Happy Friday morning, Charleston! This may be a first: NO ONE nailed the location of last week’s Where Are We photo. I shouldn’t be gleeful—I’m not, really—but if the goal of these are to challenge you…Mission Accomplished. 😀

Plenty guessed that it was the U.S. Custom House building on East Bay, but it’s not. It’s a property I’ve driven and walked past for years wondering what its function was: the former Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum at the corner of Spring and Coming Streets.

If you click the “redevelopment” tag on our website, you’ll see I’ve written a bunch about this topic. In a city as old as Charleston, we have our share of properties ripe for re-imagining. This former manuscript museum is one of them, a prominent property in a terrific neighborhood.

I dug into the city records to see if there are any development-related applications pending, and indeed there are. This led me to the architect listed on the applications, who shared “there are exciting plans”, but nothing else.

He was nice enough to direct me to the property owner, who I’ve tried twice. I’m getting to the bottom of this, it’s what I do. In the meantime, here’s why I stumped y’all last week. 👇🏼👇🏼

In today’s newsletter:

• When heavy machinery starts knocking down buildings, it’s getting real. Ashley Landing had a “building breaking” last week.

• Certain food styles gin up strong opinions. Bagels, pizza and…burgers. You get to weigh in on your favorite CHS beef patty.

• ICYMI. New Park Circle bakery gets early buzz, a 3D-printed coffee shop, and our #1 brunch spot.

Friday 89° / 73° ⛅ 💧4%

Saturday 87° / 72° ☁️ 💧4%

Sunday 89° / 70° ⛅ 💧17%

Friday, May 16

• Family Happy Hour | 4:30 - 6 PM | Charleston Aqua Park, 3050 Marlin Rd, Johns Island | Looking for the PERFECT way to unwind with your kids? Friday Happy Hour is BACK!

• Spring Music on the Green I 6 PM | Freshfields Village, 165 Village Green Dr, Johns Island | There’s nothing better than live music under the Lowcountry sky!

• Charleston Riverdogs vs. Salem Red Sox7:05 PM | The Joe, 360 Fishburne St, Charleston I Fireworks after the game!

  Dancing with the Stars: Live! - 2025 Tour | North Charleston Coliseum & Performing Arts Center, 5001 Coliseum Dr, North Charleston | Straight from Hollywood, See Dancing with the Stars, Live!

Saturday, May 17

• Dogs, Donuts, and Donations | 10 AM - 12 PM | Park Circle, North Charleston – East Montague Avenue, North Charleston | Enjoy free pet photos, coffee, donuts, a raffle, and maybe even go home with a new pup-all while raising money for Pet Helpers!

• Taste of Sullivan's Island | 12 - 3 PM | The Island Club, 1452 Poe Avenue, Sullivans Island | Following a sell-out in 2024, The Island Club will again host its Taste of Sullivan’s Island fundraiser.

• The Fourth Annual Gullah Gala - Gullah Gatsby | 5:30 - 9 PM | International African American Museum, 14 Wharfside Street, Charleston | The Premier cultural couture fashion and music experience expands to a four day festival in 2025 with Charleston's IAAM as partner!

• Swingin' the Blues I 8 PM | Charleston Music Hall I Immerse yourself in the irresistible sounds of note-bending blues performed by the renowned Charleston Jazz Orchestra, led by Robert Lewis, and featuring powerhouse vocalist Elise Testone.

Sunday, May 18

• South Carolina Aquarium 25th Anniversary Block Party | 11 AM - 3 PM | Liberty Square, 100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston | The South Carolina Aquarium is turning 25, and you’re invited to a day of FREE family fun in the sun at our Anniversary Block Party!

• Motown Throwdown | 1:30 - 5 PM | Pour House, 1977 Maybank Hwy I Patrons of the farmers market will have access to the deck bar and deck restrooms throughout the market. Those who want to hang on the deck and enjoy Motown Throwdown will be asked to pay the $5 door charge.

• Sushi Showdown Charleston I 5:30 PM | Palmetto Brewing Company, 289 Huger Street, Bldg. B, Charleston | Join us for the Ultimate Sushi Showdown! A thrilling event packed with sushi-making, tasting, and fun! Don’t miss this ultimate roll-off!

For a COMPLETE list of events in the Charleston area, bookmark the site below!

REDEVELOPMENT

Ashley Landing Redevelopment Gets Going

Here’s when you know a project is no longer a fantasy: Charleston’s mayor and Ashley Landing’s developers came together—along with heavy machinery operators—to celebrate the start of demolition last week.

After numerous fits and starts which spanned years and several mayors, this prime 35-acre property in West Ashley will undergo a $345 million redevelopment. A huge number, reflecting the ambitious scale of the project.

The city will invest $45 million, to include the value of the 3-acre triangular corner property it previously owned and sold to the developer, EDENS, last year. EDENS will invest $300 million.

If you’ve been a subscriber for a bit, you’ll know I’ve written about the project here and here and here. It’s a big deal, a complex undertaking with many moving parts. I’ve worked on several redevelopment projects of this scale, and it reminds me why I enjoyed redevelopment more than new development. The challenges are decidedly more intense.

What The New Ashley Landing Will Be

It’ll be done in several phases, and officials indicated 2027 is the target for completion. Nine acres of stormwater retention will be built underground, a super-costly undertaking. Publix will move across the parking lot into a new store. Multifamily units are included, some targeted as workforce housing. And plenty of new retail space will be delivered.

Can you tell I’m excited about this?! EDENS and the City will deliver an impressive project.

VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE BURGER IN TOWN!

Some cuisine draws strong opinions. Best bagels around? Check. Pizza, no doubt. A really good burger is tough to find, but we’ve got ‘em here.

Eater Carolinas weighs in with their picks. I whittled down their list to keep things manageable.

I’ll share my fave next week, and even my 2nd—but only because it’s this close between 1 and 2.

Interested in being a sponsor?

CHS Happenings has a fast-growing and super-engaged subscriber base. We’re going to start offering local Charleston businesses the opportunity to reach this audience soon.

If you’re interested, click below and we’ll reach out in the next 30 days.

WHERE ARE WE?

Each week, watch this space for a random snap from somewhere in Charleston. Where are we? Only true locals will know. DM your guess on Instagram, or email me here. The first person to guess correctly will get a shout-out at the top of our issue next week!

3 MOST-CLICKED FROM LAST WEEK

• Katsubō Chicken & Ramen’s website. Y’all must have gotten hyped by my interview with the owner.

• Our events calendar. It’s flipping between #1 and 2 the past few weeks.

• New hotel on King Street to have a rooftop bar. Rosemary Rose will open soon at The Nickel.

ICYMI

☕ Starbucks is 3D-printing its new locations?! As much s#it as I heap on them for having really bad coffee and not being a local, I applaud this innovation.

🍽️ Garden & Gun shares their 7 Cozy Restaurants in CHS. A few celebrated options we’ve heard a lot about, some under-the-radar choices, all great.

🍸 Legislators reach agreement for liquor liability insurance reform. Restaurant and bar owners have been clamoring for this a while, now relief is here.

🧇 Brunch is huge in Charleston. And this fabulous place downtown on Queen Street just snagged the #1 spot.

🧁 A new(ish) bakery is getting well-deserved pub. Cakette Bakeshop is the latest Park Circle gem.

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FEEDBACK

Got 15 seconds? Let us know what you thought about today’s newsletter by voting in the poll below (you’ll be done MUCH faster than cars on Johnnie Dodds at 4:00 PM on a Friday). 👇