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Company introduces reimagined checkout and guest checkout experiences, new advanced offers platform for merchants, and new consumer app to earn cash back and give customers more reasons to shop with PayPal
New Venmo enhancements enable local small businesses to be discovered and grow
SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) today announced six new innovations the company is piloting and bringing to market this year to revolutionize commerce through artificial intelligence (AI) driven personalization for both merchants and consumers. During the PayPal First Look keynote, Alex Chriss, President and CEO, introduced: a completely new PayPal checkout experience that radically speeds up check out for consumers and helps merchants convert transactions like never before; Fastlane by PayPal, a dramatically faster and smarter guest checkout experience; Smart Receipts, giving customers AI-personalized recommendations from merchants to keep them coming back; the PayPal advanced offers platform so merchants can provide relevant, personalized, real-time offers to consumers and drive more sales; a reinvented PayPal consumer app giving shoppers new ways to earn cash back and more reasons to use PayPal; and, Venmo’s enhanced business profiles, so small businesses can find and engage new customers, and grow their businesses.
PayPal President and CEO, Alex Chriss, at PayPal First Look, introducing six innovations the company is piloting and bringing to market this year to revolutionize commerce.
“PayPal is on a mission to revolutionize commerce, globally, and today we are starting the next chapter,” said Alex Chriss, President and CEO, PayPal. “With nearly 400 million consumer accounts, and 35 million merchant accounts, PayPal handles transactions for about a quarter of the world’s e-commerce transactions each year, but more importantly, shoppers trust PayPal to power their payments.”
Chriss continued, “PayPal is introducing six new innovations that will not only solve real customer pain points, but we believe will change the world of payments and commerce. From new solutions for merchants to speed up checkout and personalize offers, to a new consumer app that will give our loyal customers more reasons to shop with PayPal, to the next generation of Venmo designed to be the growth platform for local small businesses, PayPal has always brought the future of money to our consumers and merchants and today marks the next revolution.”
With digital commerce expected to exceed $6 trillion in 20241, merchants need new, advanced ways to speed consumers through checkout in a seamless way that reduces lost sales. Additionally, consumers are continuously looking to stretch their budgets and get as much value while shopping as possible. PayPal’s global scale and extensive data set, combined with the power of AI, will deliver the next generation of value for both consumers and merchants.
Transforming Checkout
Checkout is the last interaction between a consumer and a merchant, and while it seems so simple, any friction can disrupt the moment. Business owners want to focus on the next sale and consumers are looking to remove any annoying interruptions like password prompts or lagging response times. To address this, PayPal has massively accelerated the checkout process to get customers to choose PayPal, integrate passkeys to enable customers to log in with their face or fingerprint with one tap, and to improve latency. In fact, this will reduce latency by as much as 50%2, and enable customers to check out twice as fast, all with the same level of security and trust they have come to expect from PayPal. Additionally, the new PayPal checkout will also leverage AI to get smarter and faster over time.
Introducing Fastlane by PayPal
Merchants are losing out on sales because the guest checkout process is both slow and cumbersome. Additionally, shoppers do not often sign in or sign up while browsing, and when they are ready to check out, they must find their password, update their credit card information, or shipping address. To help, PayPal is introducing Fastlane by PayPal, a new one-click guest checkout experience that merchants using PayPal’s platform will be able to offer their shoppers, allowing them to make a fast and painless purchase. Customers simply save their information with Fastlane to check out in as little as one tap. No username or password to remember, no personal information to update, and no need to share a credit card with businesses all over the web.
PayPal has been piloting Fastlane by PayPal with a group of merchants and are seeing astounding early results. Select merchants on BigCommerce, a leading open software-as-a-service (SaaS) ecommerce platform and longtime PayPal partner, have seen early results showing that Fastlane can recognize 70% of guests3 and accelerated checkout speeds of nearly 40% compared to a traditional guest checkout process.4
Introducing PayPal Smart Receipts
Merchants want to incentivize customers to come back, and consumers want to find the best deals, so PayPal is eliminating the guesswork for both with the introduction of Smart Receipts. When consumers shop with PayPal, they will receive a receipt that allows them to not only track their purchase, but also harnesses AI to predict what they may want to buy next from that merchant. As a result, now merchants will be able to include a personalized recommendation along with a cashback reward offer on the receipt.
As almost 45% of PayPal customers globally open their email receipts everyday5 – an incredible open rate – this could mean tens of millions of merchants and hundreds of millions of consumers seeing timely, hyper-relevant recommendations and rewards in these receipts. This increases the opportunities for merchants to re-engage directly with their customers, increasing the probability of repeat shopping and business growth.
PayPal is also leveraging AI-powered suggestions that are based on shopper behavior data, combined with the scale of what PayPal can see across the web. Through personalized AI, PayPal is giving any sized merchant the power of being one of the largest retailers in the world.
Introducing PayPal Advanced Offers Platform
Today, when consumers shop online their experience includes ads generated by their browsing behavior only, which can be irrelevant and frustrating. In response, PayPal will use unique customer insights to build a dynamic, truly personalized advanced offers platform giving merchants the ability to reach customers based on what they have actually bought across the internet, down to the stock keeping unit (SKU) and the individual product. This new, performance-based offers platform has the potential to use AI to organize and analyze data from nearly half a trillion dollars’ worth of merchant transactions globally6. The platform will also allow merchants to customize offers for customers, and merchants will only pay for performance, not impressions or clicks. For PayPal consumers, it means they will get more relevant offers, and more opportunities to earn rewards.
PayPal is also building transparent, easy-to-use privacy controls so if a customer does not want their data shared with merchants to personalize their shopping experience – they can opt in or out.
Reinventing the PayPal app
PayPal is also reinventing the PayPal app to give loyal customers even more reasons to shop and pay with PayPal every day. Too often consumers are served the top items from the largest merchants that can afford to buy the best search terms. Additionally, consumers are still feeling the inflationary pinch and looking for ways to spend smarter and find the best deals. This is why PayPal is introducing CashPass to give customers access to hundreds of exciting, personalized cash back offers from top brands in the U.S. A user will simply need to tap on the offer, shop at that business, and check out with PayPal. CashPass uses AI to organize personalized offers for customers based on shopping behaviors, and customers will regularly discover new cash back offers giving them more reasons to visit the app.
Starting in March, PayPal is planning to launch CashPass with an amazing set of launch partners, so consumers can access offers from merchants such as Best Buy, eBay, McDonald’s, Priceline, Ticketmaster, Uber, and Walmart.
PayPal CashPass users will also be able to stack with other PayPal rewards such as cash back from the PayPal Cashback Mastercard®. Users can then put cash back into a PayPal Savings account and earn more on top.
Introducing the Next Generation of Venmo Business Profiles
Venmo introduced business profiles in 2021 to provide an affordable and easy way for businesses to accept payments and grow their business and has grown to a community of more than 90 million active accounts. Small businesses rely on word-of-mouth, social media, and reviews on other sites for referrals. It can be difficult to stand out on social media, and one bad review can set their business back. Venmo is solving this by introducing enhanced Venmo business profiles to help small businesses be discovered like never before. The next evolution of business profiles will add subscribe buttons, profile rankings, and the ability to offer promotions to consumers, bringing powerful new ways for businesses to drive traffic, generate sales, and more meaningfully grow their business through increased visibility in the Venmo app.
For consumers, they will be able to discover top-ranked businesses endorsed by their network and enjoy cashback deals when supporting local businesses in their community. No other mobile payment service has a social feed as active, useful and as personal as Venmo, and this is a revolution in providing real-time offers and promotions at a hyper-local level for small businesses. The same type of privacy controls will be available on Venmo, as on PayPal.
All of these new experiences will begin rolling out in the United States throughout 2024.
1 Insider Intelligence, “Ecommerce growth worldwide will pick up before tapering off,” Aug. 23, 2023 2 Based on PayPal internal data from October to November 2023. 3 Based on PayPal internal data from October 1 to November 2, 2023. 4 Based on PayPal Internal data from November 2 to November 18, 2023. 5 Based on PayPal internal data from November 1, 2023 to January 8, 2024. 6 Based on PayPal internal data from Global Branded XO TPV for the 12-month period between Dec’22 to Nov’23.
About PayPal
PayPal has remained at the forefront of the digital commerce revolution for more than 25 years. By leveraging technology to make sending money and shopping more convenient, affordable, and secure, the PayPal platform is empowering hundreds of millions of consumers and merchants in more than 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. For more information, visit https://www.paypal.com, https://about.pypl.com/ and https://investor.pypl.com/.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information relate to future events and future performance and reflect, among other things, PayPal’s plans with respect to product innovation. Forward looking statements may be identified by words such as “seek”, “believe”, “plan”, “estimate”, “anticipate”, “expect”, “project”, “forecast”, or intend”, and statements that an event or result “may”” “will”, “should”, “could”, or “might” occur or be achieved and any other similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made. More information about these and other factors can be found in PayPal Holdings, Inc.’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and its future filings with the SEC.
The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. PayPal expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in the expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.
Singles Say Better Sex Ed Leads to Healthier Relationships
Finances Rank as Top Stressor for 2nd Year in a Row
More Than 4 in 10 Young Singles Think AI Can Increase Partner Selection and Compatibility
DALLAS, Jan. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Match today released findings from its 13th annual Singles in America study, the nation’s largest and most comprehensive annual scientific study of single adults, more than one-third of the U.S. adult population. This year’s study asked a national representative sample of 5,000+ singles their thoughts on dating and AI, non-monogamous relationships, comprehensive sex education, and more. Having run annually over the past 13 years, the study encompasses insights from 70,000 singles to date, showcasing major trends and new developments in sex, love and marriage.
“Single Americans are ushering in new trends in dating, demonstrating the influence and impact of their substantial demographic,” said Dr. Justin Garcia, Scientific Advisor to Match and Executive Director of the Kinsey Institute. “Findings show that singles are adapting to some of our most significant social and political challenges, by seeking financial stability in partners to getting serious about accurate education on sexuality and relationships. Despite the political rancor over sex education, the data shows that most singles haven’t received sex ed from reliable sources, with nearly half of single adults today saying that proper education would lead to happier and healthier relationships. Today’s singles are hungry for tools to help them find and maintain human connection.”
Singles Call Out For Better Sex…Ed
Nearly half of singles (44%) report that more sex ed (i.e. learning more about and communicating what you want, gender identity, consent, sexual orientation) in their younger years would have enabled them to have healthier and happier relationships today.
In newly released findings exploring America’s sex ed dilemma, singles report that if they had received more information on sex ed topics early on they would:
Have more sexual confidence now (40%)
Know how to talk about sex with partners (32%)
Know how to date more effectively (30%)
While singles report having received sex ed on concepts like reproduction (91%), puberty (89%), pregnancies (89%), testing/preventing STIs (84%), and abstinence (77%), they also identified key areas of intimacy where they didn’t receive sex ed, including:
How to talk about what you want (39%)
Gender identity (38%)
How to talk about sex in general (35%)
How to give and ask for consent (31%)
How to establish and/or discuss sexual orientation (26%)
When it comes to their sources of information on sex, singles have more often learned about sex from inconsistent and unreliable sources, including peers and pornography:
How to have a positive or healthy romantic relationship: 25% learned about this from friends/peers, 26% from family, 24% learned somewhere else; while 7% learned from school.
Sexual orientation: 31% learned about this from friends/peers, 16% from family, 28% learned somewhere else ; while 18% learned from school.
Consent: 25% learned about this from friends/peers, 18% from family, 25% learned somewhere else; while 17% learned from school.
Monogamy has Staying Power
“Polyamory and other forms of sexual exploration are thriving. But this practice is far from undermining traditional monogamy—it’s enhancing it. These singles say their sexual adventures have given them meaningful insights into what they really want in a long-term, stable partnership. In fact, nearly 50% of singles still want a traditional sexually-monogamous relationship. This cultural trend can’t kill the human drive to find the one,” says Dr. Helen Fisher, Match’s Chief Scientific Advisor.
Half (49%) of singles say that traditional sexual monogamy is their ideal sexual relationship. But nearly 1/3 of singles (31%) have had a consensually non-monogamous relationship at some point – 16% of whom saying they would have a non-monogamous relationship again in the future. Among those who have practiced non-monogamy, singles reported the diverse relationship structures involved:
Monogamish (21%): Committed relationship that allows sexual variety with others
Polyamory (11%): Where relationship partners agree they may have a romantic relationship with other people
Open relationships (13%): A committed primary relationship that openly allows for romantic and/or sexual activity with other
Swinging (12%): Expanding an exclusive romantic relationship to seek out other sexual partners together
Many singles who have engaged in consensual non-monogamy felt the experience had a positive impact on their dating life:
38% say their non-monogamous experiences have made them better understand what they do and don’t want and need in a relationship
30% of single people report becoming more open sexually
29% say they became more emotionally mature
27% say they were able to have more frequent sex
But not every single American is expanding their sex life. Just over one in five of today’s singles (21%) state that they don’t want a sexual relationship right now.
PS. AI Love You
“A new trend is emerging: Artificial Intelligence is helping singles connect more effectively. 14% of online daters have already used AI for dating. And that’s most likely just the beginning––because 32% of these men and women say that AI has helped them get better matches and meet potential partners faster,” says Dr. Helen Fisher. “AI is positioned to become a vital new tool for finding love.”
How are daters using AI?
AI in dating is still in early stages, with 6% of all single daters using AI in their dating life.
43% of AI users used the technology to write their dating app profile
37% of AI users used it to help them write a first message
How efficient do daters find AI? Of those who have harnessed AI for dating:
27% reported that using AI helped them get better matches
26% received more matches using AI
While the ancients relied on Cupid, 1/3 of all singles surveyed, including 43% of young singles, think AI can be their matchmaker, capable of assessing partnership compatibility.
When asked what they would want from AI when it comes to dating:
34% want help sorting their matches
29% want help creating their profile
30% want help coming up with conversation topics on a date
Singles Seek Savers
Americans’ social lives respond to an unpredictable economy. For the second year in a row, singles listed money issues as their top stressors: Personal day-to-day finances (24%) topped the list, followed closely by concerns over the economy and also over inflation (both at 21%). But singles are also ushering in new norms for managing these money-related stressors: 64% of singles say they have a monthly budget, and 73% of singles say a potential partner’s financial stability is important to them. The days of not discussing finances on a date are long gone.
Dating Gets the Gen Z Glow Up
Gen Z is feeling pressure in life when it comes to the economy, their careers, and their mental health, but less so when it comes to dating: 90% of Gen Z feel significant stress, specifically due to their finances (24%), physical health (22%), and mental health (22%), while their dating lives fall lower on the list (16%).
This generation of singles is working on themselves, know what they want in a long term partner, and believe in marriage and the future of relationships:
45% of Gen Z singles have been working to better their mental health
57% were interested in attending a therapy session or had already done so this year, compared to 48% last year
39% say their physical health is poor or fair, but 41% are working to improve this
58% report they feel lonely on a typical day
57% want to get married
83% believe they can have a lifelong marriage
78% have been passionately in love
64% want a partner who wants to marry
57% want a partner who wants children
Relationship and Dating Discourse
“Boundaries,” “trauma,” “feeling triggered,” “gaslighting” – therapy language has infiltrated dating conversations, but singles think you can take it too far!
1 in 3 singles (33%)—regardless of age or gender—feel that therapy speak is a mixed bag: it can be useful, but can also be detrimental
Nearly 40% of young singles think that therapy language promotes a better understanding of mental health (vs. 28% of Gen X, 20% of Boomers)
Healthy Relationships: Singles identified their top three most important factors in a healthy romantic relationship as trust, effective communication, and mutual respect.
Past Relationships Prove to be Stepping Stones to Better Future Relationships: 76% of singles reported that their past dating experiences helped define who they are today, and what they want in future relationships.
To help shape future relationships, singles are counting on a wide variety of important resources for dating advice, including:
Friends: 65%
Family: 46%
Therapist: 26%
1 in 10 asked an ex-partner
23% of Gen Z turn to influencers/content creators (vs. 19% Millennials, 10% Gen X, 11% Boomers)
Singles at the Ballot Box
With adult singles representing over 1/3 of the U.S. population, 2024 election candidates and pollsters may be overlooking the power of the single voter. 14% of all singles don’t plan to vote in the upcoming presidential election, a figure that jumps to one in five of Gen Z singles (20%).
The overturning of Roe v. Wade has impacted the dating and sex lives of nearly 9 in 10 singles (87% of daters under age 50) since the 2022 ruling to reverse the landmark legislation, a jump from 78% last year. How have singles been impacted?
12% of singles say they feel more hesitant to date and 11% report having sex less often. 10% of singles feel more nervous or anxious during sex (9% of men, 12% of women, while 13% say they are more afraid of getting pregnant or getting someone else pregnant. 13% of singles (14% of men and 12% of women) also report using condoms more often since the overturning.
22% of singles say abortion legislation will completely determine their vote (including 26% of women, 18% of men; 30% of Democrats, 20% of Republicans and Libertarians, 19% Independents, and 14% of singles with no political affiliation)
70% of singles say a candidate’s view on abortion will have some impact on how they will vote
Overall, 60% of singles report being pro-choice, while 23% are pro-life/anti-abortion
“American Singles are reckoning with the impact of Roe v Wade and abortion legislation on their lives, with these startling findings showing that legislation has entered people’s bedrooms to alter behavior, comfort, pleasure, and the meaning of intimacy in today’s relationships,” said Dr. Justin Garcia.
To see the full findings, including additional demographic breakdowns, please visit: www.SinglesinAmerica.com
About Singles in America
Singles in America (SIA) is funded by Match and conducted by Dynata in association with renowned anthropologist Dr. Helen Fisher and evolutionary biologist Dr. Justin Garcia of The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. The 2023 study is based on the attitudes and behaviors taken from a demographically representative sample of 5,305 U.S. singles between the ages of 18 to 98. Generations are defined as: Gen Z (18-26), Millennials (27-42), Gen X (43-58), and Boomers (59+). Young singles are defined as the combination of Gen Z and Millennials. Singles in America remains the most comprehensive annual scientific survey of single Americans.
The moment you step into Lounge With Us, James Island’s newest boutique, located in Merchants Village between Publix and Obrion’s Pub, you are swept away by tranquil aromas, a wonderland of pink and an assortment of products to bring a smile to anyone’s face. This wonderfully curated boutique offers loungewear (tee-shirts, dresses, pants), jewelry, intimates, customized cups, cards, candles and so much more.
From Dolly to Willie to Taylor, Lounge With Us is truly a remarkably fun and inviting shopping experience for yourself, a gift or just a light pamper.
Here is all you need to know about the new boutique on James Island and its fabulous owner Erin Yates.
What is Lounge with Us?
Lounge With Us is Charleston’s premier online & in-person boutique delivering real comfort to real women in real situations through lifestyle, loungewear, and lingerie. But what does that really mean? For starters, our vision is to be where comfort meets confidence, where work meets life, and where all can lounge with us. We believe that beauty is a feeling, not just a feature, compassion is an action, not just a thought, and growth is a process, not just a destination. Lounge With Us sells the most loungetastic slow-fashion out there while also advocating lounge as a lifestyle.
South Carolina native, mother to Dolly the Frenchie, and Lounge-aholic, Erin Yates launched Lounge With Us in December 2020 from the comfort of her own home. Prior to following in the entrepreneurial footsteps of her family, Erin worked in the lingerie industry for nearly 10 years and women’s shoes before that, learning exactly what comfort really means to women.
After meeting so many different types of women and having oodles of conversations regarding body image in the dressing rooms she felt it was her time to provide real women with the real comfort and confidence they deserve.
With this, she quit her job in the midst of the pandemic and has spent every day since working towards just that: delivering real comfort to real women in real situations through loungewear, lifestyle, and longevity.
Alongside her mother, Brenda Yates, the two travel across the U.S. to hand pick the softest, comfiest sleep, lounge & daywear imaginable.
So, whether you are sitting in a virtual boardroom behind your computer, boarding an 8-hour flight headed straight to a business meeting, welcoming new neighbors over for the backyard BBQ, or sipping wine watching The Golden Girls or The Bachelor, we have thought of it all and want you to still feel confident, powerful, and beautiful whilst doing so. Because guess what? You are.
A Berkeley County distribution center has announced plans to close by the middle of the year.
Fruit of the Loom’s 750,000-square-foot distribution center in Summerville will begin the closing process March 22, impacting 119 workers.
The closing announcement was listed on Tuesday’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification report from the state Department of Employment and Workforce.
Fruit of the Loom spokesperson Melanie Cressman said the closing process will take several months and should be finished by July 1.
“As a global Company operating in a highly competitive marketplace, Fruit of the Loom, Inc., is constantly analyzing its business to ensure we remain as competitive as possible,” Cressman said. “After an extensive review of our distribution network, the decision was made to close the distribution center in Summerville, South Carolina in support of a consolidation strategy.”
The employees will receive benefits and assistance based on the WARN Act and company policies, Cressman said. They have asked state and local officials to assist the impacted employees.’
We are so pleased to announce the Grand Opening of Red Palm Tavern located at 45 Romney St, Charleston, SC 29403.
This old-style American tavern & sports bar features a wood-fire influenced menu, patio, billiards, darts, 15 TVs & a huge LED screen. The official opening was on Friday, January 26, 2024 at 45 Romney Street. The space was formally occupied by Crust Wood-Fired Pizza and Bailey’s Oyster Bar.
Click HERE to follow on Instagram for more updates.
Spirit Airlines has announced that beginning April 10, 2024, they will begin non-stop service from Charleston (CHS) to Boston, MA (BOS) and New York – LaGuardia (LGA)
NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today the Ford Foundation announced its latest round of grants for independent documentary film. With a storied history of funding social impact films for nearly 75 years, the foundation houses JustFilms, one of the largest documentary funds in the world and a part of the Creativity and Free Expression (CFE) program. Now in its thirteenth year, JustFilms is one of the few philanthropies making direct grants for independent documentary content. In its most recent round of grants, it provided over $4.2 million to support 59 innovative film projects centered on social justice globally and in the United States.
From this allocation, the 59 documentary films support works that reinforce Ford’s mission to reduce inequality around the world and help people live their lives with dignity. JustFilm’s grants support content that spans Ford’s key strategic areas such as natural resources and climate change, gender justice, disability inclusion and racial and ethnic justice. These films explore themes of social justice including but not limited to: women’s rights (particularly at the intersection of land rights and reproductive justice), environment/natural resources, Latin American history and culture, disability justice and accessibility, U.S. education system, LGBTQIA+ rights, criminal justice system and more.
Among the 59 films, include Travel Notes of a Gullah Geechee Girl directed by Julie Dash about a South Carolina Geechee girl in search of her authentic self. In her travels, she wrote her bestselling cookbook effectively changes how the world talks about women, race, and food.
“Our grantees represent a diverse tapestry of narratives, reflecting deeply ingrained societal concerns and cultural legacies shaping our collective consciousness. Each documentary helps to illuminate the multifaceted experiences that define our present era.” said Jon-Sesrie Goff, program officer for JustFilms at the Ford Foundation. “In a world increasingly filled with misinformation and polarization, it’s critical to support artistic works that help to counter this and offer nuanced views of our society.”
Documentaries in this round span the breadth of human experience, resilience, and resistance, revealing the intricacies in society today, from witnesses’ heart-wrenching accounts of tragedy to societal issues. Emphasizing the continued movement toward racial justice, some films tell the stories of George Floyd and Philando Castile, who grapple with exploitation amid their family’s pursuit for justice in #WhileBlack. Other films focus on the intimate portrayal of communities torn apart by violence and hate crimes, such as the burning of a mosque in A Town Called Victoria. One explores the often-overlooked contributions of Latinx heroes, as seen in the public television series American Historia produced by John Leguizamo.
Several projects in this cohort also examine disability justice and inclusion, intertwining narratives that shed light on the stories, experiences, hurdles, and resilience of those in the community. Films like Life After, Silent Treatment: Deaf Incarcerated People Fighting for Equality, Her Socialist Smile, Patrice, Unseen and Untitled Dwarfism Project act as catalysts for change, urging audiences to confront biases, dismantle systemic barriers, and advocate for disability rights within broader social justice movements for a fairer and more accessible world. Delving into the intersection of disability, social justice, and human rights, these disability-led and disability-informed documentaries spotlight the complex struggles faced by so many and showcase efforts to foster awareness, policy alterations, and societal transformations toward equity for people with disabilities.
In its support of the larger film industry, JustFilms also champions several organizations in the ecosystem and their ongoing work to identify, support and train emerging filmmakers as well as confront systemic challenges that filmmakers face, particularly BIPOC, disabled and LGBTQIA+ filmmakers. A study by grantee Distribution Advocates, which extensively surveyed documentary feature film teams premiering at prominent film festivals such as Sundance, SXSW, and Tribeca, noted these ongoing challenges such as barriers to entering festivals, hurdles with film distribution, and trouble enhancing their public profiles. Acceptance rates at leading festivals hover around 2% to 4.2%, predominantly favoring established filmmakers. Demographic data further underscores the lack of diversity among filmmakers, with insufficient BIPOC representation, indicating disparities in financing and representation of diverse voices and stories globally. Additionally, many films failed to sell rights post-festivals and only a small percentage reported selling worldwide rights, illustrating the challenges of securing comprehensive distribution deals.
“The moment we are in calls for sophisticated responses to counter the challenges we’re seeing across the industry. It requires arts, documentary film, and journalism to include the experiences and leadership of people with lived experience and for these fields to adapt and innovate,” said Chi-hui Yang, director ofCreativity and Free Expression at the Ford Foundation. “Safeguarding independent voices within nonfiction storytelling allows us to uphold democratic values and foster cultural empowerment amidst the increasing challenges facing the independent film world, including access and distribution.”
In light of these challenges, JustFilms (and the Ford Foundation more broadly) strive to continue supporting filmmakers and institutions that bring to life documentary films extending beyond commercial interests, manifesting as a philanthropic endeavor to preserve diverse narratives, amplify marginalized voices, and foster inclusive storytelling. Keeping independent voices diverse and viable in documentaries relies on rethinking these industry challenges to help these important films reach audiences and advocate for an inclusive and equitable platform where these narratives can thrive while shaping a more just and empathetic society.
The full list of documentary film projects supported by JustFilms in this new round of grantmaking is below:
Witnesses who filmed the deaths of George Floyd, Philando Castile, and others, step forward in this ground-breaking documentary about the citizen journalist videos that have ignited global movements. Millions have seen their horrifying videos, but few realize how witnesses must fight against online trolls, surveillance firms working with police, and exploitative social media platforms that turn their pain into profit.
A Town Called Victoria Director: Li Lu Producers: Anthony Pedone, Li Lu
When the local mosque is burned to the ground in an apparent hate crime, the town of Victoria must overcome its age-old political, racial, and economic divides to find a collective way forward.
American Historia Director: Ben DeJesus Producers: Ben DeJesus, John Leguizamo, Sandie Pedlow, Donald Thoms, Lesley Norman
Join actor John Leguizamo on a quest to uncover Latino and Latina heroes and their often-overlooked contributions, delving into both well-known and lesser-known stories of Latino history, from the grand Ancient Empires to the present.
Artificial Horizon Director: Elizabeth M. Webb Producers: Hello Benjamin Films: Solomon Turner, Maggie Corona-Goldstein, DaManuel Richardson
“Artificial Horizon” chronicles the complex and layered racial and natural histories of a tract of former plantation land in eastern Alabama, an origin point for the filmmaker’s family members who continue to live on both sides of—and sometimes crossing—the “color line.”
A Short Film About Tanya Gersh, The Southern Poverty Law Center, Justice Itself & A Short Film About Sandi Bachom, Unlikely Nazi Hunter Director: David France Producer: Paul McGuire
A Short Film About Tanya Gersh, The Southern Poverty Law Center, Justice Itself: For 7 years, a victim of violent anti-Semitic harassment flips the script on her tormentor, chasing a notorious White supremacy figure through the Dark Web in pursuit of justice.
A Short Film About Sandi Bachom, Unlikely Nazi-Hunter: One of the most recognized frontline journalists tracking extremism in America is a garrulous 80-year-old woman, with a deeply personal motivation to make a positive mark.
Bartolo Director: Leandro Fabrizi Rios Producers: Neyda Martinez, Carol Colmenares
Tucked into the rural coffee-growing mountainside of remote western Puerto Rico is a tiny hamlet, Bartolo. It is home to an isolated agricultural community of just 12 families, landless and chronically impoverished, and longing for a new start following catastrophic climate events. The community seizes on a chance for a new beginning when a veteran organizer from outside of Bartolo comes to town with a radical new plan.
Blacked Out Dreams Director: Adeleke Omitowoju Producer: Steven Pargett
“Blacked Out Dreams” is a film about how rapid school closures and a water crisis force three normal kids to live in very abnormal conditions. The film follows two siblings over two years as they navigate towards graduating from the last remaining public high school in a city divided by race and plagued by poverty.
In the current Anthropocene era, capital-driven human activities have disrupted the delicate balance and harmony that the Earth has developed over millions of years. The film, from a non-Western perspective, follows the lives of indigenous people from the Arctic to the South Pacific, observing their resilience and struggles in the face of adversity, weaving a tapestry that inspires reflection and change.
An animated musical documentary short about life and death in a county jail. Lyrics by Stew, music by Heidi Rodewald and Stew. Animation by Tom Curtis.
Fire Through Dry Grass Directors: Alexis Neophytides, Andres “Jay” Molina Producers: Jennilie Brewster, Alexis Neophytides
On a tiny island in NYC, a group of Black and brown disabled artists fight Covid and the city to protect the lives of 500 vulnerable nursing home residents.
For Venida, For Kalief Director: Sisa Bueno Producer: Sisa Bueno
“For Venida, For Kalief” is a lyrical journey of criminal justice reform in New York City via the poetry of Venida Browder, whose words echo a movement for the legacy of her transcendent son, Kalief Browder.
Going To Mars Directors: Michèle Stephenson, Joe Brewster Producers: Joe Brewster, Michèle Stephenson
“Going to Mars” takes us through the mind-scape of legendary poet, Nikki Giovanni. Her voice guides us across time and outer space, dreams and remembrances, and across decades of American history, as we reimagine her most iconic work with visual lyricism fit for a poet. The film’s cinematic intergalactic journey ventures beyond Nikki’s own lifetime, to Middle Passage and Mars, always keeping hold of possibility and the potential of Black liberation.
Her Socialist Smile Director: John Gianvito Producer: John Gianvito
A documentary essay on the political imagination of iconic humanitarian, author, and advocate for the blind Helen Keller. World famous for having learned how to read and communicate through the finger alphabet, indelibly dramatized in William Gibson’s play The Miracle Worker, Helen Keller (1880-1968) remained for the course of her 87 years the most revered blind-deaf woman on the planet. Largely omitted or minimized within the voluminous literature her life generated was the fact that Keller had been a committed believer in the principles of Socialism. The product of years of research, Her Socialist Smile resurrects the radical Keller, and serves as a rousing reminder that Keller’s undaunted activism for labor rights, pacifism, and women’s suffrage was philosophically inseparable from her battles for the rights of the disabled.
Union Directors: Steve Maing, Brett Story Producers: Samantha Curley, Mars Verrone
An intimate portrait of the Amazon Labor Union (ALU), a group of current and former Amazon workers taking on one of the world’s largest and most powerful companies in the fight to unionize.
The Battle for Laikipia Directors: Daphne Matziaraki, Pete Murimi Producers: Toni Kamau, Daphne Matziaraki, Roger Ross Williams (Executive Producer), Geoff Martz (Executive Producer)
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Life After Director: Reid Davenport Producer: Colleen Cassingham
“Life After” interrogates the contradictory political ideologies surrounding death and disability, while coalescing the missing voices of the disabled community in the contemporary debate around medically assisted suicide.
Lights of Passage Director: Yeelen Cohen Producers: Guetty Felin, Kira Simon Kennedy, Kirsten Johnson (Executive Producer)
“Lights of Passage” is a personal documentary odyssey, a cinematic baptism, and an homage to cultural preservation through ancestral storytelling practices. The story orbits two filmmakers at opposite ends of their careers, separated by oceans, but cosmically connected through a name and film.
The Memory of Butterflies Director: Tatiana Fuentes Sadowsky Producer: Isabel Madueño Medina
“The Memory of Butterflies” is a first-person cinematic essay using propaganda images from the rubber boom in the Amazon to tell the story of two Indigenous, Omarino and Aredomi. The film attempts to reconstruct, speculatively and subjectively, the fates of these characters, who became the faces of the rubber industry’s “civilizing” propaganda.
Nine Directors: Rachael DeCruz, Jeremy S. Levine Producers: Rachael DeCruz, Jeremy S. Levine
Nine is a feature documentary about the moving relationship between Gerald Hankerson, a Black 53-year old community leader in Seattle, and his father figure Henry Grisby. Their bond, forged across generations and decades, gives both men the power to push back against an oppressive criminal justice system., After being sent to prison at 18 for the rest of his life, Gerald Hankerson met Henry Grisby who raised him into the man he is today. Using the lessons Henry taught him, Gerald made history by organizing his way out of prison. Now, Gerald is on a mission to bring his 83-year old “Pops” home.
Patrice: The Movie Director: Ted Passon Producers: Kyla Harris, Innbo Shim, Emily Spivack
In her late 50’s Patrice has finally found the love of her life, Garry, who, like her is disabled. They want nothing more than to get married, but if they do – or were even to move in together – the benefits they need to survive would be cut. A rom-com about the next phase of marriage equality.
Plot of Land Directors: Sue Mobley, Jordy Yager, Nick Jenisch Producers: Sue Mobley, Nick Jenisch
“Plot of Land” is a podcast mini-series from Monument Lab that explores how race, class, land, and power have been used to build and maintain unfair systems that harm nearly everyone and how choices made by people in the distant past have created vast inequities in the present. We believe that to build a just future for everyone, we must radically change our approach to policy and practice. Join us as we remap and rethink land ownership today.
Powwow People Director: Sky Hopinka (Ho-Chunk/Pechanga) Producers: Adam Piron (Kiowa/Mohawk), Gina Bluebird-Stacona (Lakota)
Told through Hopinka’s distinct artistic style and lens of personal lived experience, the film is a meditation on the nebulous places of community and survivance that are powwows, poetically depicting Native American singers and dancers as they live their lives, maintain their cultural traditions, and prepare for an upcoming powwow; one organized, hosted, and documented through the production of this film.
Principios (Principles) Director: Susana Erenberg Producers: Laboratorio de Litigio Estructura, A.C., Abril Schmucler
“Principles” is the intimate portrait of Juan Méndez, a lawyer who, after experiencing torture at the hands of the Argentine police, became an important promoter and defender of dignity and human rights, working internationally for the prevention and abolition of torture.
Four short documentaries articulate future visions for queer life that offer liberation, joy, and connection. Just as queer lives subvert normative expectations of behavior, identity, and expression, these films expand the boundaries of nonfiction narrative forms and aesthetics — presenting new ways of seeing the queer experience lived out loud. The “Queer Futures” series centers joy and connection to radically imagine future visions of queer life. Four short films explore fat beauty and liberation, gender-affirming healthcare, nonbinary ballroom culture, and the anonymous connections of a decades-old LGBTQ hotline.
Untitled Policing Documentary Directors: Charles Burnett, Nicole Lucas Haimes Producers: Nicole Lucas Haimes, Lori Cheatle (Executive Producer)
Centered on an explosive confessional told from behind the thin blue line, this film examines police crime and the personal and political consequences of law enforcement wrongdoing on officers and their victims.
Raised by Wolves Director: Dana Coester Producer: Joel Beeson, Dana Coester
“Raised By Wolves” peers into online youth culture in Appalachia, revealing the risks of radicalization through exposure to weaponized misinformation and far right extremism in social media and online gaming spaces, documenting the escalation of violence as it unfolds in real time – and close to home. A series of personal stories of affected community members unfolds against the backdrop of an opioid traumatized, post-industrial landscape, as experts unpack the systemic nature of a problem rooted in our times, our tech and our history.
River of Grass Director: Sasha Wortzel Producer: Danielle Varga
“River of Grass” unfolds as a voyage through the past, present, and precarious future of the iconic and imperiled Florida Everglades; told through the writings of the late environmentalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas, and those who today call the region home.
Saund vs. Cochran Director: Mridu Chandra Producer: Mridu Chandra
“Saund vs. Cochran” is a feature-length documentary about our first Asian American congressman (Dalip Singh Saund), the exceptional woman he ran against (Jacqueline Cochran Odlum), and the American electorate who voted for him in 1956.
Scarlet Girls Director: Paula Cury Melo Producers: Paula Cury Melo, Samuel DiDonato, Natalia Imaz
“Scarlet Girls” explores the challenges of womanhood in the Dominican Republic, where abortion is criminalized. Through intimate stories and evocative imagery, the film delves into the struggles of forced motherhood and the stigma around abortions, crafting a thought-provoking depiction of women’s battle for control over their bodies.
Silent Treatment: Deaf Incarcerated People Fighting for Equality Directors: Ryan Pagan, Rahsaan “New York” Thomas Producers: Sian Heder, Adamu Chan, Rahsaan “New York” Thomas, Ryan Pagan, Brian Asey
The disproportionate murders of Deaf People and their exclusion from rehabilitative programs spark a lawsuit that leads to transfers of 11 Deaf men to a California State Prison with a Norway model, where they find ways outside the courtroom to achieve equality and inclusion.
Sun Ra and the Roots of Afrofuturism *(w.t.) Director: Christine Turner Producer: Stanley Nelson (Executive Producer)
“Sun Ra and the Roots of Afrofuturism” explores jazz pioneer, Sun Ra’s, experience as a Black man growing up in Jim Crow America, the musical and philosophical currents that shaped him, and how, 30 years after his death, he has come to be seen as a founding father of Afrofuturism.
The Chemistry of Racism Director: Penelope Jagessar Chaffer Producer: Penelope Jagessar Chaffer
“The Chemistry of Racism” is an environmental social justice triptych that explores the phenomena of the systemic and often deliberate poisoning and exploitation of the black and colored body by America’s patriarchal systems.
The Conspiracy to Murder Medgar Evers Directors: Joy-Ann Reid and Jason Reid Producers: Susan Schaefer, Joy-Ann Reid (Executive Producer), Jason Reid (Executive Producer), Gabrielle Tenenbaum (Executive Producer), and Tom Yellin (Executive Producer)
“The Conspiracy” to Murder Medgar Evers takes us inside America’s first nationally known civil rights assassination. It’s a crime reaching beyond the named assassin to the Klan, and into the highest rungs of Mississippi power. It’s a story of violence, justice, race, love and Myrlie Evers’ enduring quest for the truth.
The Disruptors Director: Yoruba Richen Producers: Carter Stewart, Josh Weinstock, Xan Parker, Dawn Porter (Executive Producer)
“The Disruptors” follows America’s most prominent Black female progressive prosecutors as they battle unprecedented adversity while trying to transform the criminal justice system with few allies except each other.
The First Plantation Director: Jason Fitzroy Jeffers Producers: Darcy McKinnon, Romola Lucas
Barbados is the birthplace of many things: possibly rum, definitely Rihanna, and sadly, many of the modalities and codifications of and around plantation slavery which spread throughout the wider Caribbean and the southern United States, setting the stage for much of what we know of white supremacy as we know it today. “The First Plantation” is a deeply personal and spiritual investigation into this often-overlooked legacy as the international debate around reparations for the descendants of transatlantic slavery intensifies.
The Futurists Directors: Elan Bogarín, Jonathan Bogarín Producers: Elan Bogarín, Jonathan Bogarín, Bob Moore
“The Futurists” is a sci-fi documentary about real-life Latinx visionaries who are creating the world of tomorrow. It follows the journey of Quemuel Arroyo, the first-ever Chief Accessibility Officer of NYC’s transit authority, to transform the aging system into one that is accessible for all.
The Gender Project Director: Kimberly Reed Producers: Kimberly Reed, Louise Rosen, Robin Honan
What defines biological sex — science or society? Through immersion in the lives of people who defy simplistic gender labels, the Gender Project uses bold cinematic language to confront the dichotomy of gender, exploding binary myths with scientific, historical, and cultural revelations. From the molecular level up, persistent binary notions of gender and the biology of sex are blown apart to reveal the true complexity of the human organism and the astonishing spectrum within us.
The Heart Grows Old in Autumn Directors: Michael Steves, Rafi Jahan Producer: Lucas San Juan
A multi-generational tale following the first community of Rohingya refugees in America, living in a Chicago neighborhood. The Rohingya are survivors of a genocide in Myanmar. Spanning three generations, the first Rohingya-Americans try to rebuild their lives, as they experience their American story.
Red Thread Director: Tchaiko Omawale Producers: Tchaiko Omawale, Iyabo Kwayana
An oral history documentary collage about the contributions of women to the Caribbean independence project. It weaves together layers of cinematic landscapes of the flora and fauna of the Caribbean, archival cultural artifacts and the oral histories of the Elders and their international comrades who are family and family friends to the filmmakers.
The Riot Report Director: Michelle Ferrari Producers: Connie Honeycutt, Michelle Ferrari, Jelani Cobb
When inner cities across America erupted in violence in 1967, LBJ appointed the Kerner Commission to find out: What happened? Why did it happen? How can we stop it from happening again? The Commission’s final report would offer a shockingly unvarnished assessment of race relations that still resonates today.
The Sandbox Director: Kenya-Jade Pinto Producers: Shasha Nakhai, Kenya-Jade Pinto
Your future is being written in the sand.
The Wind’s Thirst Director: Alejandro Valbuena Producer: Alejandro Valbuena
In this creative documentary, three courageous indigenous leaders—Tita, Misael & Jazmine—battle against a relentless assault orchestrated by massive coal mining and wind farming operations, extremist evangelicals, and paramilitary violence. Unveiling the untold resistance of the Wayuu people, the film sheds light on their struggle against an undisclosed genocide.
Time Hunter Directors: Daniel Chein, Mushiva Producers: Daniel Chein, David Felix Sutcliffe
A revolutionary agent is dispatched to steal technology from his colonial oppressors to use against them. Can he help his people without losing himself in the maze of the diaspora.
Travel Notes of a Gullah Geechee Girl Director: Julie Dash Producers: Patricia Williams Lessane, Juanita Anderson, Julie Dash (Executive Producer), and Rachel Watanabe-Batton (Executive Producer)
In a search of her authentic self, a South Carolina Geechee girl wakes up in Paris, realizing she’s just another starving writer living at the Beat Hotel; after a failed marriage, and work as a Moon Goddess with the Sun Ra Arkestra, her bestselling cookbook effectively changes how the world talks about women, race, and food.
United States of Urvashi Director: Nancy Kates Producers: Rajal Pitroda, Deepa Donde (Executive Producer), Ashley Tindall (Archival Producer)
An intimate portrait of the late activist and LGBTQ leader Urvashi Vaid, examining her 40-year career as a public intellectual and agitator. The film explores her history through the lens of personal relationships: her decades-long intimate partnership with comedian Kate Clinton, her extended South Asian clan, and her chosen queer family.
Unlearned Director: CJ Hunt Producers: Jeremy Blum, Darcy McKinnon
“Unlearned” investigates how the battle over history curriculum is changing America’s public schools.
Unseen Directors: Set Hernandez Producers: Set Hernandez, Day Al-Mohamed, Félix Endara Executive Producer: Diane Quon
Most people dream of a better future. Pedro, an aspiring social worker, is no different. But as a blind, undocumented immigrant, Pedro faces political restrictions to obtain his college degree, secure a job in his field, and support his family. As he finally graduates, uncertainty looms over Pedro. What starts as a journey to provide mental health care for his community ultimately transforms into Pedro’s path towards his own healing. Through experimental cinematography and sound, “unseen” reimagines the accessibility of cinema, while exploring the intersections of immigration, disability, and mental health.
Untitled Cairo, IL Project Directors: Lisa Marie Malloy, JP Sniadecki & Ray Whitaker Producers: Karin Chien, Theresa Delsoin
“Untitled Cairo, IL Project” is a collectively-authored film that emerges from the vibrant community spirit of Cairo, IL, a former industrial and agricultural empire at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers that was a nexus for civil rights movements in the 1960s. Through intimate depictions, this film celebrates the joy and resurgence of this overlooked town.
A new drug promises to make Little People taller, threatening the community it claims to serve. Meanwhile, director Julie Wyman confronts her own dwarfism diagnosis. As Little People grapple with the choice to give up difference, the film asks: is it possible to see and be seen differently?
Untitled Ping Chong Documentary Directors: Melanie Vi Levy & Ben Wu Producers: Melanie Vi Levy, Ben Wu, and Jamie Dobie (Executive Producer)
A feature-length documentary exploring the life and work of pioneering American theater director Ping Chong. Blending experimental and performance art elements with non-fiction storytelling, the film will offer an up close and personal portrait of a renegade artist as he creates the final culminating work of his 50-year career.
Water for Life Director: Will Parrinello Producers: Rick Tejada-Flores, Maria Jose Calderon, Will Parrinello
As mining and hydroelectric projects threaten vital water supplies in Latin America, “Water For Life” follows three community leaders as they face death threats and murder to save their precious resources.
Way of Life Director: Jennifer Maytorena Taylor Producers: Jennifer Maytorena Taylor
As battles over bodily autonomy and privacy rapidly intensify across the country, the vérité feature documentary film “Way of Life” explores the lives of diverse Montanans fighting to define and defend the freedom to live as they choose.
Widow Champion Director: Zippy Kimundu Producers: Zippy Kimundu, Heather Courtney
Thrown out of her home and off her land by her in-laws, a Kenyan widow becomes a fighter for women’s land rights in a deeply patriarchal community. “Widow Champion” Rhoda leads other women to fight for what is rightfully theirs, her story exposing the rift between modern and traditional beliefs.
Wilfred Buck Directors: Lisa Jackson Producers: Producers: Lisa Jackson, Lauren Grant, Alicia Smith (NFB) Executive Producers: Jennifer Baichwal, Nicholas de Pencier, David Christensen (NFB), Janice Dawe, Kathy Avrich-Johnson
“Wilfred Buck” is a hybrid feature documentary that moves between a harrowing past and the present of this Cree star expert and ceremonial leader. This deeply personal, poetic and occasionally irreverent journey unpacks Indigenous methodologies, how they’ve survived colonization, and provokes the question: what types of knowledge do we value?
Yintah Directors: Jen Wickham, Michael Toledano, Brenda Michell Producers: Jen Wickham, Michael Toledano, Brenda Michell
Through intimate access cultivated over years of relationship-building, “Yintah” is a documentary that witnesses an Indigenous nation’s fight for sovereignty. It is the story of the Wet’suwet’en women reoccupying their traditional land and resisting the companies and colonial state that are set on exploiting it.
Ford Foundation also announced today that the Spring open call for documentary film production grants opens February 22, 2024 and closes April 1, 2024. Please learn more here.
About The Ford Foundation The Ford Foundation is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization with assets currently valued at $16 billion. For more than 85 years it has worked with courageous people on the frontlines of social change worldwide, guided by its mission to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement. With headquarters in New York, the foundation has offices in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
Park & Grove, just steps away from beautiful Hampton Park at 730 Rutledge Avenue, Charleston, SC, is a refreshing destination for quiet dinners, group celebrations, business lunches or brunch. Offering an organic indoor/outdoor atmosphere and dishes showered in fresh nutritious value, Park & Grove is a perfect destination for lunch, dinner, happy hour or brunch.
Here is a few reasons you should consider making your next dining experience here:
Absolutely wonderful assortment of cocktails, wines, mocktails and coffee drinks. This eclectic selection of beverages is tailored made for all customer types and each category is limited with a carefully curated list of hand-crafted specialty drinks, caffeinated libations and wines that pair exceptionally well with the dishes.
A new lunch menu that includes: White Bean & Kale Soup, Duck Confit, Grain Bowl, Grilled Local Shrimp and Greens, Apple Salad, Ricotta Gnocchi & Mushrooms, Crab Cake, Brussels Sprouts and more…
Dinner is prepared with small and large plates that makes for a casual experience to share with friends and loved ones or nosh and toast a celebratory moment. Some of the newest items featured include: Prince Edward Island Mussels, Moroccan Spiced Cauliflower, Glazed SC Turnips, Bourbon Brined Pork Chop, Grilled Salmon and Tagliatelle with clams, crab and mussels.
Superb staff that is knowledgeable, friendly, respectful and always charming and willing to help ensure a memorable dining experience.
When you come to Park & Grove, the warmth of the staff, beautiful neighborhood surroundings and decor grab you, but the local freshness and quality keep you coming back.
North Charleston, SC – Smashley’s Burger Bar has officially announced they’re opening their doors Monday, February 5th. This locally owned, one-of-a-kind gem is owned by Victor and Ashley Valdivieso, the brains behind the wildly successful Victor’s Lab food truck. The new location will be at 5401 Netherby Lane, Suite 1002, North Charleston, SC.
While Smashley’s Burger Bar gives a feel reminiscent of 1980s classic Cocktail, and a little tongue-in-cheek humor with its giant burgers eating fleeing humans through the Holy City, its smash burgers and bowls are what will keep your tastebuds telling you to keep coming back.
On the menu, not only will there be several all-beef smash burger options like the O.G. (THE Smashley’s) from Victor’s Lab food truck with caramelized onions, house-made burger sauce and cheddar cheese, but new options include the Righteous Brother (all-American), the Bleu Corvette (with blue cheese, tomato jam, truffle burger sauce and smoked bacon) (you are welcome by the way for getting that little ditty stuck in your head), and the Hey Zeus! (for all your Greek food lovers). All burgers can come as a single patty or double.
For those non-cow lovers, or those who just want something different, Smashley’s Burger Bar will also have the Hot Asian Chick (Asian pepper spicy crispy chicken, honey glaze and house-made pickles) and last but most certainly not least the Southern Buddha (cauliflower patty for our vegetarian friends).
There is also a smattering of starters on the menu such as Zucchini Chips, Fried Cauliflower, Latin Fries, and PBR & Dr. Pepper Braised Chicken Empanadas. For those looking for a little lighter entrée option at Smashley’s Burger Bar, they offer three different rice bowls- Beef Bulgogi, Chicken and Cauliflower.
Moms and Dads don’t worry- there are kids’ options too! Plus, adults can enjoy this great food with a rotating selection of ice-cold local beers, seltzers, and ciders. Coke products and tea are also available.
Conveniently located and wedged comfortably between Urban Nirvana and Accent on Wine, off Dorchester Road near Ashley Phosphate at 5401 Netherby Lane Suite 1002, North Charleston, SC 20420.
So, check out Smashley’s Burger Bar, eat some food, buy some swag with a human-eating-burger on it, and just plain have a good time Monday through Thursday 11am – 2pm and 5pm – 9pm, Friday 11am – 2pm and 5pm – 10pm and all-day Saturday 11am – 10pm. CLOSED Sunday.
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