Charleston’s retail story isn’t shrinking — it’s reshaping.
Across King Street, resort villages, and neighborhood corridors, new clothing boutiques are opening their doors, fueled by tourism, affluence, and a growing confidence in brick-and-mortar retail. Even as larger chains scale back nationwide, Charleston continues to draw brands ready to make a physical bet on the city.
A key pattern ties many of these openings together: the stores aren’t starting from scratch. They’re often the next step for brands that already know their customers — through online shops, pop-ups, or smaller local retail experiments.
One of the most visible expansions comes from women’s boutique franchise Monkee’s, which is adding two new Lowcountry locations this February. The brand, founded in Wilmington, N.C., in 1996, has grown to more than 60 locations nationwide and already operates a Mount Pleasant store that opened in 2018.
The new shops include Monkee’s of Summerville, opening Feb. 19, and Monkee’s of Kiawah at Freshfields Village, targeting a mid-February debut.
For Kiawah owner Debbie Henderson-Creasy, the move to a full storefront followed years of groundwork. She previously ran a booth at Mount Pleasant antique mall Modern Manor and operated an online boutique while living in Virginia. Charleston ties — from frequent visits to her husband’s local logistics business — helped make the leap feel right.
Opening elsewhere was considered. But when the Kiawah opportunity emerged, she knew it fit.
As she told Post & Courier, “I want people to come in, connect and leave feeling good about themselves. I want them to be excited to wear what they bought.”
The Monkee’s franchise model appealed because it balanced independence with support. “I wanted somebody to hold my hand through the process and they do that,” she said, adding that while stores share brands, each owner buys independently — allowing every location to reflect its local audience.
That freedom comes with responsibility. “I can’t buy everything that I like,” Henderson-Creasy said to Post & Courier. “I have to buy for the customer… especially in a town with so many tourists and in a resort area.”
Her Freshfields store will lean into Southern and coastal style, carrying clothing, accessories, shoes, and locally made jewelry — including pieces by Hilton Head designer Lissy Rawl, whom she also featured in her earlier booth.
Another example of the digital-to-doorfront pipeline is Rebecca Illustrated. Artist Rebecca Meixner opened her first permanent storefront at 507½ King St. after building a strong online following and operating a long-term pop-up at The Mills House Hotel. Her pink-painted building reflects the feminine style of her illustrated apparel and prints, many depicting Charleston landmarks — a natural fit for a tourism-driven market.
The momentum doesn’t stop there.
British childrenswear brand La Coqueta opened a long-term pop-up at The Charleston Place in September, following a summer pop-up by French brand Sézane. SKIMS, founded by Kim Kardashian and valued at $5 billion, is preparing to join King Street after architectural approvals last fall. Meanwhile, Atlanta-based men’s clothier Onward Reserve purchased a prominent corner building for $8 million, planning a flagship geared toward sporting, hunting, and upscale casual wear.
Together, these openings signal a shift: Charleston isn’t just surviving retail’s shakeup — it’s becoming a proving ground for brands that believe in place, experience, and connection.
This is a summary of an article published in the Post & Courier. Click here if you’d like to read that article.
