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Travel to Mount Pleasant outside Charleston, South Carolina to explore the real estate market and learn how to live like a local.
Author: Charleston Daily
Welcome to Downtown Charleston, SC: Target now officially open in King Street
By Mark A Leon
Some of you may remember 211 King Street as the former “Forever 21” while others go back further to the days of “Saks”.
Now the beautiful corner commercial lot is home to Target.
Tonight the Target tram held a soft opening with goodies and refreshments. The initial enthusiasm from shoppers and guests is an indication that this will be a refreshing addition to downtown Charleston.
If you have never been to an urban Target, you may be surprised to find the square footage and item offerings smaller than the larger mall or stand alone locations. Don’t worry, you won’t be disappointed. For locals, vacationers, and students, you will find almost anything you need with the high level of quality and customer service you have come to expect from Target stores.
Here are a few shots from the new store:
11 Great Wedding Photo Shoot Locations in the Charleston,SC Area
The Lowcountry is a magical place for love or at least capturing those precious moments forever. It is no surprise that Charleston is one of the top five U.S. destination wedding spots. With the nature beauty of the Lowcountry, Charleston blends the natural aesthetics of flowers, trees, history, elegance and Southern Charm to create a photographers dream and every couples fantasy.
We would like to provide 11 incredible places to capture forever those moments of pure love along with the talented photographers who brought the magic to life.
Each of these wonderful talents are happy to answer any questions you have by reaching out via Instagram.
White Point Garden (www.instagram.com/itgovandrebauer)
Lagere Waring House (www.instagram.com/amfiorello)
Middleton Place (www.instagram.com/charlestonweddingguide)
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (www.instagram.com/thehappybloom)
Edisto Beach (www.instagram.com/tanyakukharets.photography)
Harborside East Event Venue (www.instagram.com/nicholasgoreweddings)
Oak Point Plantation on the Stono (www.instagram.com/alowcountrywed)
Kiawah Island (www.instagram.com/rachelredphotography)
Ribault Club (www.instagram.com/katirosado)
Boone Hall Plantation (www.instagram.com/bestdayeverbridal)
The Gadsden House (www.instagram.com/sweetgrasssocial)
To all the future brides and grooms, congratulations and good luck.
Summerville, SC’s First Cat Cafe is coming, but they need your support
Cat cafes first appeared in Taiwan, and their popularity quickly spread around the world. There are a growing number of cat cafes in the United States, but none in Summerville—until now. That’s where we come in!
We are excited to bring the magic of a cat cafe to Summerville, SC, with your help! Summerville is growing so fast and we think it’s time we have our very own cat cafe!
Our main goal is to help more cats find their furr-ever families. We will be fostering cats available for adoption, and providing space for them to socialize with our guests in a cozy, laid-back environment. We also plan to host events in the cafe like cats & crafts night, cat yoga, drag bingo, pop-up tarot readings, wine tastings, and more!
A portion of our proceeds will go to our partner shelter, Dorchester Paws.
Click Here to support the Kickstarter for Mews and Brews Cat Cafe
Follow Mews + Brews Cat Cafe on Instagram
Charleston, SC’s The Cassina Group Ranked in the Top 1000 Brokerages in the Nation
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Real estate company The Cassina Group has been ranked in the top 1000 brokerages in the United States. The company received the honor from T3 Sixty as part of its annual Mega 1000 list, which analyzes and ranks the residential real estate industry’s largest brokerages. This is the second year The Cassina Group has been named to the list.
“We are so honored to have been named to the Mega 1000 list again this year,” said Owen Tyler, partner and managing broker of The Cassina Group. “Our team of Realtors and staff work tirelessly day in and day out to deliver the best possible experience for our clients, and we are so elated to be recognized for our efforts and successes.”
The award was announced by T3 Sixty, the largest management consultancy in the residential real estate brokerage industry. The report ranks the nation’s top 1,000 brokerages by annual sales volume, transaction sides and agent count.
“The companies that make the Mega 1000 are the best in the industry,” said T3 Sixty Founder and Executive Chairman Stefan Swanepoel. “They are the leaders. Congrats to them.”
The Mega 1000 recognizes The Cassina Group’s record-breaking year in 2021, in which the company had its best year since its 2006 inception with over $586 million in closed sales. The boutique firm has just over 40 Realtors and consistently ranks as the No. 1 boutique firm in Charleston. The company, known for its cutting-edge marketing techniques and high-touch service, works with buyer and seller clients throughout Charleston.
For more information on The Cassina Group, visit www.CassinaGroup.com.
About The Cassina Group
The Cassina Group is a boutique real estate brokerage with offices in Mount Pleasant, S.C., and Charleston, S.C. The firm is managed by Owen Tyler, partner and managing broker, and founding partners Jimmy Dye and Robertson Allen. Recent awards include top honors from Charleston Magazine, Inc. 5000, T3 Sixty and SC Biz News. For more information, visit www.CassinaGroup.com or call 843-628-0008.
Photo: The Cassina Group leadership team, from left, Robertson Allen, Jimmy Dye and Owen Tyler.
Five Fish Foundation partners with the Charleston RiverDogs for its Annual Fundraiser
- What: Annual Five Fish Foundation Fund Raiser supporting individuals and families with intellectual disabilities
- Where: Joe Riley Stadium – 360 Fishburne St, Charleston, SC 29403
- When: Friday, May 27, 2022 (Fireworks Night)
- Cost: $125+tax – Click for Tickets
About the Fund Raising Event
Join the Five Fish Foundation at the RiverDogs Friday Fireworks game on Friday, May 27 to help support the great work Five Fish does in the community for individuals and families with intellectual disabilities. Your ticket purchase goes directly to support Five Fish’s mission and programs! On this incredible night, you will join other Five Fish friends in the Segra Club at Riley Park, the RiverDogs’ indoor/outdoor hospitality space. Your ticket includes access to a full, high-end food spread, beer/wine/soft drinks, access to the climate-controlled Club, and a seat on the balcony.
Tickets are $125+tax, with all proceeds going to Five Fish Foundation
An amazing night for a beautiful cause
South Carolina Ranked as the 4th Worst State for Working Moms in latest study by WalletHub
In the latest 2022 study by WalletHub of the Best and Worst States for Working Moms, South Carolina ranked 48th out of 51 (4th lowest in the nation). South Carolina also has the 2nd lowest female to male executive ratio.
On a positive note, South Carolina has the 4th lowest child care costs as a percentage of median women’s income.
Overall, South Carolina ranked 45h in work-life balance, 48th in opportunities, and 45th in child care.
Please see below for a summary and state-by-state rankings.
About the Study from WalletHub
Women make up nearly half of the U.S. workforce, and nearly 68% of moms with children under age 18 were working in 2021. Unfortunately, the share of women in the workforce declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic, dropping around 1.3% between Q3 2019 and Q3 2021 (compared to 1.1% for men).
Even during non-pandemic times, working moms still face an uphill battle in the workplace, as their average hourly wage is only 84% of what men make, and only 6.2% of S&P 500 companies’ chief executives are women. Such obvious inequality brings up not just financial questions but also deeply ingrained social issues. For instance, should women have to choose between career and family?
The real question, however, is what we’re doing about these fundamental problems. Progress appears to be taking shape at different rates across the nation. Not only do parental leave policies and other legal support systems vary by state, but the quality of infrastructure — from cost-effective daycare to public schools — is far from uniform as well.
In order to help ease the burden on an underappreciated segment of the population, WalletHub compared state dynamics across 17 key metrics to identify the Best & Worst States for Working Moms.
Things to consider if you are thinking about moving to Charleston, South Carolina
One of the most challenging decisions an individual, couple or family can make is the decision to move. It takes a tremendous amount of research to determine the feasibility of happiness and success in a new geographic region. We want to do our part to help by providing a simple checklist of things to think about as you make this big life changing decision.
Will we move to Charleston, South Carolina Checklist
- Are you comfortable with a consistent stream of construction (Commercial, residential and highway)? – Since 2012, cranes have been a part of the Charleston skyline and will continue for a number of years to come. The traditional Holy City skyline has been replaced with the new look and feel of modern Charleston. With Charleston being part of the Southern migration, this has resulted in new housing and expansion west with additional bridges, highway repair, new hotels and housing development as a new way of life.
- Can you deal with average commuter traffic in excessive of 30 minutes or more for under 10 mile commutes? Charleston does not have the volume numbers of drivers as Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Houston or Chicago, but it is a coastal community. Therefore, waterways are a part of the structure of the Lowcountry and it has made for some unique, narrow and singular roadways. Structurally, this region is not designed well for this level of growth, so expect delays.
- Is your vehicle water tolerant? I am sure you have heard the stories of flooding in Charleston. These are not exaggerations, but a very big reality. Pockets of flooding can be found in various places of the area due to rain or high tide. Ensure your car is made for high flood areas.
- Do you value change in seasons? Charleston is not a four season area. There has been two snowfalls in 10+ years and only one significant snowfall in over a decade. If you love the changing leaves of New England, you will have to head west toward the mountains to find that type of foliage. Expect Summer (Long), a brief cold period of Winter and a short Spring in the Lowcountry.
- Do you love professional sports and attending games/matches? Perhaps in a few years that may change, but Charleston does not have a major sports team in football, baseball, hockey or basketball (Before folks jump in and say we have the RiverDogs, Battery and the Stingrays), I am referring to NFL, MLB, NHL and NBA. If you want to watch those leagues live, you will need to travel to Atlanta (5.5 Hours) or Charlotte (3.5 Hours).
- Do you thrive in a diverse community? Charleston is not an ethnically balanced region. White and black residents make up the mass majority accounting for over 95% of the total population. (Census Analysis)
- Do you value education for your children? South Carolina ranks in the lower 10% of the nation in quality of education and US News and Worlds Reports ranked South Carolina 50 out of 50 in its most recent study. The growth of the student population, salary issues for teachers and the limited funding has raised concerns. In 2018, Charleston County set aside a mere $6.6 Million of a $480 Million dollar budget toward education.
- Can you afford to live here? For a family of 2 adults and 2 children, a recent study revealed you need to make $60,067 annually (Study Results)
- How important is religion in your decision? Here is a look at how Charleston County breaks down.
- How Liberal do you want your community? Many consider the Lowcountry a liberal area, but you must keep this in perspective. Compared to the rest of South Carolina, which is very conservative, yes, this area is liberal, but if your barometer of liberal is San Francisco, New York, Austin or Chicago, then this area is not of the same political and cultural thinking as you are accustomed to.
We hope these insights help as you begin to make some decisions about considering this area your new home.
Two Charleston, SC area restaurants stand out in customer excellence and loyalty
By Mark A. Leon
The two restaurants we will be featuring today are not typically on any foodie blog, not found on billboards at the international airport, nor on many Instagram reels, but stand out for high quality and intimate customer service resulting in high loyalty retention.
These two restaurants are Maya del Sol Kitchen (1813 Suite B, Reynolds Ave, North Charleston, SC 29405) and The Lowdown Oven and Bar (967 Folly Rd, Charleston, SC 29412). If you have not yet experienced either, add them to your culinary adventure wish list.
Maya del Sol
Local Chef Raul Sanchez (recently featured during opening night at the Charleston Wine & Food Festival), along with his colleague Tim brings an intimate global dining experience to their guests in a small family atmosphere that keeps you coming back week after week. The exceptional menu, which changes weekly, is small giving Raul an opportunity to put love into each and every dish that is prepared. Don’t worry, Raul and the team listen and respect the wishes of his guests, so if you have a favorite, they will find a way to ensure it remains.
This is where things get really special. Maya del Sol Kitchen offers a themed communal multi-course dining experience created by Chef Raul Sanchez and guest chefs, highlighting a different nationality from Puerto Rican to Italian typically twice a month. These special reservation-only events pair exceptionally fresh food from traditional and unique recipes with drink pairings that make for a special night. Not only will you enjoy this one-of-a-kind dining experience, but may walk away with new friendships.
Click Here to Sign Up for Updates on the special International Nights
Once you start coming back, you will see familiar faces and smiles and truly start to understand the importance of customer loyalty built around high-quality food and caring relationships.
The Lowdown Oven and Bar
I have been going to The Lowdown on and off for 7+ years and one thing remains, high-quality customer service, consistency, and quality. In fact, I left the area for almost 14 months to travel overseas and hike and when I returned, they asked where I had been for the last year. That is customer loyalty.
I want to talk a little about consistency and dedication to the customer. As prices began to rise in the Charleston community and sales dipped due to COVID, most restaurants had to raise their prices and/or drop their specials. Lowdown didn’t!
Since they opened you can still get the following:
- $1.75 Budweiser – All day every day
- Half-price cheesesteak sandwiches on Tuesday (Dine-in or Take-out) and $4.00 local drafts
- Half-price pizza and wine (glass or bottle) on Wednesday ((Dine-in or Take-out)
- Half-price burgers on Thursdays (Dine-in or Take-out)
- They are always dog-friendly
- Overall, prices have remained relatively unchanged with only a small increase to meet the rising cost of ingredients.
With outdoor seating, outdoor seating with an overhang, indoor booths and tables, a bar area, and community tables, Lowdown is a place where people come to meet, eat, drink, laugh, and spent time with community neighbors.
Over the years, we see groups of friends, clubs, dates, families, and neighbors fill the seats because they know they are welcome with open arms in a place where they know your name, the food is comforting, drinks are refreshing and the company is familiar and safe.
We are so thrilled to share these two restaurants that exemplify the Charleston way when it comes to Southern hospitality and customer care.
Learn More: The Nation’s First Saltwater Hydroponic Farm Is In Charleston, SC
About Heron Farms
Did you know that it’s possible to harvest crops using saltwater? Charleston is home to the first-ever indoor saltwater hydroponics farm that utilizes ocean water – aka the world’s most abundant resource – to grow food.
Heron Farms, located at 1783 Harmon St., was established by Sam Norton in 2018. Sam grew up on a barrier island off the coast of South Carolina where his family home flooded more frequently + severely every year due to the sea level rise. The same issue was seen during his trip to Bangladesh, where he witnessed saltwater intrusion into coastal rice paddies upending the lives of many farmers in Asia.
This led to the idea of treating sea level rise as a free resource that could be used for agriculture instead of just an environmental problem.
Sam’s concept took shape and won the ACRE Startup Competition from the SC Department of Agriculture+ the Charleston-based Harbor Accelerator Startup Competition. Following these achievements, Heron Farms was created and the idea became a reality in June 2018.
So, how does saltwater hydroponics work?
The first step in understanding the process is studying up on general hydroponic farming. Simply put, this method of indoor farming eliminates soil use by utilizing an alternative root anchor for plants + growing them directly in water (think: “hydro” = water). The inside setting eliminates the barriers of land use constraints + seasonality of crops. Plants receive controlled amounts of water, oxygen, nutrients + light that promotes the growth cycle. The difference with Heron Farms is that in all other cases, fresh water is used.
Why saltwater?
Along with the reasons mentioned above, the micronutrients of seawater that are transferred into the plants are a great source of minerals in our daily diets. Additionally, seawater irrigation allows the company to use less freshwater than any farm in the U.S.
What crops are grown?
Heron Farms sea beans | Photo provided by Heron Farms
Heron Farms’ first crop is sea beans – salicornia europaea– an edible plant that grows in the salt marsh. These types of saltwater-tolerant plants are known as halophytes, which have evolved to tolerate salt across its whole life cycle. Learn about cooking + eating sea beans here.
What makes this local company even cooler? For every pound of sea beans sold at Heron Farms, the company replants a sq. ft. of salt marsh along coastal South Carolina + Bangladesh using a custom seed-dropping drone. So far, 30,000 sq. ft. have been planted.
Heron Farms has been invited by Seawater Solutions to present at the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, where the Charleston-based company will build a second saltwater hydroponics farm.
Photos provided by Heron Farms
