For Immediate Release, October 2020
What's New in the Charleston Area Fall 2020
WHAT’S NEW IN THE CHARLESTON, S.C. AREA: Fall 2020Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by COVID-19. In this challenging time, as we face the unknown, we want to remind our visitors that Charleston will persevere through to brighter days. When the time comes, we will welcome you back to Charleston with the warm, southern hospitality for which we are known with new experiences ready to be explored.
With its vibrant culture, rich history, exquisitely-preserved architecture, idyllic coastal location, celebrated dining scene and friendly locals, Charleston, South Carolina, is one of America’s best loved travel destinations. Readers of leading travel magazines have consistently voted for Charleston as their favorite domestic travel destination, resulting in the No. 1 U.S City (2019), No. 1 Small U.S. City (2018), the No. 1 City in the World (2016) and the No. 1 City in the U.S. and Canada ranking by the Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards (2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013) and the No. 1 U.S. City ranking by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards (2020, 2019 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011).
The Charleston area is a bustling epicenter of hospitality as illustrated by the following news.
I. Accolades
II. New Restaurants
III. Restaurant News
IV. New Accommodations + Accommodation News
V. Retail
VI. Community News
VII. Tours + Attractions
VIII. Highlighted Special Events
I. ACCOLADES
No. 1 Small City in the U.S.
CondéNastTraveler.com
The 10 Best Places To Visit in November
TownandCountryMag.com
5 Best Cities for Working Remotely
USAToday.com
12 Idyllic Destinations To Spend the Holidays at This Winter
Veranda.com
America’s Top 19 Weekend Getaways
TripsToDiscover.com
II. NEW RESTAURANTS
1st Place
570 King Street, Charleston | 1stplacechs.com
1st Place is putting a new spin on the typical sports bar. Opening on the first day of the World series, this luxury-style bar will have more than 20 TVs and feature live music as well as a menu include a variety of bar foods, beer, cocktails and more. Opening October 2020.
Bar George
1956 Maybank Highway, Charleston | bargeorgechs.com
Oysters and hot dogs under one roof? You can find them both at the newly opened Bar George located next to the Terrace Theater in James Island. Aside from the aforementioned staples, Bar George offers menu items such as crudite, seafood and specialty cocktails. Opened Summer 2020.
Bistronomy
64 Spring Street, Charleston | bistronomybynico.com
Chefs Nico Romo and Dominique Chantepie of Nico on Shem Creek are venturing downtown to open Bistronomy, where visitors can expect traditional French cuisine with a flare. The menu will feature appetizing eats including Duck Confit Steamed Buns and Escargot Dumplings. Opening November 2020.
Braised in the South
3338 Maybank Highway, Charleston | braisedinthesouth.com
Formerly an award-winning food truck on Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Series, Braised in the South now has a standing location on John’s Island. The Southern Barbeque restaurant offers items such as the B.I.T.S burger with garlic mustard aioli and house pickles as well as sides like Grandma Colby’s bean salad. This walk up style restaurant even has its own soft serve ice cream window where you can satisfy your sweet tooth after your barbecue bites. Opened Summer 2020.
Bumpa’s
5 Cumberland Street, Charleston | bumpas-chs.com
Bumpa’s, housed in a recently restored 19th century warehouse, serves elevated bar food in a tavern-style atmosphere. The menu highlights items such as traditional Irish-Pub dishes including Scotch eggs with country sausage, bread crumbs and creamy mustard sauce. You can also expect curated cocktails like Maureen O’Hara’s Left Hook with vodka, averna, rosewater and ginger. Opened Summer 2020.
Chasing Sage
267 Rutledge Avenue, Charleston | chasingsagerestaurant.com
Located in a newly renovated space, Chasing Sage will serve local, herb-forward dishes featuring farm-grown produce. Until the brick-and-mortar site opens, tune in to Chasing Sage’s social media to find limited time pop-ups that feature varying cuisines ranging from green curry with Thai eggplant and bamboo shoots to veal wienerschnitzel with pickles and Bavarian slaw. Opening Winter 2020.
Frannie and the Fox
181 Church Street, Charleston | frannieandthefox.com
Nestled inside the newly opened Emeline, Frannie and The Fox features a wood-fired burning concept of shareable dishes, including items such as the Taleggio pizza with burnt honey and black pepper as well as fully spirited cocktails like the Gussied Up with Tito’s vodka, coconut water and grapefruit. Opened July 2020.
Gale
601 Meeting Street, Charleston | galerestaurant.com
New Italian eatery Gale focuses on comfort food meant for sharing including traditional pizza and pasta. Dishes represent the produce and protein found in the Lowcountry in an Italian family-style setting. Guests can find dishes such as the Sambal Margherita pizza with chili oil and Charred Nubia Eggplant Burrata with basil. Opened Fall 2020.
Handy + Hot
83 Wentworth Street, Charleston | handyandhot.com
Handy + Hot, originally an online-only bakery created by James Beard Award Winner Vivian Howard, has settled down in Charleston. At this brick and mortar eatery, you can find grab and go items such as Park Day beer and cheddar bread, s’mores kits with cinnamon marshmallows and assorted coffee creations. Opened Summer 2020.
Lenoir
68 Wentworth Street, Charleston | dineatlenoir.com
Lenoir, an eatery created by James Beard Award Winner Vivian Howard, seeks to tell the story of the rural, agricultural south through cuisine. Going back to her eastern North Carolina roots, Vivian has curated a dinner-only menu that highlights shareable meals and seasonal ingredients. You can expect to find dishes such as the Deep Run Summer in a bowl which includes stewed tomatoes, creamed corn and a cucumber, olive and caper relish along with other Southern classics. Opening Fall 2020.
Neon Tiger
654 King Street, Charleston | eatatneontiger.com
Former owner of The Rarebit, John Adamson has opened a plant-based cocktail lounge and eatery which boasts locally sourced ingredients and drinks. The establishment has sustainability in mind and does not serve cans or bottles in order to produce as little waste as possible. You can find vegan versions of American staples such as pizza and burgers, along with unique cocktails. Opened Summer 2020.
Pink Bellies
595 King Street, Charleston | pinkbellies.com
Former food truck Pink Bellies will become a brick-and-mortar eatery in downtown Charleston. The permanent location will continue to serve traditional Vietnamese dishes along with a few new items that have their own unique spin made with fresh, local ingredients. You can expect to see dishes similar to squid ink beef dumplings with oyster mushrooms and lemon. Opening soon.
Post House
101 Pitt Street, Mount Pleasant | posthouseinn.com
Housed in a quaint seven room inn, Post House offers seasonal fare such as spaghetti and clams with guanciale and pecorino as well as classic cocktails, including the Vesper Martini. You can expect abundant hospitality paired with regional produce, local seafood and sustainably raised meats at this charming neighborhood spot. Opened Summer 2020.
Shem Creek Crab House
508 Mill Street, Mount Pleasant | facebook.com/shemcreekcrabhouse
Charleston Crab House is opening its third location on beloved Shem Creek. Enjoy fresh-from-the-dock seafood, including their Grilled Atlantic Salmon and Chilled Raw Oysters, along with amazing creek views. Opening Fall 2020.
Tempest
32 North Market Street Suite C, Charleston | tempestcharleston.com
Brought to you by the team of 5Church Charleston, Tempest is an up-scale seafood restaurant situated next to the bustling City Market in historic downtown Charleston offering seafood provided by Lowcountry area fishermen, oyster farmers and more local purveyors. The restaurant boasts a selection of seafood-friendly Old-World wines, along with hand-picked gins, rums and bourbons. Opened Summer 2020.
The Longboard
2213 Middle Street, Sullivan’s Island | thelongboardsullivans.com
Charleston natives Clint Gaskins and Tyler Beckstead opened the first location of The Longboard in St. John, Virgin Islands and are now bringing the island-inspired restaurant and bar to Sullivan’s Island. The seafood-focused eatery will be utilizing fresh, local ingredients to create entrees such as ceviche and sushi wraps along with bar bites and small plates. The tropical joint will also feature a drink menu composed of kombucha, house-made sodas, frozen drinks and creatively-crafted cocktails. Opening Spring 2021.
III. RESTAURANT NEWS
The Pig Rig
swigandswinebbq.com
Recently debuted at the Firefly Distillery, The Pig Rig is well-known barbeque restaurant Swig & Swine’s newest venture. You can expect flavorful smoked meats and tasty Southern sides when walking up to the window of this aptly named food truck. Opened Fall 2020.
Ms. Rose’s Fine Food
1090 Sam Rittenberg Boulevard, Charleston | msroses.com
Happy Hour is back at this hopping neighborhood joint known for its Southern comfort food. Wine and dine on fine food and drink specials from 4 to 7 pm. Don’t miss new menu items including the Chef’s Egg Rolls and Truffle Parmesan Fries.
IV. NEW ACCOMMODATIONS + ACCOMMODATION NEWS
Emeline
181 Church Street, Charleston | hotelemeline.com
Located one block away from the historic Charleston City Market, Emeline is nestled in the heart of downtown. This luxurious hotel features 212 guest rooms and suites, more than 10,000 square feet of flexible event space and an elevated gathering space, Hank’s Social Hall, for private events that deliver the classic Hank’s Seafood experience. Opened Summer 2020.
Planters Inn
112 North Market Street, Charleston | plantersinn.com
Located in the heart of the historic district, the newly renovated Planters Inn invites guests to stay and experience their recently updated luxurious accommodations. The iconic hotel highlights personal space and added privacy by offering capacious accommodations for guests who prefer a private entrance through an open-air terrace. Re-opened Fall 2020.
Post House Inn
101 Pitt Street, Mount Pleasant | posthouseinn.com
Welcoming staycationers and out-of-towners alike, the Post House Inn is a warm invitation into life in the Lowcountry. Featuring seven delicately created rooms, the Post House Inn stands as a modern, made-over landmark on historic Pitt Street, located in Mount Pleasant’s Old Village Neighborhood. Opened Summer 2020.
The Saint Hotel
194 East Bay Street, Charleston | sainthotels.com
The Saint Hotel will open its third location on bustling East Bay Street after finding success in New Orleans and Key West. This boutique hotel will feature 45 luxurious bedrooms, a plexiglass-encased historic wall (circa 1700), burlesque shows and more. Opening Spring 2021.
V. RETAIL
Bluemercury
278 King Street, Charleston | bluemercury.com
Beauty retailer Bluemercury has moved to a new location on lower King Street. The new space, nearly three times the size of the previous store, features the new Conscious Beauty Program that includes vegan products with organic blends and botanical-based naturals. Opened Fall 2020.
Old Whaling Co.
409 King Street, Charleston | oldwhalingcompany.com
A one-stop-shop for all things lotions, soaps and candles, Old Whaling Co. has opened its third downtown location. Created in 2012, this bath and body shop’s first Charleston location operated as a pop-up starting in 2017. Old Whaling is favorite find for both natural and local self-care products. Opened October 2020.
VI. COMMUNITY NEWS
Charleston Area Visitor Center
375 Meeting Street, Charleston | charlestoncvb.com
Located in Charleston’s historic district, the newly renovated Charleston Area Visitor Reception and Transportation Center reopened to the public in October 2020. With new interactive exhibits, a marketplace offering one-of-a-kind local products and a new multi-purpose area with a demonstration kitchen, unique opportunities abound in this state-of-the-art space.
Urban Farm at Enston Home
900 King Street, Charleston | greenheartsc.org
A community farm has arrived in the heart of downtown Charleston. The Urban Farm at Enston Home, made possible by The Charleston Housing Authority and The Green Heart project, provides fresh, healthy food to neighbors while serving as an educational tool for community children through volunteer and internship opportunities.
VII. TOURS + ATTRACTIONS
USS Yorktown Captain’s Tour
40 Patriots Point Road, Mount Pleasant | patriotspoint.org
Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum has partnered with Bulldog Tours to offer a new guided tour entitled Captain’s Tour: Exclusive Access and Insights to the Ship and Crew aboard the historic aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown. Previously off-tour for more than a decade, the new attraction will lead visitors to areas of the ship that are normally undiscoverable, such as the the Captain’s Quarters.
VIII. HIGHLIGHTED SPECIAL EVENTS
Safe Sounds Concerts at Firefly Distillery, Every Weekend in October
fireflydistillery.com/news-events
In a socially-distanced outdoor concert series, Firefly Distillery is hosting a new musical group every weekend through the end of November. In addition to music, patrons can expect food truck appearances such as Cafe Roux and Swig & Swine’s The Pig Rig.
Preservation Society of Charleston’s Fall Tours, October 8 - November 7, 2020 preservationsociety.org/falltours
Meander through carefully cultivated boxwoods during these docent-led tours that invite guests into the Charleston area’s most beautiful gardens at some of the most historic homes in America.
Holiday Festival of Lights, November 13 - December 31, 2020
ccprc.com/holiday-festival-of-lights
A cherished Lowcountry tradition, the Holiday Festival of Lights serves as a drive through celebration of the most wonderful time of the year. See millions of twinkling lights at this magical attraction open nightly at James Island County Park.
Steeplechase of Charleston, November 15, 2020
steeplechaseofcharleston.com
The Steeplechase of Charleston returns on Sunday, November 15 to close out the 2020 National Steeplechase Association Fall Racing Circuit. The family-friendly event will take place at the Race Track at Stono Ferry and will feature five high-stakes races with coveted titles on the line. A portion of proceeds will benefit the Good Cheer Fund.
