Golf cart rentals in Mount Pleasant, SC

MOUNT PLEASANT — A North Carolina-based supermarket chain plans to enter the Charleston market, stepping in after another grocery store’s plans fell through.

The Fresh Market has taken over the lease from discount grocer Lidl for a space in Bowman Place Shopping Center, according to a document filed Sept. 27 in the Charleston County land records office.

A spokeswoman for the Greensboro-based specialty grocer said the company “did not have anything to share at this time” on its open schedule.

Peter Stone of Mount Pleasant’s planning department said Fresh Market has not presented construction plans to the town, which usually considers building and facade alterations as well as signage through the Commercial Design Review Board.

German company Lidl, with its U.S. headquarters in Arlington, Va., had planned to move into a 26,000-square-foot space in the Dick’s Sporting Goods-anchored retail center near Bowman Road and Johnnie Dodds Boulevard.

Work came to a halt more than a year ago.

A Lidl representative did not respond for comment.

The Fresh Market now has the remainder of the 15-year tenant agreement Lidl signed three years ago next month. The lease also included an option for 15 more years.

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The site originally held a 20,000-square-foot kitchen store, but it closed in early 2020. Lidl wanted a larger space, so it added 6,000 square feet and a loading dock in the rear of the building.

The Fresh Market has nine stores in South Carolina. Its closest location to Charleston is about 70 miles up the coast at Pawleys Island.

The chain offers an upscale assortment of fresh produce, meat and seafood along with a deli, bakery, prepared foods and fresh-cut flowers. The store also has beer, wine, coffee and bulk nuts along with various other items.

In 2017, Fresh Market first eyed the state’s fourth-largest municipality and its 95,000 residents who have a median household income of more than $106,000, according to U.S. Census figures.

Publix eventually brought one of its small-format specialty grocery stores called GreenWise Market to the 21,535-square-foot space in Indigo Square Shopping Center off U.S. Highway 17, where Fresh Market was looking.

GreenWise Market, near Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, closed in 2020 about 16 months after it opened. It’s now the site of outdoor gear retailer REI Co-op.

Another specialty grocer also made a run in Mount Pleasant. North Carolina-based Southern Season shuttered its store off Coleman Boulevard in 2016, less than three years after it opened. It’s now the home of Gold’s Gym.

Last year, South American retailer Cencosud acquired a 67 percent stake in The Fresh Market. Existing grocery store shareholders retained a minority equity interest in the company.

The Fresh Market, with 159 stores in 22 states, was founded in 1982. The size of its stores average about 21,000 square feet.

The Bowman Place location is near a 4-mile stretch of Johnnie Dodds Boulevard between the Ravenel Bridge and Interstate 526 that’s teeming with supermarkets. They include Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Publix, Traders Joe’s, Aldi and Walmart.

Lidl has a dozen stores in South Carolina, with two in the Charleston area in Goose Creek and North Charleston.

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A new mixed-use development is planned on several parcels in the Huger area that include an equestrian center, upholstery site and undeveloped property.

Homebuilder Toll Brothers wants to build a community with 83 units, including 58 townhomes and 25 single-family houses, at 2682 Highway 41 and 698 Tuxbury Farm Road.

The 15-acre Berkeley County site is about a mile north of the Wando River bridge on S.C. Highway 41 and includes the site of Tuxbury Equestrian Center along with land owned by Rumph’s Auto Service and two other privately owned parcels.

Charleston Planning Commission will consider the proposed development​​​​​​​ Nov. 15.

MOUNT PLEASANT — Two students at Mamie P. Whitesides Elementary School suffered medical emergencies over the last few weeks, prompting the school district to suspend in-person learning on Oct. 19 and 20.

Concerns about air quality within the school have fueled rampant speculation from worried parents and staff, but Andy Pruitt, spokesman for the Charleston County School District said the district staff doesn’t believe the medical emergencies are connected to air quality tests that have been ongoing since February. He would not say what caused the health issues with the two pre-kindergarten students, citing medical privacy.

Additional tests on Oct. 19 indicated that school’s air quality is safe, and students are expected to return to their classrooms Oct. 23, according to a message from the school’s principal, Michelle Conner.

“While we remain unsure if the medical emergencies are connected in any way, the medical emergencies coupled with indoor air quality concerns in some areas this year, as well as ongoing HVAC repairs, caused district officials to move to eLearning which allowed for CCSD to conduct assessments of the physical environment,” Conner said in an Oct. 19 note to parents.

Pruitt provided The Post and Courier with Conner’s communications to parents about the ongoing concerns with mold and gas levels inside the school.

The medical emergencies, which occurred on Sept. 29 and Oct. 18, triggered EMS responses and “a brief hold” at the school, according to the communications sent to parents after the emergencies.

Both children are from the same pre-K class, Pruitt said. One was taken to a nearby hospital; another was treated on campus, he added.

In her messages to Whitesides families, Conner did not detail the reason for the medical issues, but said after each episode that the students were “doing well.”

Tests conducted by the district’s facilities team and Mount Pleasant Fire Department and Hazmat teams show safe air quality, Conner said. Samples taken last week by an environmental services company also found “a lack of presence of harmful levels of mold,” she continued.

Zero or negligible amounts of carbon monoxide were detected, but the carbon dioxide levels were within recommended levels for classrooms, the principal reported.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill. Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning can include: headache, weakness, dizziness and nausea or vomiting, according to the Mayo Clinic. Carbon dioxide, or CO2, is a naturally occurring gas in the earth’s atmosphere, but at higher levels it can cause rapid breathing, confusion, increased cardiac output, elevated blood pressure and irregular heartbeat, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Air quality testing, which included testing for carbon dioxide, started in February of this year after a teacher complained to school officials, Pruitt said, though he didn’t provide the results of those earlier tests.

Results from Oct. 11, nearly two weeks after the first medical incident, and Oct. 13 indicated that CO2 was “higher than what is typically seen in indoor settings” in some locations in the school, Conner told parents on Oct. 17. But she added that the readings were “well within OSHA standards for safe indoor air quality.”

Conner also told parents that an Oct. 16 inspection of the school’s HVAC system found the units that introduce outside air into the building were not operating at full capacity, which could cause the elevated levels of carbon dioxide

“Again, although the levels are above what is seen in similar environments they are well below the level that is considered unhealthy indoor air quality,” Conner said.

Parts were ordered to repair the HVAC units, and CO2 monitoring devices were installed throughout the school, Conner said in the Oct. 17 note.

That message came the day before the second child suffered a medical emergency, according to the communications provided by the school district.

After the second health emergency on Oct. 18, Connor said that “out of an abundance of caution” the district ordered remote learning for students and remote work for staff.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. —

A popular restaurant in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, has announced its closing.

The Mustard Seed has been in business for more than 28 years.

(Video above: Morning headlines from WYFF News 4)

The owner, Sal Parco, posted Sunday on Facebook that he will retire and the restaurant will close and be taken over by a new group.

Read his full message below:

"It’s with a heavy heart and mixed emotions, I am writing to formally announce my retirement and the closing of the Mustard Seed. Please visit me as this will be my final week and it is my hope to see as many of you as possible. I opened the original Mustard Seed over 28 yrs ago, and it’s been quite a journey. Along the way I’ve had the privilege to serve the greater Mt Pleasant community, even opening up additional restaurant concepts that were frequented by my cherished customers. It has been my great honor to be a part of the restaurant community and I’ll never be able to express my appreciation toward the many customers that I now consider to be my family. I am forever grateful to have been welcomed in with such open arms and my gratitude toward you is immense. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed coming to work everyday, meeting, greeting and serving the most wonderful group of loyal customers. You have been my family for almost 30 years and I will miss each and every one of you. But it is time to pass on the baton…

"To my Mustard Seed team, thank you for your commitment and your loyalty. You have made this feel more like a passion project as opposed to work. A special thanks to my dedicated leaders that always stepped up even through the many challenges we’ve faced throughout the years. I never questioned your integrity as you added to the successes we achieved. But after much thought and careful consideration, I realize that it’s time to slow down as I’m not a youngster anymore and all good things must come to an end. I want to thank everyone for the experiences and opportunities I have been able to enjoy. The fond memories of our times together will follow me into my retirement and any future endeavors.

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"Until then, I am fully committed to assisting in the transition of the new group taking over… I know this wonderful community will embrace them just as you did me 28+ years ago. You allowed me to live out my dreams and achieve opportunities that I couldn’t even imagine were possible. I love each and everyone of you! All the best,Sal Parco"

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A fondue restaurant chain plans to expand into the Lowcountry.

Bob Johnston, CEO of The Melting Pot, said the Tampa, Fla.-based company is looking to add two locations in Charleston and Mount Pleasant. He cited the Palmetto State’s strong tourism industry as a key reason for the expansion plan.

The chain already has a presence in Columbia, Greenville and Myrtle Beach. It said it hopes to have 15 locations in South Carolina by 2025.

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Liberty Senior Living wants to add more units to its South Bay continuing care facility, but it needs an amendment to a planned development because of Mount Pleasant’s moratorium on new multifamily buildings.

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3: Number of new restaurants planning to open in the fall in an expanding Charleston-area shopping center.

65,000: Size of proposed new supermarket in a new retail development beside Freshfields Village between Kiawah and Seabrook islands.

2563: Address on Ashley River Road for a fast-food restaurant that recently turned out the lights.

Real Estate

+ More multifamily: A 110-unit townhome development is in the works for the Point Hope area of Charleston on the Cainhoy peninsula.

+ Doctor’s orders: A medical office building is being proposed in Point Hope.

You’re seeing The Post and Courier’s weekly real estate newsletter. Receive all the latest transactions and top development, building, and home and commercial sales news to your inbox each Saturday here.

A new mixed-use development is planned on several parcels in the Huger area that include an equestrian center, upholstery site and undeveloped property.

Homebuilder Toll Brothers wants to build a community with 83 units, including 58 townhomes and 25 single-family houses, at 2682 Highway 41 and 698 Tuxbury Farm Road.

The 15-acre Berkeley County site is about a mile north of the Wando River bridge on S.C. Highway 41 and includes the site of Tuxbury Equestrian Center along with land owned by Rumph’s Auto Service and two other privately owned parcels.

Charleston Planning Commission will consider the proposed development​​​​​​​ Nov. 15.

This streamlined Lowcountry home is set off Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, SC. See how the family of 6 made it a perfect fit for them.

Shrimp boats, kayaking outfitters, and lively bars and restaurants line the commercial side of Shem Creek, the gem of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina's Old Village Historic District. But north of the Shem Creek bridge, the waterway winds through quiet neighborhoods where children roam on bikes and go crabbing off backyard docks. "My husband dreamed of being on the water, and we fell in love with this lot. We're drawn to older areas where kids can run around," says owner Maggie Bullwinkel. She and husband George, a Charleston native, had two young children when they began renovating this 3,200-square-foot house that was built in the 1970s. Their third child was 9 months old when they moved in. Maggie refers to her then-infant sidekick as "my design assistant."

While the Bullwinkels had renovated and sold houses before, this one would be a keeper. "It had great bones. We loved the back porch and knew this could be our forever home," Maggie says. Working with architect Hunter Kennedy and designer Sidney Wagner, they spearheaded family-friendly changes to the four-bedroom abode that have definitely paid off. Today, the Bullwinkels have four kids under age 10 and plenty of yard, a great porch, and a frequently used outdoor kitchen to accommodate their active lifestyle.

"Overall, the footprint didn't change much," says Sidney, who squared off the kitchen to make it more functional. As the home's command center, it now opens up to a bright eating nook, which is one of Maggie's favorite spots. "Family dinners are a priority," she says. What was previously a formal dining room, adjacent to the kitchen, became the kids' playroom. They removed an attached garage to make way for a new mudroom/laundry area off the kitchen. "It's basically where I live," quips Maggie. They also elevated and enlarged the back porch to be a seamless open-air extension of the family room, ground zero for entertaining during Clemson University football season. "I love that we really do live in each space," Maggie says. "We use it all."

Brighten It Up

A monochrome kitchen keeps Maggie happy. "It helps to have a clean look in a busy room," she says. Streamlined light fixtures by Cedar & Moss and vintage Lucite barstools scooped up at a local antiques mall add to the airy feel in the room.

Remember That Simplicity Rules

"With four kids, there is plenty of chaos," says Maggie. Namibia marble countertops and Benjamin Moore's Simply White (OC-117) paint make her kitchen a calming space. Plus, they allow the Hampton Faucet by Waterstone to shine as the statement piece.

Let the Landscape Lead

Reorienting the kitchen to open into a family dining area was Maggie's top priority. Hunter bumped out the eating nook to add windows on all sides, inviting in sunlight and creek views. A mid-century modern table and slipcovered chairs keep lines simple, and Roost's whimsical light fixture "softens all the hard surfaces," says Sidney. The fabric used for the curtains (Katana by Kelly Wearstler) is also on the barstools, where it's laminated to be indestructible.

Choose Flexible Design

"We needed comfortable pieces that are easy to rearrange," says Sidney, who was mindful of not blocking the French doors that open to the porch. "I love how the vintage-reproduction chairs are movable and sculpturally interesting from whatever angle." A sofa slipcovered in Crypton fabric is ultrapractical, and bare windows keep things light and airy while connecting well with the porch, she says.

Lean On A Natural Palette

Sidney painted the porch floor in Benjamin Moore's Kennebunkport Green (HC-123), the same color that's used on the exterior trim, and added soothing blue accents to complement the surrounding outdoor hues. "We didn't want to distract from the view," she says. Wicker chairs from CB2 add natural texture, and a fun Annie Selke rug anchors the blue tones. Floor-to-ceiling screens and a vaulted ceiling help the porch feel cool in summer.

Prioritize All-Purpose, All-Season

Two years after moving in, the Bullwinkels worked with architect Chris Heinlen of Heinlen Design to add a backyard shed with a full attic to supplement the home's limited storage. Adjacent to that, they created an outdoor kitchen and entertaining area. "This is our favorite spot for birthday parties, neighborhood suppers, or sometimes sunset sips after the kids have gone to bed," says Maggie. A metal roof, green trim, and white siding tie the shed to the main house.

Stretch Family Space

"I love the playroom right off the kitchen. It's our cuddle area," says Maggie. A big barn door can be closed to contain toys and messes. Commissioned pieces by local artist Michelle Owenby add grown-up flair to the room, designed to one day transform into a family hangout space.

Control Clutter

Maggie believes that tidiness is key, even in the playroom. Each child has (and uses!) a designated toy-and-book basket, and a rotating gallery helps solve the what-to-do-with-endless-kids'-art dilemma.

Invite Some Drama

" 'Are you sure about going this showy?' my husband asked about the paint color, and I was—including covering the ceiling," says Maggie of the vibrant Benjamin Moore Slate Teal (2088-20) she chose for the laundry room. "I love how the boldness brings you in." Custom cabinets add extra pantry space.

Be Bold And Functional

Next to the laundry room, the bold color continues in the mudroom with an added touch of graphic wallpaper. Each kid has their own space for coats and bags in the blue storage wall.