9 More Cultural Things You Need to Know About Charleston, SC

By Mark A. Leon

It is time for our second installment of Charleston awareness.  In our first piece, we provided informative tips about the culture of Charleston, SC, the element rarely found on visitor bureau websites or brochures (See Link Below).  We would like to add some additional cultural nuances to assist as you consider Charleston as place to visit or live.

• Charleston loves to brag about themselves. Anytime there is an honor for “Best of”, we promote it with diligence and vigor.  Whether that is a banner streamed across a fence, a press release or abundant social chatter, Charleston loves to taut its own horn.  On the opposite end of the spectrum, it is also an area that brushes bad news under the rug (poor academic ranking, dangerous driving conditions or high taxation)
• Outsiders are not welcome. There is a notion of “Southern Charm” and “Southern Hospitality” that comes with the territory, but make no mistake, locals born and raised in this Southern area, do not welcome outsiders well.  Look closely at Meetup groups, Facebook social and singles groups, and comments about Northerners being the blame for everything.  You will find that the most that struggle to gain social acceptance are outsiders trying to fit in with the locals.
• We speak very openly about acceptance and how we bonded together after Emanuel Nine regardless of race or background. Yet, our mayor and the media speak animatedly spoke of the injustices in Charlottesville.  This type of behavior is consistent with a geography that struggles with similar issues.  As the wealth and poverty gap continues to widen with the heaviest wealth among white residents, the tensions will continue to mount.
• Flooding is not a rarity, but an everyday part of our lifestyle. It is not exclusive to rain or tropical storms, but can be induced by even high tide.
• Charleston does not embrace conservationism or recycling well. It exists, but the percentage of people that adhere to it completely, is limited.
• The Lowcountry has a prominent and extremely talented theater scene, but it is not embraced as well as it should. For many theaters, patronage struggles.
• Food is celebrated in Charleston, but it lacks variety with a huge gap in the ethnic food space.
• Charleston is well behind in parking reform with parking meters lacking pay and reloading apps or credit card options and the city is filled with inconsistent parking rules and times for the residential streets.
• Brunch is a holiday both on Saturday and Sunday. On either day, you can find 120+ brunch options.

Thinking about moving to Charleston? Get to know the culture first