Good morning, Charleston! Bet you didn’t know that today is National Sponge Cake Day! Yes, there’s a day to celebrate that most innocuous of desserts. If you plan on indulging, please make sure you do so at one of Charleston’s excellent local bakeries.

In today’s newsletter:

• I bet The Fresh Market isn’t coming to Mount Pleasant. It’s something you may have said recently. Here’s the latest. 😆

• Charleston’s outdoor mall proposes changes? Mount Pleasant Towne Centre is planning for the future. 🛍️

• ICYMI. News on Union Pier & a few lists. 📋

Friday 81° / 69° ☁️ 💧20%

Saturday 84° / 71° 🌦️ 💧24%

Sunday 84° / 72° 🌦️ 💧35%

Friday, August 23

• Firefly Friday Happy Hour: Live Music by Greg Keys I 4:00 - 7:00 PM I Firefly Distillery, North Charleston I Join us for Happy Hour on Friday, August 23 from 4-8pm, with live music by Greg Keys Music from 4:30pm-7:30pm, $1 off all cocktails and $6 beers! Free Admission. Rocket Burger food truck will be here with all your favorite eats!

• Spooky Empire I All Day (runs Friday through Sunday) I Charleston Area Convention Center, North Charleston I Spooky Empire is THE weekend for Horror, Halloween and Rock n Roll fans of all ages! Where else can you meet and mingle with your favorite horror movie and TV stars, buy any collectible you can imagine from your choice of over 200 vendors and artists, see new up and coming films as well as your old favorites, and take part in one of the largest Zombie Walks.

• Charleston RiverDogs vs. Myrtle Beach Pelicans I 7:05 PM I Joseph P. Riley Park, Downtown I Enjoy top-quality minor-league ball, followed by fireworks over the Ashley!

Saturday, August 24

• The 25th Annual McElveen Race For The ARK I 7:45 AM - 11:00 AM I St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, Summerville I This race includes a 5K run/walk and 1-mile fun run – both races begin and end at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church. The course winds through historic downtown Summerville. The 5K begins at 7:45 a.m. and the 1-mile fun run kicks off at 8:45 a.m.

• Paint & Sip I 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM I Estuary Beans & Barley, Johns Island I Enjoy all your favorite specialty coffees and start your day right. All Paint & Sip attendees receive $1 off every pint ordered from Estuary’s bar! Bring friends and make fun and creative memories. Step-by-step instructions from our friendly and experienced artist! Check in 10 min early.

• Summer Saturday Shopping Pop-Up I 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM I The Palmetto Hotel, Downtown I Shop local this summer every Saturday in The Palmetto Hotel Lobby! This week’s vendor is Snaffle Bit Bracelet Company. Enjoy a discounted cocktail from the Lobby Bar with your purchase.

Sunday, August 25

• Sunday Brunch Farmers Market I 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM I Pour House, James Island I The Sunday Brunch Farmers Market features 50 or so vendors that include local farmers, makers and artisans. The market offers live music, delicious eats and all kinds of amazing local goods and goodies (as well as access to a full bar on the Pour House deck)!

• Rōman's World Foundation: Party With A Purpose I 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM I Bay Street Biergarten, Downtown I An unforgettable event to raise awareness and kick off the formation of Romans World Foundation, inspired by Jonathan "Mookie" Morant and his nonverbal autistic son, Roman. Enjoy a special performance by Mookie on drums and DJ YNot, along with surprise guests, silent and live auctions, book signing, giveaways, and more.

• Star Wars Trivia Night I 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM I Indigo Reef Brewing, Daniel Island I Test your knowledge of the original trilogy and compete for house cash prizes, savor some of Charleston's finest brews, and enjoy delicious bites from @cachitaskitchen.

RETAILERS

Is The Fresh Market Still Coming To Mount Pleasant?

Way back in early 1990, I was a fresh-faced retail leasing agent. I’d just made the move to the big leagues, and was working in the heart of DC, blocks from the White House.

Over the next several years, something hit me squarely in the face. Metaphorically, of course.

Retail lease deals take a LONG time to come together.

That’s certainly been the case with a junior-anchor space at Bowman Place in Mount Pleasant. Kitchen & Co. closed their store in February of 2020, right before the pandemic.

A relatively short 8 months later, German grocery store chain Lidl leased the space. They committed to Mount Pleasant with a 15-year lease.

Lidl & Stop-Start US Expansion

Lidl opened its first South Carolina stores in…2017. It would be 5 years before they actually opened in the Charleston area.

That’s been their problem ever since they announced they’d be taking the States by storm. Store development has been spotty, and not just in South Carolina.

They underestimated how tough it would be to compete with the biggies. They tinkered with store formats and layouts constantly. They delayed openings.

So even when they signed the Mount Pleasant lease, I was cynical. And not surprised when months went by with no Lidl store opening.

The Fresh Market Comes To Bowman Place’s Rescue

OK, I admit that sub-headline is a bit melodramatic. Bowman Place is an active, healthy shopping center. But a grocery store always adds welcome foot traffic to any retail property.

Last September, we learned Greensboro-based The Fresh Market would be coming to Mount Pleasant. In April, renovations were underway. But since then, things stalled.

Don’t Worry, They’re Opening In Mount Pleasant

In a conversation I had with a well-placed source on Thursday, I learned The Fresh Market very much intends on opening their Mount Pleasant store. Lidl had done work to the store, but its plans were incomplete. The Fresh Market ran into some construction…surprises?

The most exciting part of my conversation? The Fresh Market has plans to open at least 2 more stores in the Charleston area.

PRESENTED BY JAMES ISLAND CONNECTOR RUN & CHARLESTON RUNNING CLUB

James Island Connector Run Returns for 26th Year on Saturday, October 26

Charleston Running Club has been a huge part of our running community for years. In the 1970s, the club helped start two of the area's largest races, the Cooper River Bridge Run and the Kiawah Marathon.

And for the 26th straight year, the James Island Connector Run gets going at 7:00 AM on Saturday, October 26. But don’t be fooled by the name! 😁

Yes, there are 8K and 5K runs, but for walkers, there’s a 5K option for you, too!

Registration includes a chip-timed 8K run or 5K run/walk, finisher’s medals for ALL runners and walkers, a long-sleeved lightweight hoodie, running socks, and refreshments. You’ll also have the satisfaction of supporting Southern Tails for Precious Paws, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that focuses on rescuing dogs from rural shelters and streets in the surrounding areas of Charleston.

Register now before the race sells out!

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!

How about it, Charleston? 👇🏼

REDEVELOPMENT

Mount Pleasant Towne Centre Plans For The (Near?) Future

Charleston doesn’t have a traditional regional mall, the over-1-million square foot behemoths found around suburbia throughout the US. But it has something even better: an outdoor, walkable well-tenanted version in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre.

Continental Realty Corporation, owner of MPTC, is known as a savvy, forward-thinking commercial property investor, developer and redeveloper. They paid a big number in 2020 for this premier property.

I’ve known some of CRC’s folks for years, and given their investment, I knew they’d be super-proactive in addressing some of MPTC’s challenges. Two of those are HUGE spaces occupied by Regal Palmetto Grande, Belk and Belk Men’s.

Continental Realty is thinking ahead and planning for the departures of these operators. Regal and other theater operators have been struggling for years (see streaming), and Belk has been second-tier for a long time.

These would be very challenging spaces to re-lease. The retail landscape has changed dramatically since MPTC was originally developed. Many retail properties have been developed in the Charleston area since then, all presenting competition in some form.

I love the portion of this redevelopment proposal that proposes multifamily housing. The demand for housing, both for-sale and rental, remains insatiable in Charleston. The only thing that will make some headway in solving the affordability crisis is more supply.

Stay tuned. I’ll be tracking this one closely.

ICYMI

🌅 Union Pier infrastructure won’t be cheap. Let’s remember it’s a 65-acre urban redevelopment site.

🥩 Charleston gets some love from this “Best New Barbecue Joints” list. Check out numbers 14, 5 and 1.

🏨 Charleston Place is adding 5 new shops. Like moths to a flame, high-end boutiques love this premier King Street hotel.

🥞 Charleston’s 8 newest brunch spots. Let me know your favorites.

🦐 Why American Chefs Love Shrimp From This Coast. That would be our coast.

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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 former kitchen stores get re-leased in Mount Pleasant). 👇