For Immediate Release, July 2019

What's New in the Charleston Area Summer 2019

WHAT’S NEW IN THE CHARLESTON, S.C. AREA: Summer 2019

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 (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013) and the No. 1 U.S. City ranking by the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards (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. Retail
V. Tours + Exhibits
VI. Highlighted Special Events

I. ACCOLADES


The 50 Best Places to Visit in the U.S. This Year
CNTraveler.com

Top 10 Places to Visit in America
TODAY.com

No. 1 City in the United States
Travel + Leisure 2019 World's Best Awards

18 of America’s Best Cities for a Long Weekend
Yahoo.com

The Best Places to Travel in June
MSN.com

II. NEW RESTAURANTS

Big Bad Breakfast
456 Meeting Street, Charleston | bigbadbreakfast.com/locations/charleston-sc

James Beard Award-Winning Chef John Currence will open his sixth Big Bad Breakfast (BBB) in downtown Charleston. Having grown a loyal following in Oxford, Mississippi, the restaurant became famous for its old-school atmosphere and all-day brunch concept. The Charleston BBB will be tailored to reflect the uniqueness of the Lowcountry and the menu will feature local produce, protein and artisan products. Menu items will include Tabasco Brown Sugar Bacon, Crispy Southern Fried Chicken, Original Grit Girl Grits and Anson Mills Steel Cut Oatmeal. Opening Summer 2019.

Classic on King
541 King Street, Charleston | classiconking.com

An all-American cocktail bar and eatery has opened on upper King Street. The menu features items such as Jenga Nachos, Chicken Caesar Wraps and Fried Shrimp Sliders. In addition, Classic on King offers a selection of beers, wines, and cocktails, including a Frozen Pimms Cup. Opened June 2019.

Delany Oyster House
115 Calhoun Street, Charleston | delaneyoysterhouse.com

Delaney Oyster House is a raw bar and seafood-focused restaurant by The Neighborhood Dining Group in the heart of Charleston’s downtown peninsula. Honoring the Lowcountry’s significance as a coastal region and inspired by America’s traditional oyster houses, the restaurant features fresh, sustainable seafood in a casual-chic atmosphere. Nestled within a quintessential historic Charleston home, Delaney Oyster House showcases the bounty of coastal and inland waterways combined with the charm and hospitality of the Holy City. Opening Summer 2019.

Estadio Charleston
33 Spring Street, Charleston |instagram.com/estadiochs

Washington D.C. based restaurant Estadio will open a second location in downtown Charleston on the site of a former church. While the dishes at Estadio Charleston will not diverge in style or theme from the D.C. spot, the forthcoming Charleston location will provide even greater opportunities to celebrate local Lowcountry ingredients into Estadio’s Spanish framework. The menu will feature favorites such as Foie Gras Scrambled Eggs with Black Truffle Butter, Salt-Cod Crudo and Galician-style Scallops and Trumpet Mushrooms. Opening Summer 2019.

Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails
735 Coleman Boulevard, Mt. Pleasant | instagram.com/handcraftmtp

New York-based restaurant Handcraft Kitchen & Cocktails has opened a second location on Coleman Boulevard in Mount Pleasant. The restaurant offers elevated menu items representative of the Lowcountry such as Truffle Fried Burrata and Fried Wonton Ceviche. The cocktail menu is an exploration of cocktails through time, from pre-prohibition to the 90's featuring spins on classic cocktails such as the Cosmopolitan and Brandy Julep. Opened June 2019.

Herd Provisions
106 Grove Street, Charleston | herdprovisions.com

Nestled in the Wagener Terrace neighborhood, Herd Provisions opens as a restaurant and butcher shop. Sourcing grass-fed meat from Owner Alec Bradford’s Leaping Water’s Farm, Herd offers a rustic version of neo-American bistro fare with menu items such as Poutine with Short Rib Gravy and the Herd Burger prepared by Chef Aaron Swersky. Opened June 2019.

Hokkaido
99 Westedge Street, Suite 1600, Charleston | hokkaidocharleston.com

Located across the street from Joseph P. Riley Park, Hokkaido Sushi and Hibachi has opened in the WestEdge Development. Hokkaido offers classic hibachi entrees as well as inventive sushi rolls such as the 99 WestEdge Roll and James Island Roll. Opened June 2019.

Jackrabbit Filly
4628 Spruill Avenue, Park Circle | instagram.com/jackrabbitfilly

Popular food truck, Short Grain, will open a brick-and-mortar location in the Park Circle neighborhood of North Charleston named Jackrabbit Filly. Offering Chinese American cuisine, Jackrabbit Filly will begin with dinner service offering new-Chinese inspired dishes, Japanese raw bar items and ramen noodle bowls. Opens Summer 2019.

MESU
570 King Street, Charleston | mesuchs.com

King Street’s first Mexican and Asian Fusion eatery, MESU will open with an energetic and artistic atmosphere next to its sister spot Bourbon N’ Bubbles owned by Republic Development Management Group. The restaurant will serve up Mexican and sushi inspired fare alongside inventive cocktails that accompany a unique list of tequila and sake varieties. Opens Summer 2019.

Mpishi
162 Seven Farms Drive, Suite 340, Daniel Island | mpishirestaurant.com

Nestled in the heart of Daniel Island, Mpishi is a family restaurant offering traditional comfort food, unique ethnic dishes, and a little bit of everything in between. The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch serving dishes such as Nutella French Toast and the Day After Thanksgiving sandwich complete with stuffing and cranberry sauce. The brunch and dinner menus change weekly. Opened May 2019.

Off Track Ice Cream
6 Beaufain Street, Charleston | offtrackicecream.com

Nestled in Harleston Village, new scoop shop, Off Track Ice Cream has opened its first location on Beaufain Street. Offering traditional and vegan ice cream, all the inventive flavors are made using only real foods and clean ingredients sourced from local farmers and purveyors. Fill your cones with flavors such as Honey Comb, Sweet Tea, and Deconstructed Samoa. Opened June 2019.

The Player’s Pub
Cougar Point Clubhouse, Kiawah Island | kiawahresort.com/dining/the-players-pub

The internationally acclaimed resort, Kiawah Island Golf Resort has added a new restaurant to its culinary collection. Housed in the newly opened Cougar Point Clubhouse, The Player’s Pub serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. Chef de Cuisine Cory O’Connor created menus featuring his refined interpretations of classic American comfort food such as Heritage Porterhouse Pork Chop, Pan-Seared Black Sea Bass, and Mushroom-Encrusted Revier Farm Sirloin. Opened June 2019.

III. RESTAURANT NEWS

The Macintosh
479B King Street, Charleston | themacintoshcharleston.com

The Macintosh welcomes new Executive Chef Stuart Rodgers, formerly of Oak Steakhouse’s Atlanta location. Chef Rodgers brings with him new menu items such as Asparagus with Deviled Egg Mousse and Welsh Rarebit served with Pastrami Beef Belly and Beer-Cheese Fondue.

IV. RETAIL

Barre3
484 King Street, Charleston | barre3.com/studio-locations/charleston

With more than 70 locations across the U.S, Barre3 has opened their newest studio on upper King Street. The hour-long fitness class boasts a full-body balanced workout combining strength-conditioning, cardio, and mindfulness improving flexibility and coordination. Opened June 2019.

Yeti
360 King Street, Charleston |yeti.com/en_US/charleston-store.html

The popular outdoor lifestyle company, YETI opened its second brick-and-mortar store in the country on King Street in downtown Charleston. The newly renovated location has a plethora of products such as vacuum-insulated stainless-steel drinkware, coolers and other accessories perfect for any outdoor activity. In addition to merchandise, the store boasts a bar serving craft beer, wine, coffee and small bites. Opened June 2019.

V. TOURS + EXHIBITS

Charleston Museum “War on Fashion” Exhibit
360 Meeting Street, Charleston | charlestonmuseum.org/exhibits/current/42/war-on-fashion

Fashion has always changed dramatically following worldwide periods of warfare. This new exhibition at the Charleston Museum is an in-depth examination of both how and why fashion changed after the Age of Revolution, World War I and World War II. Open now through December 1, 2019.

Gibbes Museum of Art Luminous Landscapes Exhibit: The Golden Age of British Watercolors
135 Meeting Street, Charleston | gibbesmuseum.org/exhibitions/luminous-landscapes

Drawn from the collection of British watercolors bequeathed to the Gibbes Museum of Art by John Wigger in 2004, this exhibition showcases a selection of works on paper created during the “Golden Age of Watercolor” in the 18th and 19th centuries in England. These romantic landscapes emphasize brilliant colors, loose brushstrokes and attention to light and atmospheric effects. Many of the artists featured in Luminous Landscapes such as John Varley (British, 1778–1842), Paul Sandby (British, 1725–1809) and David Cox Sr. (British, 1783–1859), were instrumental in elevating the status of watercolor painting over the century as it was brought to its full maturity in England. Their work heavily influenced that of burgeoning Lowcountry artists, Thomas Coram and Charles Fraser, who were among America’s first landscape painters. Open now through October 6, 2019.

VI. HIGHLIGHTED SPECIAL EVENTS

Charleston Margarita Festival, July 26, 2019
charlestonmargaritafest.com

The 4th annual Charleston Margarita Festival returns to Brittlebank Park on July 26. With over 20 local bars and restaurants serving their best salty concoctions, festival-goers may enjoy margarita samples, live music, food truck fare, and a captivating waterfront view. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Lowcountry Local First.

11th Annual Lowcountry Jazz Festival, August 30 - September 1, 2019
lowcountryjazzfestival.com

The Lowcountry Jazz Festival, South Carolina's premiere annual Smooth Jazz event, celebrates its 11th Anniversary in 2019 in the Charleston Gaillard Center with a stellar lineup of superstar artists and up and coming instrumentalists and vocalists. The festival continues its Labor Day weekend tradition, kicking off Saturday, August 30.

Charleston Restaurant Week, September 4 – 15, 2019
charlestonrestaurantassociation.com

Charleston Restaurant Week, executed by the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association, Inc. (GCRA), is one of the most highly anticipated culinary events in the Charleston area. This event provides patrons the chance to appreciate and savor the world-renowned cuisine of the Lowcountry with prix fixe menus and pricing.

Charleston Water Week, September 7 - 15, 2019
charlestoncvb.com/water-week

Immerse yourself in the Lowcountry’s many tidal rivers, creeks, and waterways during Charleston Water Week. The Charleston area will be host to dozens of water-related activities throughout the event. From rowing events to boat cruises, underwater hockey to parasailing, Charleston Water Week has something for everyone.

36th Annual Moja Arts Festival, September 26 - October 6, 2019
mojafestival.com

The streets of Charleston sway with the captivating rhythm of African music while the smell of Caribbean cuisine permeates the air during this 10-day celebration of Gullah culture named for the Swahili word meaning “one.”

Steeplechase of Charleston, November 17, 2019
steeplechaseofcharleston.com

The Steeplechase of Charleston returns on Sunday, November 17 to close out the 2019 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.