🌴 Is Charleston’s beer bubble bursting?

Welcome to CHS Happenings, the weekly newsletter that keeps you in the know about Charleston events, restaurants & retail.

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Happy Friday morning, Charleston! On this date in 1863, the First Battle of Fort Wagner took place on Morris Island. It was an important event in our city’s military history, preceding the more famous assault by the 54th Massachusetts Infantry the following week.

Which was immortalized in the final scenes of the fantastic 1989 movie, Glory. Watch this movie and get treated to a young Denzel Washington. And a slightly older Ferris Bueller, oops, I mean Matthew Broderick.

Congrats to Ellen W. of West Ashley, who was the 1st to guess correctly in our “Where Are We” segment last week! The photo was provided by a subscriber, Beven N., and was on the grounds of DNR at Fort Johnson.

If you’re a new subscriber and found us from the Mount Pleasant Word Of Mouth Facebook group, welcome! I posted this week that I’d write about a 2nd restaurant closing at Moultrie Plaza—Señor Tequila—and my thoughts about the new(ish) owner, Edens, and what that closing means.

I’m awaiting some information I feel should be included. I’ll lead with that story next week.

A few other items at the top and then we’ll get right to it.

• So that this week’s newsletter isn’t ridiculously long—I promised you a 5-minute read when you signed up, after all—I don’t have a listing of live music events this week. But don’t worry—I’m working on designing a stand-alone offering that I think you’re gonna like—more on that in a week or so. In the meantime, I’ve filtered our calendar here to show all live music!

• We haven’t retired Home Of The Week. We just need more responsive real estate agents to get back to us when we offer the opportunity! Look for it next week. If you’re an agent, and you think you have a unique home to present, please reach out here.

• If you haven’t noticed, I’m a tinkerer. I design and test, change things up sometimes. All in the name of keeping y’all engaged. It’d be super helpful if you tell me what you like! Please click that button below and let me know. I tested it—it takes 11 seconds. 😀

WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday 91° / 76° ⛅ 💧24%

Saturday 91° / 77° ⛅ 💧24%

Sunday 92° / 77° ⛈️ 💧54%

CURATED HAPPENINGS

Friday, July 11

Dress Like Bob Bash! - Two Blokes 9th Anniversary Kickoff | 2 - 9 PM | Two Blokes Brewing I Break out the Bob Ross wigs & paint palettes.

Candles & Cocktails | 6:30 - 8:30 PM | Mercantile & Mash | Join us and Pup Country for this beach-themed candle-making class that includes a cocktail and light bites.

W. Kamau Bell: Who's With Me? I 7 PM | Charleston Music Hall I W. Kamau Bell is an Emmy-winning comedian, director, host of CNN’s United Shades of America, and author focused on social justice.

Saturday, July 11

Saltwater Fishing Clinic | 8:30 - 11:30 AM | Creekside Park | Join SCDNR and Certified Instructors to learn the basics of saltwater fishing.

Speakeasy Poker Experience | 9 - 10:30 PM | The Ansonborough | Get ready for a night of cards, chips, and bluffing at our Poker Night event - it's time to ante up and show off your poker face! 21+

Comedy Night at Edisto River Brewing Co. | Edisto River Brewing Co. | Get ready for a night of non-stop laughs, cold brews, and top-tier comedy!

Sunday, July 11

Women's Social Club Folly Beach: Sip & Stroll | 9:30 - 10:30 AM | Center Street Coffee I Connect over coffee, stroll the sand, and start the day with meaningful conversation alongside women who want the same thing you do.

Sunday Spritz at Philosophers & Fools | 12 - 5 PM | Philosophers & Fools | Join us at Philosophers & Fools on Sundays this Summer for a specialty menu of spritz cocktails and croissant sandwiches (for purchase). We'll have jazz on the speakers and complimentary crossword puzzles. Crossword with friends, on your own, or make new friends!

Charleston Riverdogs vs. Columbia Fireflies I 2:05 PM | Joe Riley Stadium I It’s also Leveling The Fields’ equipment drive! Bring your gently-used sports equipment and support this non-profit that celebrates our girls!

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

Grass Is Greener Than Hops

I couldn’t resist using a really old-fashioned term for cannabis in my headline. Some might say I shoe-horned it into this week’s newsletter. I prefer to think the use of “grass”, as 60’s hippies called it, is an apropos counterpoint to the primary ingredient in brewing.

Which brings us to something you may have heard: breweries are closing in Charleston. Six have shuttered in the past year. From Palmetto Brewing Co., South Carolina’s oldest brewery, to newer spots like Fatty’s Beer Works, the momentum that once defined the craft beer boom has hit a wall.

There are a few reasons why, but one stands out for me: demand for beer is down—and not by a little. U.S. beer consumption is at its lowest point in 25 years. And generational shifts are at the heart of it. Millennials helped fuel the rise of craft beer culture, but Gen Z isn’t following suit.

Instead, they’re drinking less overall—and when they do indulge, it’s often not beer. Cannabis use is up, and for these younger adults, it’s a more appealing way to unwind. No carbs, no hangover, and no pressure to post a flight of sours to Instagram.

Charleston isn’t immune to these trends. We still have a vibrant beer scene, but the shakeout is real. Maybe it’s simply a painful rightsizing.

As for me, I never much cared for grass, weed, pot, herb or whatever you prefer. And I’ll be celebrating 10 years of sobriety on December 8.

Everybody knows my vice is donuts.

IN THE COMMUNITY

We broke our 12-year streak. Here’s the new town that claimed the top spot.

We have some really smart high-schoolers in North Charleston. Academic Magnet just won first place in a NASA contest.

This well-traveled former chef knows what restaurants like. It’s mushrooms, and he’s here to serve them.

South Carolina has the last-built lighthouse in the US, and it’s on Sullivans. Here’s more on our other lighthouses.

Bet you didn’t know Charleston has 10 miles of brick arch tunnels under the streets. Our low-lying town has a lot going on down there.

3 MOST-CLICKED FROM LAST WEEK

• 10 Southern Food Spots Anthony Bourdain Swore By. An O.G. like Husk still retains its appeal.

• Our events calendar. In the 2nd spot for the 2nd week.

• What’s to happen with Johnny’s Hot Dogs? Nothing, says the new owner of the former Royall Hardware in Mount Pleasant.

WHERE ARE WE?

Each week, watch this space for a random snap from somewhere in Charleston. Where are we? Just hit reply to this email, or if you’re reading on our website, email me here. The first person to guess correctly will get a shout-out at the top of our issue next week!

NEW FEATURE: I created a nice and easy form where YOU can send me a photo. But only if you think it will stump our eagle-eyed community. Click the button below if you do! Landscape (horizontal) orientation works best.

THE BULLETIN

Want to spread the good word about your business, a project you’re working on, a hire, or just want to say hi to thousands of friends?

Operation HOPE, in partnership with South Carolina State University, is sponsoring a small business symposium next Saturday, July 19, at 9:00 AM. The event is in-person at 35 Lee Street downtown and also virtual. It’s a free event. Click here for more info.

Fleet Feet Charleston is hosting a Find Your Fit happy hour tonight, from 4:00 to 6:30, at their West Ashley store. The event is dedicated to women’s health and includes refreshments and personalized bra fittings. Ladies, it’s buy one bra, give one bra, and it benefits one of our favorite non-profits, Leveling The Fields. Click here for more info.

The Village Bookseller in Mount Pleasant has a terrific offer for the entire month of July. Whenever you visit the store and buy a book, you get the second one 50% off! The shop offers a well-curated selection of literary and popular fiction, non-fiction, young adult, and children’s books. They also feature gifts and curiosities for book lovers, along with a coffee bar and comfy seating. Click here for more info.

6:33 Physical Therapy is my go-to spot in town, along with many of my running buddies, when we need expert advice and treatment for what ails us. Dr. Alison Berglund is offering 50% off run analysis evaluations for the entire month of July. Click here for more info.

ICYMI

If you like striking things while you work out, you have a new option in town. A boxing gym opened on East Bay Street.

Everyone has opinions on what constitutes “best” when it comes to restaurants. Here’s Eater Carolinas best 12 for July. What do YOU think?

Want a really big deli sandwich? West Ashley is getting a NY-style deli next month.

Charleston’s prolific restaurant group trys Vietnamese downtown. Two Bit Club is Indigo Road’s first stab at the cuisine.

There’s soon to be a new spot in CHS that allows you to come in and smash things. Let it all out at iSmash next month when they open on James Island.

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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). 👇