Good morning, Charleston. How are you dealing with these 🐶 days of summer? If you’re an outdoor fitness enthusiast like me, you may want to start paying attention to the dew point.

In today’s newsletter:

• What IS it about King Street? Our High Street snares another impressive retailer. 🛍️

• Several special events highlighted. 📆

• ICYMI. We’re here for you. 🙂

Friday 88° / 78° 🌩️ 💧39%

Saturday 88° / 77° 🌩️ 💧55%

Sunday 88° / 77° 🌩️ 💧56%

Friday, July 19

• Dancing On The Cooper I 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM I Mount Pleasant Pier (map) I Local bands perform a variety of live music including beach/shag, funk/soul, rock, country, Motown, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and today’s greatest hits! Let loose, breathe in the harbor breeze, and dance the night away under the stars!

• Charleston Battery vs. Miami FC I 7:30 PM I Patriots Point Athletic Complex (map) I The Battery are 2nd in the USL Pro Eastern Conference standings, and are super-entertaining to watch.

• Stop Light Observations on The NÜTRL Beach Stage I 7:30 PM I The Windjammer, Isle of Palms (map) I SLO is a 4-piece anti-pop/not rock (but also isn’t not rock) band born and raised in Charleston, SC.

Saturday, July 20

• A Year with Frog and Toad I 11:00 AM & 2:00 PM I Dock Street Theatre, Downtown, (map) I A Year with Frog and Toad is a heartwarming and whimsical musical that brings to life the charming adventures of the two best friends, Frog and Toad, based on Arnold Lobel's beloved children's books.

• Drink Pink Charleston Rosé Festival I 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM I Joseph P. Riley Stadium, Downtown (map) I This special festival will feature musical artists, flutes of rosé, themed and traditional cocktails, seltzers, beer and nonalcoholic offerings. Riley Park will be completely transformed into a pink and white field of dreams.

• Charleston Caribbean Jerk Festival I 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM I Riverfront Park, North Charleston (map) I This ninth annual family-friendly event celebrates the best in Caribbean food, culture and music. Taste test from some of the best chefs in the Southeast as they bring their flavors to a fierce and delicious culinary competition.

Sunday, July 21

• Ladbybug Day 2024 I 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM I Magnolia Plantation, West Ashley (map) I Join us for a delightful and family-friendly affair. It's that time of the year again, where we celebrate these charming insects and their crucial role in our ecosystem. Included with your admission to Magnolia, you'll have the opportunity to participate in our ladybug release event, which can also be conveniently purchased online in advance!

• Bark N’ Brews I 2:00 PM I New Realm Brewing, Daniel Island (map) I Come join us for a fun-filled day of dogs and drinks at New Realm Brewing Co. on Sun, Jul 21, 2024 at 2:00 PM. Bring your furry friends along for a tail-wagging good time! Enjoy a variety of craft beers while your pups socialize and play in our designated dog-friendly area. There will be live music, doggy activities, doggy pools, doggy photobooth to keep cool and more!

• Get Up Sit Down Open Mic I 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM I Tin Roof, West Ashley (map) I Live comedy at West Ashley’s favorite live music venue.

RETAILERS

Indochino is the latest apparel retailer coming to King Street

Haven’t heard of Indochino? Founded as a menswear retailer in the mid-2000s in Victoria, B.C., it was one of the first to open bricks-and-mortar stores after initially operating online.

But they’ve never dotted the landscape with their stores like Men’s Wearhouse. And that’s the point of this story.

A retail trade publication recently announced Indochino will be opening at 206 King Street this summer.

What makes them different?

They’re a pretty terrific operator. They made a big splash when they opened in the Georgetown neighborhood of DC in the fall of 2019.

I’d heard about their unique sales model, so I visited shortly after opening. DC is definitely more corporate than Charleston, and even though the necktie was well on its way to being confined to the dustbin of history, I still wore suits.

First things first, I met with a tailor who took all kinds of measurements. I then sat with her and looked at a ton of fabric swatches and selected 2 for suits. Four weeks later, I was looking fresh.

Why Charleston?

The point is, they’re an impressive retailer that offers an array of menswear and has since expanded into women’s apparel. After years of opening stores, they’re still only a little over 80 units.

They’re clearly selective. And they chose King Street.

I’m speculating here, but I’m sure their execs hear all the buzz about our town, including the latest accolade I wrote about last week. They’ve likely done their homework and learned about the $13.2 billion the hospitality and tourism industry injects into the local economy. They maybe learned by the summer of 2021, King Street foot traffic was back to pre-pandemic levels.

Indochino ain’t the only one

This is the latest in a string of high-profile, unique retailers to choose King Street as an expansion target. Just in the past 18 months or so, these retailers opened (or announced) on King Street:

• Chapel Hats at 377-B King

• State & Liberty , based in Ann Arbor, opened right before Christmas 2023 at 354 King

• Hill House Home , based in New York, opened in the Spring at 145 King

• Buck Mason, based in Venice CA, opened in the Spring at 263 King

• Rag & Bone, based in Soho, opened in the Spring at 363 King

• Alice & Olivia, also based in Soho, will open soon at 364 King

With King Street occupancy at 91%, retailers will soon be running out of space to lease.

EVENTS PREVIEW

Fleet Feet Invites All Ladies To Buy One Give One Event

The Fleet Feet store in West Ashley (located at 1401 Sam Rittenberg in the Ashley Landing shopping center) is hosting a terrific event tonight from 3:00 to 7:00.

For every Brooks sports bra purchased, Fleet Feet will donate a bra to either Closet of Hope SC, Communities in Schools or East Cooper Community Outreach.

You’ll also get 20% off bras when you purchase 2 or more, and 20% off apparel.

Refreshments and raffle prizes are on tap, too. Charleston Marsh Candles will be there with their locally made candles and new soap line, and they’ll give a percentage of the evening's sales to bra donations.

The Buy One Give One initiative runs through August 2, and is offered at all 4 Charleston-area Fleet Feet stores.

Blue Bicycle Books Running Write Of Summer For 22nd Year

Blue Bicycle Books has been a local gem on King Street for years. It’s the perfect place to escape the summer heat and browse through an incredible and wide-ranging selection. Actually, any time of year is a great time to visit this local institution. 😉

It’s not just a bookstore, though. Owner and author, Jonathan Sanchez, is super-committed to literary education, especially for our young ones.

He’s the founder of YALLFEST, Charleston’s Young Adult Book Festival. This year it’ll be held on November 15 and 16, and there’s some great authors and events lined up.

Write Of Summer runs through August 9. Check it out and set your future Ernest Hemingway or Toni Morrison on their path.

ICYMI

🍻 Johns Island-based Low Tide Brewing to expand. The owner of Low Tide Brewing purchased a 10-acre plot on Johns Island, not far from his current operations at 2863 Maybank Highway. There, he envisions more entertaining spaces, grassy areas for pets and slots for even more local food trucks.

🏗️ Historic Navy Yard Storehouse Converted To Housing. The massive and ambitious redevelopment at North Charleston’s Navy Yard is underway. A turn-of-the-century navy storehouse has been converted into 78 boutique live/work units. 

🍷 The Food & Wine Classic is coming to Charleston for 1st time in September. Al Roker, Andrew Zimmern, Maneet Chauhan, Tamron Hall, Stephanie Izard, CJ McCollum and Sean Brock are among the participants.

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FEEDBACK

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