Charleston Happenings Vol. 48
Trader Joe’s Will Open 2nd Location In Mount Pleasant
I had to restrain myself from adding multiple exclamation points to that headline. This HAS to be the biggest news around here in a while?!
On Monday night, when the news broke that Trader Joe’s confirmed they planned to open another store in Mount Pleasant (but not the location), I reported to our Instagram and Facebook communities I was blown away. I still kinda am.
They’ve been a gold-standard retail tenant for commercial property landlords FOREVER. I was only in the biz for 6 years when Trader Joe’s opened its first East Coast location in 1996 in the Boston ‘burbs. We soon heard down in DC what a cult following they enjoyed on the West Coast, and how we simply had to get them in all our shopping centers!
So we tried and tried. We were successful on several occasions and not so on many. They were exceedingly patient, analytical and reflective about where they opened new stores. Some might say they were a royal pain-in-the-arse to try and convince. Trader Joe’s operated that way my entire career.
So that’s why I’m blown away, flabbergasted, gobsmacked (great British term)…whatever I may call it!
They’ll be opening an 18,000 square foot store less than 5 miles from the one on Johnnie Dodds. This article speculated the new location will be in “part of the former Bi-Lo supermarket building in Sweetgrass Corner Shopping Center near the Isle of Palms connector and Mount Pleasant Towne Centre”.
Let’s just say my inside sources kinda winked when I spoke to them Monday evening about that. 😉
Bagel Chain To Open Downtown Location
If we must move on to other stories, this is a good one. Spread Bagelry will open a 2nd Charleston-area location at 595 King Street next week. This is the Hoffler Place apartment building.
We’ve tried their bagels at the location in Mount Pleasant. They’re very good.
But if you can’t have opinions about food and restaurants, you’re simply not living a full life.
Our favorite bagel shop in all of Charleston—I have no qualms saying it’s Numero Uno—remains Holey City Bagels.
Taylor Ham and cheddar on a salt bagel, please. 🥯😁
Bartaco To Open Near College Of Charleston
An Arlington, VA-based restaurant group, with a co-founder from the Upstate, will be opening at 304 King Street later this month.
Bartaco hopes to evoke a blended beach culture of South America and Southern California with a bar on the lower level and dining downstairs and on a mezzanine in the back above the kitchen.
The new restaurant, designed to match the vibe of the neighborhood, includes a huge mural of Spanish moss dangling from a canopy of trees.
Da Toschano Is Open Downtown
We’ve reported on the sandwich shop that was coming from the owners of Le Farfalle. It’s now a reality, and we rushed downtown a short 2 days after they opened to try the porchetta sandwich.
It’s huge. And delicious. And I brought none of it home.
