BOO, Charleston! 👻 Let this be the 1st of many reminders you’ll get about today’s day and date.

Kudos to 2 ladies who jumped on our “Where Are We” segment last week! They guessed correctly at the exact same time, shortly after publication. Congrats, Elyse W. of Mount Pleasant and Laura M. of Goose Creek.

Our photo showed the Bridge To Nowhere in the upper part of downtown, just west of Rutledge. If you’re not familiar with the history of this bridge to, well, nowhere, catch up here.

It’s even garnered a 3.8 rating on Yelp.

It won’t be a bridge to nowhere much longer. A large mixed-use development called Magnolia is planned nearby, and that forlorn bridge will become useful at last.

In today’s newsletter:

• Ashley Landing jumps hurdle for major redevelopment. But it’s time to stop calling this West Ashley shopping center “the old Piggly Wiggly.” 🐷

• Charleston’s own big-money developer has a famous daughter. While Emma got all the pub lately, Dad deserves some kudos, too. 🎾

• ICYMI. Lots of ‘em, including 2 Charleston restaurants getting their just desserts. 🥘

Friday 82° / 73° ⛅ 💧24%

Saturday 80° / 72° ⛈️ 💧56%

Sunday 79° / 71° ⛈️ 💧61%

Friday, September 13

• Boardr Series I 6:00 PM I SK8 Charleston, Downtown I The Boardr Series is a national, all ages and skills skateboarding contest series that is designed to provide a fun and fulfilling skateboarding experience for all participants. A portion of the entry fees benefit the Grind for Life non-profit organization. 

• 4th Annual Drifter Fest I 6:00 PM - 10:00 PM I Home Team BBQ, Downtown I Join for a weekend of events complete with great company, stories, live music, Lowcountry eats, heady drinks and fun vendors.

• Sebastian Maniscalco: It Ain't Right Tour I 7:30 PM I North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center, North Charleston I One of the funniest comedians out there, right now, performs locally.

Saturday, September 14

• IncredibleCon I 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM I North Charleston Convention Center, North Charleston I A two-day anime experience with stars from your favorite anime shows and films.

• Petite Paloma Pop-Up I 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM I Marsh & Magnolia, Downtown I Petite Paloma, a luxury cowgirl boot brand based in Dallas, TX, will be popping up at Marsh & Magnolia on Saturday, September 14th! Just in time for football season, oyster roasts, and Riverfront Revival, Marsh & Magnolia welcomes Charleston locals and visitors to come create a custom felt or straw hat and try on Petite Paloma’s artfully designed, heirloom boots. Their collection of small-batch, handcrafted boots are perfect for the coastal cowgirl.

• Drayton Hall at Night I 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM I Drayton Hall, West Ashley I Experience historic Drayton Hall after hours and enjoy the spectacular landscape and live music on the lawn.

Sunday, September 15

• Belay Basics I 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM I James Island County Park, James Island I Learn the ropes with our "Belay Basics" class, a comprehensive e guide to the essential skill of top rope belaying in rock climbing.

• Motown Throwdown I 1:30 PM - 4:00 PM I Pour House, James Island I Patrons of the farmers market will have access to the deck bar and deck restrooms throughout the market. Those who want to hang on the deck and enjoy Motown Throwdown will be asked to pay the $5 door charge.

• LIVE at Firefly with Yung Gravy I 7:00 PM I The Refinery, Downtown I Yung Gravy Presents - The Grits & Gravy Tour w/ Carter Vail.

DEVELOPMENT

Ashley Landing Jumps Major Hurdle For $345 Million Redevelopment

It’s been 11 years since Piggly Wiggly announced they were closing their West Ashley store. Yet in every article I’ve read about efforts to develop the site—which has remained fallow since they shuttered—it’s still referred to by the name that sounds like a nursery rhyme.

And while I love typing and saying “Piggly Wiggly” as much as the next guy, I think it’s time to retire the term.

Especially since Charleston City Council recently gave the green light to what will become a $345 million redevelopment.

I wrote last week about the many properties around Charleston that are ripe for redevelopment. I was referring mainly to smaller-scale projects.

This one, however, is major not only in its price tag but its scope.

What does $345 million get you?

This plan is so much smarter than one the City previously contemplated.

That plan was severely constrained because two separate parties—the City, owner of the 3-acre former Piggly Wiggly (WHEEEEEE!!!) and the owner of the Ashley Landing shopping center—couldn’t reach an agreement to combine their properties.

That meant the City-owned lot—👈🏼 see what I did there?—would have developed a stand-alone project on a geometrically-challenged parcel.

In the past few months, an experienced retail developer/property owner named Edens put Ashley Landing under contract. The City and Edens agreed to combine forces, and the result is a plan that makes a lot more sense.

Charleston’s Mayor Cogswell deserves a lot of credit here. Things moved quickly after he was elected.

There’s still approvals that are needed. But it’s a lot closer to reality.

WHERE ARE WE?

Each week, watch this space for a random snap from somewhere in Charleston. Where are we? Only true locals will know. DM your guess on Instagram, or email me here. The first person to guess correctly will get a shout-out at the top of our issue next week!

SPONSORED BY THE VILLAGE BOOKSELLER

Books, Gifts & More!

thefarrellgroupchs

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I read like nobody’s business. I’m old-school with my habits, too.

It’s gotta be paper, not Kindle.

And one of THE best booksellers in Charleston that keeps me well-read is The Village Bookseller. This locally-owned bookstore is more than just a…well, bookstore!

It is a great place to browse and buy the latest bestseller, memoir or non-fiction read. As I mention in the video, I never go into the store with a list.

I let serendipity take over, and since the shop is so well-curated, I always leave with a terrific choice.

The Village Bookseller is also a great place for us types that wait until the last minute to buy a gift. There’s books, journals, pens, unique greeting cards and other merch.

And if you like chatting books with other readers, there are several book clubs which meet regularly at the store: Mystery, Historical Fiction and Memoir.

The Village Bookseller is located in Mount Pleasant at 761 Coleman Boulevard. They’re open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Sunday from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM.

COMMUNITY

American Gardens Park Advancing Downtown

If you’ve heard the last name Navarro a lot lately, it’s because Emma, Charleston’s own, put the tennis world on notice.

That’s a terrific profile on Emma, but the topic of this piece is Dear Old Dad, Ben.

He’s the founder of Beemok Hospitality Collection, owner of The Charleston Place hotel, the under-development Cooper Hotel on the Harbor, Credit One Stadium, The Riviera Theater and Sorelle.

It took his involvement to make a new urban park a reality.

American Gardens will revitalize two downtown buildings and create a park between Meeting and King streets.

It continues a string of investments Navarro has taken on in his hometown. One with a HUGE price tag.

I don’t think he’s done yet.

ICYMI

🍽️ Two Charleston restaurants were named in Bon Appetit’s “20 Best New Restaurants” list. They deserve their acclaim.

☕ There’s SO many great coffee shops in CHS. Sightsee is one of them, and they recently relocated and expanded.

🦐 Which coastal area produces the best shrimp? Chefs agree, and I’m not surprised.

🧢 The trucker hat’s been hot for a while. And in CHS, you can now design your own.

🍴 There’s too many stories lately about restaurants closing. Here’s news on some opening in the fall.

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FEEDBACK

Got 15 seconds? Let us know what you thought about today’s newsletter by replying to this email or voting in the poll below (you’ll be done MUCH faster than commercial real estate gets developed in Charleston). 👇