg. Annual Attendance: 9,000 Single Adult Admission: $45 Group Rates: Yes Description: Kayak and paddleboard tours, rentals, team building, CSRs and lessons Karpeles Manuscript Museum Library 68 Spring St. Charleston, SC 29403 843-853-4651 www.karpeles.com/museums/cha.php kmuseumchr@aol.com Top Local Official(s): James W. Turner Year Founded: 1991 Avg. Annual Attendance: 5,000 Single Adult Admission: Free Group Rates: No Description: Displays historical manuscripts on a variety of cultural, scientific, social, intellectual, economic, historical subjects Mepkin Abbey 1098 Mepkin Abbey Road Moncks Corner, SC 29461 843-0761-8509 www.mepkinabbey.org mepkinstore@gmail.com Top Local Official(s): Joseph Tedesco Year Founded: 1949 Avg. Annual Attendance: 5,000 Single Adult Admission: $5 Group Rates: No Description: Tour of monastery and self guided tours of gardens; gift shop

Corrigan Gallery LLC 7 Broad St. Charleston, SC 29401 843-722-9868 www.corrigangallery.com art@lesecorrigan.com Top Local Official(s): Lese Corrigan Year Founded: 2005 Avg. Annual Attendance: 3,500 Single Adult Admission: Free Group Rates: No Description: Local, contemporary fine art Fresh Future Farm 2008 Success St. North Charleston, SC 29405 843-804-9091 www.freshfuturefarm.org info@freshfuturefarm.org Top Local Official(s): Adrian Mack Jr., Anik Elsi, Germaine Jenkins Year Founded: 2014 Avg. Annual Attendance: 100 Single Adult Admission: 10 Group Rates: Yes Description: Tours of the Farm teach about ancestral farming traditions, everyday health education and neighborhood grocery store on Saturdays from 9-10am Flight Adventure Park 8551 Rivers Ave. North Charleston, SC 29406 843-414-7411 www.flightadventurepark.com/locations/ charleston infocharleston@flightadventurepark.com

Top Local Official(s): Heather Stevens Year Founded: 2015 Avg. Annual Attendance: N/A Single Adult Admission: $16 Group Rates: Yes Description: 40,000-square-foot indoor family entertainment facility, including 17,000 square feet of wall-to-wall trampolines Mount Pleasant Memorial Waterfront Park 99 Harry Hallman Jr. Blvd.

Mount Pleasant, SC 29464 843-884-8517 experiencemountpleasant.com events@tompsc.com Top Local Official(s): Will Haynie Year Founded: 2009 Avg. Annual Attendance: N/A Single Adult Admission: Free Group Rates: No Description: Park under the town entryway at the base of the Ravenel Bridge; Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Pavilion, playground, pier, café, visitors center and more Because of space constraints, sometimes only the top-ranked companies are published in the print edition. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, errors sometimes occur. Email additions or corrections to research@scbiznews.com. Researched by Paige Wills.

ATTRACTIONS AND TOURS |

79

» NEWCOMER INFORMATION TELEPHONE AT&T 800-331-0500 www.att.com Home Telecom 843-761-9101 www.homesc.com WOW! 843-225-1000 www.wowway.com

CABLE Xfinity (formerly Comcast) 800-266-2278 www.xfinity.com WOW! 843-225-1000 www.wowway.com Spectrum (formerly Time Warner) Cable 866-892-7201 www.spectrum.com

80

ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS Berkeley Electric Cooperative 843-761-8200 www.becsc.com Edisto Electric Cooperative 800-433-3292 www.edistoelectric.com Santee Cooper 843-761-8000 www.santeecooper.com Dominion Energy (formerly SCE&G) 800-251-7234 www.dominionenergy.com

GARBAGE City of Charleston 843-724-7364 www.charleston-sc.gov City of Goose Creek 843-824-2200 www.cityofgoosecreek.com

| NEWCOMER INFORMATION

City of Hanahan 843-529-3413 www.cityofhanahan.com

Town of Summerville 843-851-4225 www.summervillesc.gov

City of Isle of Palms 843-886-6148 www.iopwsc.com

City of Isle of Palms 843-886-8956 www.iop.net

WATER AND SEWER

James Island Public Service District 843-795-9060 www.jipsd.org

James Island Public Service District 843-795-9060 www.jipsd.org Town of Moncks Corner 843-719-7900 www.monckscornersc.gov Town of Mount Pleasant 843-849-2022 www.tompsc.com City of North Charleston 843-745-1026 www.northcharleston.org Town of Sullivan’s Island 843-883-3198 www.sullivansisland-sc.com

Berkeley County Water & Sanitation Authority 843-572-4400 www.bcwsa.com Charleston Water System 843-727-6800 www.charlestonwater.com Dorchester County Water and Sewer Dept.

843-563-0075, 843-832-0075 www.dorchestercounty.net City of Folly Beach 843-588-2447 www.cityoffollybeach.com City of Goose Creek 843-797-6220, ext. 1 www.cityofgoosecreek.com

Town of Moncks Corner 843-719-7900 www.monckscornersc.gov Johns Island 843-559-0186 St. Johns Water Co. Town of Sullivan’s Island 843-883-5733 www.sullivansisland-sc.com Summerville Commissioners of Public Works 843-871-0810 www.summervillecpw.com Mount Pleasant Waterworks 843-884-9626 www.mountpleasantwaterworks. com