Is this the End of the Holy City? – The City of Charleston We Once Loved
By Mark A. Leon
The Charleston peninsula is approximately 8 square miles.
In comparison, New York City is 305 square miles, Chicago is 237 square miles and Boston spans 48 square miles in the city proper. We are not in the same vicinity as our larger urban counterparts, but this small city, is making waves. In a new report published today from BusinessInsider, we could be under water by 2100.
Today, the corner of Calhoun Street and King Street, a pinnacle of foot and vehicle traffic in the heart of Charleston, resembles Times Square more than an early pre-Revolutionary historic village. The once quiet intersection donned by scenic Marion Square is now home to 5 Guys Burgers, Chipotle, Walgreens, Carolina Ale House, Panera Bread, Moe’s Southwestern and Starbucks as well as cranes and development of a new hotel adjacent the Embassy Suites. We are one digital billboard away from a Shakespearean tragedy.
The crosstown will see a new shopping and living village highlighted by Publix and Joe Riley Stadium will entice you with shopping and dining, before, after and on non game days, making it difficult to have a quiet walk, picnic or fishing day at Brittlebank Park.
If approved, Starbucks will open a location in the hospital district making it the 9th Starbucks on the peninsula. Eight square miles and nine Starbucks. That is a difficult concept to swallow given the pride we take in our local business owners.
Development is king and progress is upon us with no indication of a slowdown. That we know is true. We know that for the last 3 years, we have witness nothing but cement and wood to the sky, cranes dominating the skyline and no sign of a quiet peaceful city for another five plus years. All this for progress? Does progress mean losing our local businesses because rent increases and locals avoiding downtown is forcing them out?
- Welcome Hyatt
- Welcome Holiday Inn Express
Welcome Dewberry- Welcome Marriot
- Welcome Starbucks
- Welcome Panera
- Welcome West Elm
Five years ago, we cherished the idea of staying in a Bed and Breakfast owned by a third-generation family and eating at a quiet cafe watching life pass us by. We would wave to the carriage rider as he recited stories of our early ancestors. Those days are going away quickly.
Today, we wait eagerly for Whole Foods, Publix and designer stores to open up across the peninsula. Chefs are considered local celebrities driving up the cost of dining out, tax rates are forcing us to consider the frequency of social entertainment (10.5% food / 15% alcohol / 9% Sales Tax), average hotel costs are itching up to $300 a night with some exceeding $600 and an evening at the theater or live music will run you $50.00 to $300.00 per person.
Is Charleston for the residents or tourists? Not a simple question to answer. With approximately 4.8 million tourists a year, maybe it isn’t about the local residents anymore.
Goodbye Nancy’s and Piggly Wiggly. Farewell to Crosby’s Fish Market and Andolini’s. Bon Voyage Norm’s, Cypress and Fish. You will be missed.
Progress is in full gear. Colonial Lake had a face life, Sargeant Jasper will soon be gone, Marion Square will be almost exclusively surrounded by hotels, Joe Riley Stadium will be the cornerstone of a new district of shops and restaurants, the expansion north will continue and perhaps we may see the end of the carriage rides and the site of church steeples over the skyline blessing our coastal home.
It is hard to envision a life without Berlin’s or Burbage’s Grocery; but then again, we didn’t think we would see the end of Millenium Records or Morris Sokol Furniture.
Whether we like it or not, what took nearly 350 years to develop, may be gone in just a decade.
Charleston Daily
Charleston Daily is a concept in community. Its mission is to promote, assist, and celebrate in everything Charleston, South Carolina. By partnering with businesses, community leaders, volunteers and events, we are spreading the love that is Charleston. As this city continues to grow and prosper, we want to help spread the message to all about how wonderful this community is. Charleston is about the people, community, water, land, history, heritage and the true southern warmth it brings with each and every day.
Times are changing indeed. I’m a big fan of small business ownership. I think it is the backbone of American innovation. But to be successful, you have to have the courage to go for it.
And, by the way, Blind Tiger isn’t closed! Good day.
– Bill Murray
Agreed! But Bill, eyes on the ball, you don’t want to miss another Grand Slam!
Small businesses are truly great indeed. I’d love to see how many small businesses Chs has compared to the chains. I’m guessing local spots reign supreme. (BTW you made my now wife’s wedding by getting your “dogs” done next to her last week, thank you)
Worst article ever. I find great places to go downtown all the time with little to zero tourists and normal prices. I also know that Manhattan (way more comparable with the peninsula than all of NYC) is 3 times the geographic size yet has over 200 Starbucks and I’m guessing as many McDs. The peninsula has 9 and people are worried? And zero McDs? The Sergeant Jasper is the ugliest thing south of Calhoun and needs to go about 20 years ago. Anything they put there will be better even with a Starbucks in it. This is one of the worst written articles and the writer needs to quit being lazy and actually write with some opinions based on relevant facts. Tourism is great. It fills hymans and the city coffers. Charleston is better for it. Being from there it is easy to avoid and man the deals in the offseason put on by these celebrity chefs can only be rivaled in NYC and SF in the shear amazingness of culinary experience. But, then again I guess it would be better to live in Summerville and be a tourist.
I agree! Add Marion square, it was a dump for bums. 26 years ago above Calhoun was dangerous! Bring it!!
Who doesn’t love Bill? How about a movie here? Dogs, Bones, and Blondes Bitches on the Battery!
I would prefer local small business growth as as opposed to the “big guy” conglomerates. They are not concerned about the preservation of Charleston’s unique city and really do not reflect the real Charleston experience.
I agree with you, wholeheartedly. I own a dog boarding daycare and grooming salon and used to have a boutique. Now that PetSmart came to James Island, I have closed down my retail. No worth to fight them.
You wrote a wonderful article right up to the point when you mentioned “millennium Music”, hat place shutting down had nothing to do with Charleston changing. Blame apple.
Haha, I was thinking the same.
Bill, I couldn’t have said it better myself
It’s fun to remember the past with nostalgia goggles. Now let’s look at the reality… – Small business isn’t disappearing – it’s exponentially growing. – Republic, The Warehouse, Boomtown, the Charleston Digital Corridor, (My companies, Take Action Marketing – K2 Supplements) Yes, the Third Generation Bed & Breakfasts are being replaced… BUT by other small business (Airbnb Hosts) and don’t make those Bed & Bfast guys out to be quaint, honorable fellows, many have tried suing Airbnb hosts for doing the exact same business they do (that’s not cool) (court case was dropped btw) – I couldn’t help but read your article with a sense of excitement… When is the Whole Foods coming?! I’m so happy that the Dewberry repaired/reinvigorated that eyesore of a building on Meeting Street and Calhoun, my GF feels nice and safe walking from Lee Street to King street without me ((((Can you imagine feeling safe during that walk just 5 years ago??))) – I’m sorry that Charleston’s new entrepreneurs aren’t just old white 34th generation Charlestonians anymore and that some of them are from other parts of the state and country but don’t lump us up with the big corporations just because we are making money aka tax revenue for the city. – Sorry for the rant, but seriously, when is that Whole Foods coming?
I totally agree with all you are saying. Just as long as historic buildings aren’t being torn down I believe the progress is great. The lame chains can stay away but deff bring on The Whole Foods. Better yet a WEGMANS!
I shopped at Wegmans for 20 years in Upstate NY and Northern VA, and worked there as a cake decorator for several years. If Charleston can get Wegmans to locate there (though Mt Pleasant is more their preference) I would drive there from Savannah several times a month!
My husband and I moved here 5 years ago and helped his mom open a women’s retail store at the corner of King & Calhoun in 2011. When we first opened we were considered in “Upper King” and it was hard to get people to come “all the way up” King Street. We have seen many small businesses come and go on the street during our 5 years and we feel extremely fortunate that our doors are still open. It hasn’t been an easy 5 years, but it’s been fun. It’s been fun having customers come in year after year on their annual trips to Charleston, in fact we have built our business on the tourists that come in…not the locals. We would love to have a larger local customer base since we are locally owned and operated, but parking is near to impossible for locals because of all the development of big chain stores. We hear so often from the tourists that come in that they hate what is happening to King Street and that it’s losing it’s quaintness and turning into a Rodeo Drive. If they wanted that they would go to LA, but they choose to come to Charleston for the history, the southern charm and the amazing food. Please Please Please start supporting local businesses before they all have to close their doors to big chain stores and restaurants.
The corner of King & Calhoun hasn’t been considered “upper King” in about 20 years. Besides that, it’s one of the busiest intersections and has been since I moved to Charleston, which was in 2003. Are you thinking of King and Spring? Or Columbus? Or Huger?
Anyway, this article isn’t perfect (grammatically and otherwise) but it brings up some extremely important points. The overall notion that Chas truly needs to check it’s rapid development is the biggest one.
+1 to Bill and Joe. ❤️
Definitely good and bad with all this growth. I moved 10 years ago from a larger city and am now starting to see many of the same problems I left. One thing I cannot really understand though is how when I look out at Marion Square a few years ago it was crowded with sunbathers, visitors, and locals enjoying the park. We use to call it Marion Square Beach. Now when I look at it I see maybe 10-20 homeless people and the occasional person trying to scurry through it in order to not be bothered. I would trade this Charleston for that Charleston any day.
I Uber in downtown Charleston all the time and have definitely seen all these changes take place …some within in a very short amount time. You know it’s getting bad when you see a local grocery store close right in the heart of the tourist district that you would think would do nothing less than showcase the local splendor and hospitality this wonderful city has to offer. What do you do when that’s not enough?!?
I agree with what was said by both Bill Murray and Joe Riley above — both posts, by the way, clearly made by Bill and Joe, and not by anyone else.
Times are changing, and they should. Charleston is exponentially larger and more sophisticated than it was when I visited the Holy City back in May 1791. Sure, residents and visitors alike can still get a great meal and a warm ale on Unity Alley, but people can poop indoors now!
Point being, some change needs to be embraced, while other change should be fought at every turn. How does a city do that? Well, they do it the same way that a fledgling nation would do so — enact a set of laws that serve as a guidepost to govern variables which could arise in the future, and elect those with the courage to uphold same.
At the end of the day, Charleston will always be special, and it will be special not because of the boutique hotels or the nouveax-vintage farm-to-table restaurants or the sweetgrass baskets or the shrimp and grits, but rather because of the people. So long as those who come to Charleston defer to the grace, patience, and generosity of the natives, and so long as the natives do not become embittered, the people will continue to keep Charleston as it was in 1791, in 1991, and now — a true gem in these United States of America.
Best,
Geo. Washington
PS — Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton? Really? That’s the best you can do, people? We leave y’all alone for two short centuries …
Personally the one thing that I hope does go with time is the carriage rides. With the heat and humidity getting worse and worse every year, the horses just can’t stand the heat. Let the lazy people walk, set the horses free!
Hello there!
Totally true! everyone loves the small businesses. unfortunately, charleston is growing whether you consider all the small businesses closing or a couple small businesses opening. despite this, someone who used to have “affordable” rent when moving here as a young college student continues to get a small apartment trashed by current day college students and barely in a “safe” neighborhood. these small businesses all employ just under full time, college educated employees in part time positions, such as bartenders, just to cater to tourists. keep it a “southern town” we all love, tourists!
We have lived in Charleston for over a decade, and this year have thrown all our chips in and opened a new art gallery. New businesses = jobs so you can’t hate on that.. As new business owners we pride ourselves on having the “courage” to open a contemporary gallery in “Midtown”…. behind a Pizza Hut. And you know what’s great about this little peninsula? People will and can venture anywhere. And everyone is welcoming and nice. Sure, there are major downsides to unmanaged growth – the wack new architecture, increased traffic, eyesore chain stores, etc. but in modern society, money is king, and drives most decisions. We complain about it all the time. That’s just how it is. The question is, what are you going to do about it? What will you do to make it the place you’d like it to be? I know what we did. If you need some inspiration, come visit us behind the Pizza Hut.
– Erin & Justin
My biggest issue is that a lot of these places getting built don’t “look” like Charleston. Stricter architectural regulations would be nice. I’ve seen tons of condos going in that don’t even have porches?? The facade of hotels are as barren and plain as something in myrtle beach??
As someone who is a “fourth-gen” Charlestonian, I am sad that when I do come home it is a variable Tanger Outlet. My great-grands lived off of Anson St. (old Ansonborough) in the 20’s/30’s. (There was a little market area on Guignard) There they lived in the U.S. from Italy in the poorest of neighborhoods back then. My grandfather and grandmother met after a tornado ripped through the area. Sgt. Jasper’s overlooks Colonial Lake, which used to be a logging area for sawmills, and now is overrun from people that will never care of its history… Condon’s, Berlin’s, Clara’s Epicurean Cafe, Treehouse… those were mom-and-pop places that are lost in time, but not in the heart of those fortunate people who experienced them. People are afraid to say “God Bless You” or for that matter open a door for someone, who might get offended. This is not indicative of Charleston, but society as a whole (Look at the pieces of work running for President). Most no longer value past things, therefore, they learn nothing. It is indeed a sad state to go home to nothing that is familiar.
Berlin’s is not lost in time. It’s still in business. Unless you mean something other than the Berlin’s at King & Broad.
Clisby, it was not an indication that it is closed, but that with the evolution of the city, foundations such as could in the future.
One day years ago I was discussing the phenomenon of sellers listing to high, against presented data, getting grumpy because their property didn’t move and taking to another firm. Of course, listed to sell at a lower price. Then that firm is made out to look like it was better than yours. I said, “It happens all’ the time.”
The person I was talking to said something I’ve carried forward to many others areas in my life. He said something simple that causes me to break down any tricky reoccurring situation to the smallest components. To the point where “something shifted.” A single event caused something much more complex to happen many layers later.
“Charly. If it happens all the time, how do you stop it.”
(He wasn’t asking me. He was simply pointing out, I let that happen.)
Ask Martin Luther king, Jr. How you stop it!
Do you even know or understand the city you speaking of.
Everything is subject to change.
Life’s only constant.
Choose the change.
This is a completely slave-built city.
Sustained by their descendants, unto this day.
How dare you moan your paltry grievances, as you tear the land:that they and their forebears have put their life and soul into.
Shame.
Shame.
Shame.
On Riley,in particular.
I attended Mass with him on Sundays, at St.Mary’s.
What a farce.
Shame.
It’s quite shocking that he City is still sitting on its hands regarding the expansion of bed and breakfast laws to allow homeowners north of the crosstown and elsewhere to operate a b&b, taking advantage of the advertising possibilities on websites like airbnb. In fact, in 1794, for example, flexible-term boarding-houses outnumbered hotels 29-to-1, and it was the most common occupation for women at that time, and for centuries before that across the world.
Instead, civic leaders in Charleston have allowed virtually unrestricted hotel development to occur, while homeowners who desperately need the added income that renting a spare bedroom or three would provide are being treated as criminals. Owner-occupied, flexible-term rentals have, since Charleston’s humble beginnings not only contributed to housing affordability by creating vital income streams for homeowners, but have also contributed to local, neighborhood economies and grass-roots, organic economic development and growth, by spreading tourism dollars into areas not in traditional tourist-trap districts. This is all achieved while helping to preserve historic homes, thereby preserving the character of Charleston’s neighborhoods. Conversely, hotels concentrate huge numbers of visitors in narrow corridors of the city, contributing to traffic and irrevocably altering the city’s skyline, among other often deleterious effects.
Owner-occupied rentals like these pre-date zoning laws altogether, yet now hotels with their maximum-money donations to political campaigns have attempted to pull the levers of power in their favor, thereby strangling traditional, small, homeowner-occupied operations. Even in NYC, where residential density is far greater than in Charleston, they have always allowed short-term rentals where the primary-resident is onsite. Only in Charleston.
Excellent point! Boarding houses housed the influx of Navy Yard workers in WW 2. Big Victorians South of Broad on Rutledge were housing 10 at a time. They later became Tourist Homes including at least three on Cannon Park. Owner occupants have every right to rent rooms in their personal residences to defray the high costs of living in the old city.This is authentic use. Too many homes in the city sit vacant 9 months out of the year. Some areas South of Broad are virtual ghost towns.
None are so blind as those who will not see. It’s actually not the tourists but the developers and their friends in government who will sink this city but literally and figuratively. When the only value that is considered is the $$$$$ developers can make, the values of community, neighborhoods and the basics like good drainage and safe roads and bridges go begging. Unincorporated humans don’t have a chance.
I know when most people think of Charleston, they think of the Peninsula as did Mayor Riley. West of the Ashley joined the city with promises and now, we too, have been destroyed. I have several examples in mind, but Main Road and Savannah Highway are one example. (Fortunately, I don’t use either of them more than once or twice a month to go to Public, BUT, the powers that be approved building permits/business permits/whatever for two gas stations, Walgreens, Waffle House, Burger king and a few more food joints for that intersection. Charleston City Hall will do anything for tax revenue. Thank goodness, the nicest subdivision in West Ashley (that was once on a beautiful tree lined HiWay 61 did not join, even tho Riley had the police chief (Ruben) come and knock on doors to ask you to join the city. Such a shame what our little small town Charleston and bedroom community of West Ashley has become. I mourn for both if them.
I do agree that it’s important to be thoughtful about a city’s growth. Charleston is in the midst of rapid expansion because of a mix of Holy City charm combined with conditions favoring both large and small businesses. I think the downtown area, for example, has a very healthy mix of large corporate businesses and local businesses. I think there is even more room for new small businesses down there and the building of yet another Starbucks in the medical district (which I favor, btw, given I work in the medical district and good coffee is hard to find) will not preclude that. I do, however, support the idea that growth should be thoughtful. New hotels should be built with the character and the charm of the city in mind. Parks should be built and maintained even on the peninsula where space is a premium. Cities like Savannah, for example, have done a wonderful job of this over time. Even large cities, like New York City, have their Central Parks. As a person who relocated to this city from the north 6 years ago, I know what a city looks like when the economy goes away and no one wants to visit or be there anymore. It’s not a fun time. Charleston is going through a transformation but must maintain its character. It’s important, however, to fear growth but to embrace it and figure out how to use growth build our city. After all, if all these companies want to come in and make money and build hotels, they should leave our city better than when they found it. I love Charleston but my wife and I relocated here for the city’s small, unique charm. Not for a skyline with “Marriot” and “Hilton” signs with nearly uncontrollable traffic.
I have read every comment.
Not one person mentioned African- Americans.
Not one mentioned how this magnificent city was built.
No one talked of how it was rebuilt.
After The War. After The Earthquake.
After The Fire.
After All….
After The Murders…..
After The Massacre….
And still in all these , I’m sure, well-intentioned comments….
No hint of an African-American appears.
SHAME!!!!!!!
You are all woefully ignorant.
God save you.
You could ask the descendants of the Slaves who built every house,laid every road,planted every tree….
Cut the Rivers.
By hand, back,and heart….
You cannot overbuild here….
You must accept that this is enough.
We,all who were born in Charleston;
All who owe our lives and our sanity to those African- American women who raised us:…..
Albertha…..Albertha Simmons.
Edith.
Evelyn
We.
We are the True children of Charleston.
Fools.
They could have told you 50 years ago:
There is no more room in Eden.
All sold out.
And,now,….you’ve sold your Soul, too.
God,Help us All.
Is this the result of big-city dwellers escaping their self-created destruction for the new and not-yet tainted? Will they learn from their mistakes or keep repeating them? Will Charlestonians and residents figure out how to deal with it? Much of what attracts newcomers is the fruit of Southern culture, which many vilify. I would also add that all who object to the corporate take over, patronize local businesses. Speak with your pocketbook and your feet and your franchise (vote).
I’m a home grown local who moved away for 15 years. Dying to get home…finally here. Been downtown twice in six months. I don’t need 900 dollar shoes, an eighty dollar steak, or a bar where no one knows who the hell anyone is.
I was thinking maybe Charleston doesn’t realize what they have lost because it has happened over two decades. Remember a King Street where the store owners knew your name and families? Remember breakfast at the dimestore counter? I’m actually longing for some cheesie Rainbow Row paintings and ceramic frogs in the city market.
When Reed Brothers becomes a Star bucks we will know the apocalypse is upon us.
I Love Charleston to my core but I miss the days of bad tshirts at the market, being afraid to walk past Marion Square, knowing where anything was at the college, and renting an apartment for 600 a month…
As a local, I’m not sure where we still fit into the climate downtown.
Who doesn’t long for the Old Village to be the Old Village on Mt.Pleasant, and for Folly to be for locals, and for a few punk rock kids to be sitting at the Customs House on Friday night.
Growth is good in moderation and when it is well thought out. But when we are no longer the holy city, because all you see are hotels a lot has to be considered.
I’m surprised the Peninsula isn’t actually sinking, literally…
We were down at Folly last Friday. Locally owned businesses were struggling because the available, expensive parking was full. No public transit reaches the beach. If it did, those businesses wouldn’t run out of customers when the area ran out of parking. You have to solve problems to make things work, not moon for the past. We’ve been working to get public transit buses out to Folly for two years.
One can always wait (hope)for another August 31, 1886 … then begin some real renovation … the original, historic buildings that survived then, will survive again!
Downtown isn’t for locals anymore.
I fail to see what any of us could have done to save Morris Sokol. the people running it knew more about their business than I every will. there are a lot of programs to nurture and support local business. You have to use them, show up and spend your money, We have wonderful, local coffee shops all over the city. Just go to one.
I lived in Charleston for 15 wonderful years. I loved it the first few years, then the traffic, over development, higher taxes, and cost of living increases took over. I fell in love with the people, good, and scenery, but I could not stand to watch what has become. I sadly packed my bags and moved away quietly. Sure, change is good, but think of locals first, tourists second. Good bye Charleston.
Once Charleston was all about grace. Now it’s all about greed.
Grew up in Charleston and spent many days near the CofC and King/Calhoun. Afraid now I’ll never return to retire. Our city is ruined by the hustle and bustle and losing its charm more each day. Good luck to all.
I love Boston, but not as much as Charleston … I have found the most magical aspect of Charleston is its people.
One need only look to the recovery after Hugo or the compassion and affection for fellow Charlestonians after the shooting at the Emanuel AME Church. In all my extensive travels, there is no place on earth that rivals Charleston.
Without its people, it truly would be the end of the Holy City.
Time to stop development 1/1/18 for a period of 5 years to reassess. Finish what has begun but start no more after New Years Day. It will make all those embedded in Charleston wealthy/er, but it will halt the mess you know this will become very soon…it happens everywhere if left to it’s own. Stop it now.
Very thoughtful article. After being in Savannah for nearly 30 years and conducting tours, I often tell people that anymore, “Preservation is a rich man’s game.” And not knocking the rich as many people do. Personally I feel that Charleston and Savannah aren’t so special in that they’re not being affected from the bankrupt economy where the middle class is vanishing and there are only the poor and the rich. Until we audit The Fed, create stiff tariffs on foreign goods and give natural power back to our dollar in a Von Mises manner, these business, building and rent price trends won’t change much. And if people are wondering why Charleston and Savannah are allowing these hideous condos to go up on the edges of their towns in a true uglying up of the landscape, check out a book called, “Behind The Green Mask: Agenda 21” by Rosa Koire and then one can really see the collusion between government, big banks and developers all under the direction of The U.N. plan for population control urban hipster style but at the sacrifice of much culture and real beauty.
A few good points made here, but come on: can’t you even try to proofread your work? Are you in such a hurry to get your message out there that after spewing your thoughts poorly onto the page you can’t take the time to read your own writing? This is a common, negative result of the proliferation of instant, self-publishing in the electronic media.
My wife, family and I spent three wonderful years on the outskirts of Charleston (Goose Creek – 1973-76) and enjoyed cruising the harbor in our motor boat, walking or riding bicycles on the the brick sidewalks and streets in the downtown area, ducking under the Spanish moss hanging from the trees over the sidewalks, learning some local Gullah and purchasing a hand-made straw basket or two from some of the local African-American vendors, visiting some of the many museums and open-historical houses in town, eating at many of the fine seafood restaurants and shopping at the old slave market in the olde town. The times they are a changing. New and bigger will become the name of the game. But, I hope the leadership in Charleston will hold the line and maintain most of the character and history that have drawn people to olde-town Charleston over the centuries – and in particular the past 50 years. I agree, Charleston and Savannah are two of the Southern cities I have thoroughly enjoyed over the years – small, friendly, historical and for the memories of America as it once was. I hope we in our infinite wisdom in the future can keep it all together and all like it once was.
I knew Charleston when Little Joe hired Chief Greenberg to clean up downtown. At night even as a teenager we had to move in groups I am not talking about a bunch of looser but things were out of hand. WE had major changes put with the historical society and people who truly love this city it changed for the better. Now it is time to take the next step. If we were able to do it then then why not now. Great people with hard work and a vision got us here and the next generation should be incurred to follow their hearts and keep this City both historic and proceed into the future.
Charleston is not what it was, nor will it ever be again.
Try though you might, you simply cannot go home again.
I first noticed the change after Hurricane Hugo when the beauty and grace of Charleston was reaveled to the world.
Then, came the trophy houses..
I agree with a lot of what you are saying, but when you say “we” you have to keep in mind you are from NJ. Those of us from Charleston see the large influx of new residents as the lure for chain stores and thus part of the problem. Ultimately change comes, and it certainly has come very quickly, thus Charleston has lost a lot of her charm.
I desperately miss Condon’s Department Store. I miss Kerrison’s, Woolworth’, Silver’s, The Patio, Patrick’s, Big John’s, Jimmy Dengates, Cavillaro, The Atlantic House, and so many other stores and restaurants in the Charleston area. I loved shopping at the Piggly Wiggly on King Street. On Savannah Highway (West Ashley) restaurants, gas stations, and stores like K-Mart have been replaced by car dealerships. Progress = more traffic.
Folks, it’s not only happening in Charleston it’s happening all over South Carolina but sadly on the coastal region. My home town Anderson has changed drastically in the last 10 yrs & not to the good
In my above message, I was supposed to write “the Piggly Wiggly on Broad Steet”. With no car yet, I did all my grocery shopping there. Easy walk from the College of Charleston to and from the store.
The same thing has happened to Key West since they changed the submarine base to a deep water port for Cruise Ships. Sail in, get off, buy and Ice Cream Cone and a Tee Shirt on Duval Street. Get back on, eat, sleep, and off to the next tourist trap. No more Fast Buck Freddies, Views from the Top of La Concha…our creative gays deserted Key West and moved to South Beach or, if they did not have the money, to Ft. Lauderdale. Sickness creeping across America. But a hopeful sign here and there of trend reversal back to nostalgia and simplicity. Organic, home grown, cottages and bungalows; or am I dreaming?