Around the Lowcountry
Local stories worth knowing.
Business spotlights, new openings, what is coming soon and guides to getting the most out of Greater Charleston.
Around the LowcountryHuntington Bank fills former TGI Friday's at Towne CentreHuntington Bank is in the final stages of construction on a full-service branch in the former TGI Friday's space at Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, 1835 North Highway 17. It will be the bank's seventh full-service South Carolina location, its fifth in the Lowcountry, and it will include a wealth management hub.October 5, 2026 · 1 min read
Around the LowcountrySNOB runs a guest bartender series every Saturday in OctoberSNOB has launched Bar Wars, bringing bartenders from across Hall Management Group behind its bar on Saturdays through October, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with drink specials alongside the regular lunch menu.October 5, 2026 · 1 min readAround the LowcountrySEWE sets Feb. 12 through 14 for its 45th yearSEWE announced dates and programming for its 45th annual event, Feb. 12 through 14, 2027, with extended programming starting Feb. 9. Five downtown venues are involved and early bird tickets end Nov. 1.October 2, 2026 · 1 min read
Around the LowcountryPortable mortgage bill could unstick Charleston's housing marketA bill in Congress would let homeowners carry an existing conventional mortgage rate, term and balance to a new house if they close within 90 days of selling. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. introduced H.R. 10028 on August 3 and it is stalled in the House Financial Services Committee. Charleston listings have fallen from 2,612 homes in 2018 to 1,507 in August 2026.October 1, 2026 · 1 min read
Around the LowcountryA resale clothier, a dance studio and a turf warehouse all just signed leasesThe newest SC Biz Hot Properties roundup lists a batch of Charleston-area leases, including a King Street retail space and four North Charleston industrial deals.September 30, 2026 · 1 min read
Around the LowcountryA new chef de cuisine at The Peacock, and a fall menu to go with himJoshua Luce has joined The Peacock, the three-level dining and entertainment destination, as chef de cuisine, and has put out a fall menu.September 30, 2026 · 1 min read
Around the Lowcountry495 King Street's rooftop gets a green lightCharleston's Board of Architectural Review voted unanimously on September 24 to approve a rebuilt rooftop at 495 King St., the longtime home of Stars Rooftop & Grill Room. New owner Andrew Baumgartner bought the 1948 building in March for $6.95 million, and architect Steve Ramos's plan adds a sloped standing-seam metal roof, a stage, restrooms and a new ground floor storefront.September 30, 2026 · 1 min read
Around the LowcountryTwo North Charleston hotels change handsThe 93-room Staybridge Suites at 7329 Mazyck Dr. in North Charleston sold for $10 million to Mountain View Hotels LLC of Wytheville, Virginia, its first sale in more than 20 years. A North Charleston Hyatt Place also sold in August for $7.5 million as part of an $18 million three-hotel portfolio deal.September 30, 2026 · 1 min read
Around the LowcountryA Spring Street menu built on 20 Lowcountry suppliersEstadio, the Spanish tapas restaurant on Spring Street in Cannonborough-Elliottborough, has rebuilt its menu under chef Jeremy Gozlan, who now sources from roughly 20 local farms and purveyors including Barrier Island Oyster Co., Tarvin Seafood in Mount Pleasant, Lowcountry Creamery, Grit Bakery and Brandon's Bread. Most plates run $10 to $25.September 30, 2026 · 1 min readAround the LowcountryMeta releases a free AI assistant aimed at small businessesOn September 29 Meta launched Muse for Small Business, an AI agent that connects to tools owners already use including QuickBooks, Shopify, Canva, Slack, Stripe and Meta's own Facebook and Instagram business tools. It can draft content, flag urgent email and analyze performance, and Meta says nothing publishes, sends or spends without the owner's approval.September 30, 2026 · 1 min readAround the LowcountryLillian's founder Heather Greene picked for the first national Restaurant Academy classHeather Greene, founder of Lillian's Petite Market & Eatery on Charleston's Westside, was selected for the inaugural Restaurant Academy, a six-month leadership program running September 2026 through March 2027 with roughly 30 restaurant leaders nationwide. The program comes from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation with American Express and Resy, and covers team building, guest experience and financial fluency. Participants work with James Beard winners Mashama Bailey, GregSeptember 30, 2026 · 1 min readAround the LowcountryGoogle's September spam update shook rankings over the weekend and is only half doneGoogle announced the September 2026 spam update on Thursday, September 24, saying it applies globally and to all languages with a rollout of up to two weeks. Search Engine Roundtable reported on September 28 that the first stage landed hard starting Friday, September 25, with more movement Saturday and settling Sunday. Volatility showed across thirteen tracking tools including Semrush, Mozcast, Sistrix and Algoroo. Roughly one week of rollout remains.September 30, 2026 · 1 min read