Mortgage Broker in Moncks Corner, SC

Four new restaurants catering to a variety of tastes are on the way across the Charleston area.

In Moncks Corner, an Italian restaurant called Capy’s plans to open at 323 E. Main St. where Chill-N-Grill once operated. The new venue beside Unity Park will open Jan. 22.

The family-owned and operated establishment comes from Jack and Gabby Capocciama and his brother, Caleb Capocciama.

Hours will be 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. A Sunday brunch could be added later.

On the peninsula, meanwhile, a new Thai offering called The Mango Tree plans to open at 396 Huger St. beside the KH Smoke vape shop. Renovations began after the first of the year. An opening date has not been announced.

Also on the way are two new bagel shops.

Ruby’s New York Style Bagels plans to launch a fourth Lowcountry location by the spring at 3485 Park Avenue Blvd. in Carolina Park in northern Mount Pleasant. An opening is planned for late February or early March.

The eatery has other locations in Montague Corners Shopping Center on Dorchester Road in North Charleston, in Northcutt Plaza on Coleman Boulevard in Mount Pleasant and in Crossroads Centre on Ashley River Road in West Ashley.

A fifth location is in the works for the planned Marketplace at Carnes Crossroads in Goose Creek where Publix supermarket will be built.

Also in the bagel business, Spread Bagelry is expected to open its second Lowcountry restaurant soon.

The new shop will be on the ground floor of the Hoffler Place student apartment complex at King and Spring streets in downtown Charleston.

The company brought its first Lowcountry restaurant to 1400 Shucker Circle in the Oyster Park development off Ben Sawyer Boulevard in Mount Pleasant last summer.

A spokeswoman said the new venue is ready to open but awaiting final permits from the city.

On the way

A new retail shop is coming to a mixed-use development on Charleston’s lower peninsula.

Atlanta-rooted Hutton & Home, offering curated collections of original art, fine home furnishings and interior design services, plans to open in a 3,660-square-foot shop in the spring on the ground floor of The Jasper at 310 Broad St., according to The Beach Co.

The business will join a variety of other shops and restaurants in the 12-story development that includes 25,000 square feet of first-floor retail space, 75,000 square feet of office space, 219 apartments and an enclosed parking garage.

Changing hands

A longtime Summerville business is now under new ownership and a new name.

Oakbrook Custom Embroidery Inc. at 960 Bacons Bridge Road in Palmetto Plaza is now Infinite Creations.

Business

Vicki and Bill Gannon decided to retire and were going to close the 37-year-old shop on Dec. 31, but Ericka Horne, owner of Infinite Creations in the Publix-anchored Market at Cane Bay in Berkeley County, decided to buy the business.

The transaction closed Jan. 2. Horne’s second shop will include gifts, etching, embroidery and other items.

“We are working with her to assure a smooth transition,” Vicki Gannon said.

No longer tentative

A Pawleys Island-based cafe and to-go market opens Jan. 11 in Mount Pleasant.

Get Carried Away confirmed its soft opening will take place at 9 a.m. at 644 Coleman Blvd. in Moultrie Plaza Shopping Center. Last week, owner Brian Henry said the launch date was tentative, pending a final inspection.

The business offers a variety of menu items for in-house dining or carry out from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Henry said he’s considering Sunday hours during the summer.

Retail

Our twice-weekly newsletter features all the business stories shaping Charleston and South Carolina. Get ahead with us - it’s free.

Other cities and towns have parades to celebrate the life of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King. Some may not be as enduring as Moncks Corner’s.

The town’s 38th MLK Day parade took place Monday, Jan. 15, and those wanting to preserve his message and honor his legacy marched and rolled down Main Street. Over the past few years, the parade had to be idled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, it is back, said Angela Simmons, president of the Berkeley County Progressive League, the group organizing the parade.

“We are coming back this year. We have had plenty of interest, and people are excited that we are having it again,” Simmons said. “Dr. King was all about service, and the parade serves to help, especially young people, recognize the achievements and importance of his work and to bring the community together.”

Various churches, businesses, and organizations were involved in the day, and mild weather added to the celebration.

“This year, our theme is ‘Journey to Reconciliation,’ and we want to bring everyone together,” Simmons said. “With the current political situation we are in now, and how the world is today, we feel there needs to be something that brings us together as one.”

Elizabeth Shaw, the agriculture teacher at Macedonia Middle School with the Macedonia Foxes 4-H Club, recycled old T-shirts and blankets into dog toys to donate to shelters in the area.

Macedonia Middle School’s Variety Show is at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, in the multipurpose room. The show showcases student talent in many different areas. The sixth grade is going to Old Santee Canal Park Thursday, Feb. 22, and Friday, Feb. 23, for a candle-making class and possibly another class to better understand indigenous people, global expansion and the impact of the Industrial Revolution.

In the library during the month, there will be a black history project with the sixth grade.

Teacher of the year

Congratulations to Bonner Elementary’s teacher of the year, Ms. Laurel Leach. She is kind, caring and an asset to the Bonner Family.

Reminder

Hood’s Chapel UM Church is having its Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17, in the church fellowship hall.

Prayer List

Keep the following in your prayers: Ada Giggleman, Hugh and Judy Phillips, Casie Shurlknight, Jim Garton, Barbara Brown, all those grieving, first responders, firefighters, military, law enforcement, our community and country.

If anyone has news, call 843-565-3125 or e-mail jmhood@homesc.com. I need news by Tuesday for the following week’s column.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – (Tuesday, May 23, 2023) – On Monday, May 22, 2023, Berkeley County cut the ribbon on its new Welcome Center site in Moncks Corner. The Welcome Center is located inside the historic 18^th century Nesbitt House at 1004 Highway 52. The facility houses the County’s Parks and Recreation Department, Tourism Department, and Farm and Land Services, as well as an Explore Charleston office. The facility previously housed Berkeley County Chamber of Commerce but has been unoccupied for at least the last two years.

Herrington LLC conducted architectural and engineering services for the project. KD-COM performed renovations, which included removing the existing framing on the back and sides of the house, due to severe water damage and rot. Other work included bringing the building’s structural integrity and electrical system back up to code; placing new framing supports on the second story; making the first floor ADA-compliant, including adding an ADA-compliant restroom for staff and guests; reconstructing the rear addition to ensure it’s more structurally sound and energy-efficient; applying new stucco to the exterior and sides of the house; repainting the entire structure. Locally-owned small business, Dream Home Investors, LLC, constructed the front sign, which includes plaques created by Berkeley Monument, another locally-owned small business.

Other in-house work, completed by Berkeley County Facilities and Grounds, included removing and rebuilding the structure’s columns. The County’s Roads and Bridges team paved the parking lot, established a concrete walkway, and placed sod on the property’s front lawn. Renovations to the structure first began in July 2022. Soon after, work was briefly halted due to structural issues discovered during construction. The County then worked with a structural engineer; and work began again in January 2023.

Total cost of the project is $368,550. Funding stemmed from the Berkeley County Accommodations Fee, the Charleston Visitors Center, and the S.C. Department of Revenue.

The Nesbitt House was built in 1725 by Alexander Nesbitt as part of Dean Hall Planation, the current site of Berkeley County’s Cypress Gardens park in Moncks Corner. In 1967, the house was discovered in the woods and relocated to its current spot at the former Old House Tract Plantation on Highway 52. The home’s restoration was completed in 1968.

“This renovation project has been a labor of love for our County. We were proud to revamp this beautiful, historic home and now showcase it to all, as it welcomes people to our great County. It will also serve locals and tourists alike as an informational hub for all things pertaining to Berkeley County’s history; recreational hotspots and happenings; and other tourism-related items. On behalf of County Council, we hope everyone will stop by this Welcome Center to learn more about Berkeley County.” -Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb

“Berkeley County has a rich history that we hope will be celebrated and remembered for generations to come. The establishment of this Welcome Center, which will also house our Parks and Recreation Department, Tourism Department, and Farm and Land Services, is just another positive step in preserving our past while looking forward to our future.” -Heather McDowell, Berkeley County Parks and Recreation Director

###

-Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office-

The festival has donated nearly $1.2 million to local charities.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Celebrate The Season is back for a 13^th year of warming hearts, creating special memories, and supporting local charities. Celebrate The Season’s Holiday Lights Driving Tour takes place daily from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. from Nov. 24 through Dec. 30 (closed Dec. 24 and Dec. 25). In addition, Holiday In The Park festivities will take place on Fridays and Saturdays from Dec. 8 through Dec. 23.

Admission is only $10 per vehicle, with all ticket proceeds being donated to local charities. Visitors will enjoy Celebrate The Season’s mile-long Holiday Lights Driving Tour, where festive displays with thousands of colorful LEDs complement the natural scenery of Old Santee Canal Park. Visitors can enjoy the driving tour as many times as they like on the day they purchase their ticket.

Due to the success of last year’s event, Old Santee Canal Park has extended Holiday In The Park festivities, which take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. over three weekends – Dec. 8-9, Dec. 15-16 and Dec. 22-23. Bring your family and friends to get into the holiday spirit with food, local entertainment, holiday gift vendors, free visits with Santa, and many other activities. Entry is included with admission to the Holiday Lights Driving Tour. More information is available at www.celebratetheseason.org.

All the brilliantly colored LED lighting displays are powered by 100% Santee Cooper Green Power, which is Green-e Energy certified and meets the environmental and consumer-protection standards set forth by the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions. Learn more at www.green-e.org.

Since 2011, Celebrate The Season, presented by Berkeley Electric Cooperative and organized by Santee Cooper and Old Santee Canal Park, has donated nearly $1.2 million to local charities, including the Coastal Community Foundation’s Giving Back to Berkeley Fund.

Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s largest power provider, the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state, and one of America’s Best Midsize Employers as named by Forbes. Through its low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper helps power South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com and follow #PoweringSC on social media.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCIV) — For Thomas Hamilton, Moncks Corner is home.

For nearly 30 years, Hamilton has resided within the community he's seen change with time. But when he heard that a plan was in place to build 88 homes, that was more change than he signed up for. So, when the local government voted no to the developer's plan to rezone Perry Hill, it was the outcome of Hamilton's hopes.

"It doesn't fit the fabric of Moncks Corner," Hamilton said with a subtle smile. "I'm so happy our council turned it down."

Moncks Corner: Local government curbs construction to keep local charm intact, and Thomas Hamilton, a long-time resident, shared his thoughts on the no-vote (WCIV).

Read more: Mother shares experience losing son to drowning, says drownings 100% preventable.

Underpinning Hamilton's reaction to the vote is a desire for Moncks Corner to stay small -- stay local. A place where big-box stores meet mom-and-pop shops, local eateries, and the culture cultivated through knowing the neighbors and saying hello to those seen in passing.

"I feel we can update and bring certain businesses to the area, but we really need to focus and support our smaller businesses in town," Hamilton said. "We don't want to become another Summerville with the congestion that they have. When I get to Moncks Corner, I want to enjoy moncks corner. I want to bring amenities to us to where we don't have to travel out."

And for those in local government, behind the vote to slow down building developments is a desire to understand the effects of construction on an intimate community.

"Council wants to pump the breaks a little on new construction to see how that impacts the town," said Michael Lockliear, Mayor of Moncks Corner. "We always try to put out the best product we can for the town. That is why we went through -- a couple years ago -- our ordinances to revamp and get the best product."

Read more: A finish worth the wait.

Hamilton plans to run for Mayor of Moncks Corner, and what is driving him is the insatiable desire to have his home feel like a place everyone who resides in it can recognize.

"I just want to have an all-inclusive Moncks Corner for everybody," he said.

And sometimes, that means saying no for now in the hopes of saying yes to something that better fits the community later.