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Author: Mount Pleasant

Work at Publix in Mount Pleasant, SC

A bagger at Publix helping a mom load up her groceries in the parking lot.

Why Consider a Job at Publix? Should I work at Publix?

With Charleston’s growing population and booming job market, there’s no shortage of occupations and career possibilities becoming more available. When considering a profession, people typically think about one of the major manufacturing corporations now in the area. But one company, ranked 22 years in a row in Fortune’s 100 Best Companies to Work For, is often overlooked – Publix Super Markets, Inc.

What Do Employees Say About Publix?

Employment Branding Specialist, Jazmyn Mijuskovic

Jazmyn Mijuskovic, employment branding specialist in Florida, has been with Publix for seven years and is amazed at the opportunities offered to employees. “I started working here when I was in high school and now at 24 years old, I’ve had numerous promotions, own stock in the company, and am buying my first home.”

As a company with the largest employee stock program across all industries in the U.S., people who work at Publix are owners as well. “I think people assume that working at Publix means running a register, but there are so many career paths available,” Mijuskovic explained. “If you want a career in social media, finance, management – there are endless opportunities here.”

Retail Staffing Coordinator, Curt Salisbury

Curt Salisbury, retail staffing coordinator in Charleston, credits the company for their values, culture and employment stability. “What many people don’t realize is that they can start working here in high school, work through college part-time and participate in our tuition reimbursement program,” he said. “They can finish college and then choose from any number of job paths within the company.”

Salisbury said a perfect example of the opportunities to move up within the company would be one of the store managers at a local Publix. “He started working at 14 years old, worked through college earning a degree in accounting/finance, ended up staying with Publix and is now, at only 34 years of age, earning six figures,” he said. When you consider that Publix employs over 200,000 people, career options are plentiful. Salisbury added, “if you’re a lawyer, an accountant, even a pilot, there’s a career path for you here.”

Publix Named Best Place to Work for Millennials

Also named one of the best places for millennials to work, Publix proudly invests in their employees and works hard to help their associates move up in the business. “When you’re young and don’t know anything about stock options or other benefits, you come here and are surrounded by leaders and people who take a vested interest in your success,” Mijuskovic added. “It really is a special place to work.”

A Little About Publix

While a grocery chain may seem limited in the types of opportunities or career paths offered, those who work for Publix can attest to the opportunities available in retail, corporate, distribution, and even manufacturing. Publix prides itself on being more than “just” a grocery store. Founded in 1930 in Florida by George W. Jenkins, the popular grocery store chain has become an American success story, now with 1,218 locations in seven states, primarily in the southeast (Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia).

Find a Job at a Publix Near You

Here are some places online where you can apply for, or read about jobs at Publix:

Publix.com     Indeed.com     SimplyHired.com     GlassDoor.com

 

 

 

East Cooper & Mount Pleasant Dining Guide

We hope our East Cooper Dining Guide helps you find the dining experience you seek in Daniel Island, Sullivan’s Island, the Isle of Palms and Mount Pleasant.

East Cooper Dining Guide. Covers Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island, Isle of Palms, and Sullivan's Island


Daniel Island

Prices: $ – 15 or less | $$ – 15 to 22 | $$$ – More than 22

Agaves Cantina opened in 2013 and is locally owned. Check out their beautiful interior décor, delicious eats and friendly service. Cuisine: Mexican • 885 Island Park Drive • (843) 971-6790 • www.agavescantina.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets Allowed

Ali Baba Deli has traditional Greek and Mediterranean cuisine such as chicken or beef shaverna, lamb kebobs, gyros and stuffed grape leaves. Healthy and delicious crafted dishes are from recipes passed through generations. Cuisine: Mediterranean • 186 Seven Farms Drive Suite 500 • (843) 377-8666 • www.alibabacharleston.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets Allowed

At Daniel Island Grille, also known as DIG, hospitality is the driving concept. Opened in 2008, DIG boasts the biggest outdoor patios in Charleston with plenty of space to enjoy the beautiful Lowcountry weather. Cuisine: American • 259 Seven Farms Drive • (843) 377-8750 • www.dighospitality.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets Allowed

Dragon Palace is the first Charleston imperial garden Chinese bistro. Chef Cheng Sin Yung offers authentic Chinese cuisine in a charismatic oriental atmosphere. All dishes on the menu are carefully crafted and prepared with originality in mind. Cuisine: Chinese/Asian • 162 Seven Farms Drive • (843) 388-8823 • www.dragonpalacesc.com • $-$$

Hokey Pokey Handcrafted Ice Cream offers fresh churned ice cream or milkshakes. Visit their Facebook page for which of their flavors are available. Cuisine: Dessert/Ice Cream/Gelato • 162 Seven Farms Drive #335 • (843) 881-8686 • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets Allowed

Honeycomb Café is the perfect place to start your day with a scrumptious breakfast such as sweet blueberry pancakes or savory omelets with thick cut bacon. Lunch is also served daily. Cuisine: American/Vegetarian • 162 Seven Farms Drive #340 • (843) 881-8686 • www.honeycombcafe.org • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets Allowed

The Islander on Daniel Island serves lunch, dinner and Sunday Brunch. Serving inspired cuisine and cocktails in an open surrounding, The Islander offers guests a taste of the good life in a casual tropic atmosphere. Cuisine selections include fresh seafood, perfectly cooked meats, vibrant sushi and refreshingly bright salad selections. Cuisine: American/Seafood • 160-B Fairchild Street • (843) 388-6366 • http://theislanderdi.com/ • $$-$$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Laura Alberts has tasteful options and is believed to be Daniel Island’s best kept secret. Laura Alberts offers farm-to-table cuisine for lunch, dinner and Saturday brunch. Try their fresh, local southern cuisine with an innovative twist on traditional southern favorites. Cuisine: Farm-to-table/Southern • 891 Island Park Drive • (843) 881-4711 • www.lauraalberts.com • $$-$$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Orlando’s Pizza offers brick oven pizza in many signature flavors. Calzones, pastas, sandwiches and salads are also available. Dough and sauces are made daily using original family recipes. Cuisine: Pizza/Dine-in/Carry-out • 295 Seven Farms Drive • (843) 884-6262 • www.orlandospizza.com • $-$$

Ristorante LIDI offers elegant, affordable family cuisine on Daniel Island. LIDI, short for Little Italy Daniel Island, features entrees prepared by Chef Jason Colin. Cuisine: Italian • 901 Island Park Drive • (843) 471-1597 • www.ristorantelidi.com • $$-$$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Sauer Grapes Wine Lounge allows clients to enjoy wine by the glass, tastings, parties, events and fun wine classes where you can hold your personal event for free when wine is purchased. Cuisine: Wine Bar/Caviar/Cheese • 885-C Island Park Drive • (843) 849-1999 • www.sauergrapeswine.com • $

Sermet’s Courtyard invites you to swing by for a delicious Mediterranean cuisine and to be prepared to sit back and enjoy a beautiful evening with family and friends. Cuisine: Mediterranean • 115 River Landing Drive Suite 101 • (843) 471-1777 • www.sermetscourtyard.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Vespa Pizzeria offers a classic Neopolitan-inspired menu using traditional cooking methods and only the freshest, highest quality ingredients. Cuisine: Wood Fired Pizza • 224 Seven Farms Drive • (843) 881-0101 • www.vespapizzeria.com • $

Wasabi Daniel Island provides exquisitely balanced Japanese Fusion. Options range from whole fish cooked to perfection with Shinijang Spices or Tori Aburi, a Blue Fin Tuna marinated in Black Truffle-Soy then lightly torched and garnished with 24K Gold. Cuisine: Japanese • 194 Seven Farms Drive Suite E • (843) 388-8828 • www.wasabi-di.com • $$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating


Isle of Palms

Prices: $ – 15 or less | $$ – 15 to 22 | $$$ – More than 22

Acme Lowcountry Kitchen combines upscale yet casual elements of traditional coastal cuisine with classic fare. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in a casual beach atmosphere with local ingredients and sustainable seafood. Cuisine: American/Seafood • 31 JC Long Boulevard • (843) 886-0024 • www.acmelowcountrykitchen.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets Allowed

Banana Cabana is committed to satisfying customers with great food, excellent service and a wide variety of delicious dishes for lunch and dinner. Cuisine: American/Seafood • 1130 Ocean Boulevard • (843) 886-4360 • www.thebananacabanasc.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

The Boathouse at Breach Inlet serves dinner nightly and Sunday brunch. Its roots run deep when it comes to Southern cooking, drawing from family recipes scrawled on cards in plantation kitchens and relying on South Carolina’s natural abundance. Cuisine: Seafood • 101 Palm Boulevard • (843) 886-8000 • www.boathouserestaurants.com • $$-$$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Bushido Asian Restaurant & Bar brought sushi to the island. Bushido offers a casual, fun dining experience while adding some Asian culture to your palate. Bushido is authentic Japanese and specializes in Chinese-Japanese and Thai cuisine. Cuisine: Asian • 1517 Palm Boulevard Suite A • (843) 885-6121 • www.bushidoasian.com • $-$$$

Coconut Joe’s Beach Grill & Bar offers spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean from a covered outside deck, air-conditioned dining room or open-air rooftop bar. Come enjoy live music every night during the peak season and find a bit of the Caribbean to the Isle of Palms. Cuisine: American • 1120 Ocean Boulevard • (843) 886-0046 • www.coconutjoes.biz • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Coda del Pesce offers sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy handmade pastas, fresh Italian cuisine inspired by the sea and a stellar Italian wine selection. Cuisine: Italian/Seafood • 1130 Ocean Boulevard • (843) 242-8570 • www.codadelpesce.com • $-$$

The Dinghy Tap Room & Kitchen has a laid-back Key West vibe, great food options and many beers on tap. The Dinghy also features a spacious side porch and live music during happy hour. Cuisine: American/Seafood • 8 JC Long Boulevard • (843) 242-8310 • www.dinghyiop.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

The Dockside is open for breakfast and lunch daily. Come by and enjoy awesome food with an awesome view. Cuisine: Delicatessen • 50 41st Avenue • (843) 242-8745 • www.saltworkscc.com • $

The Long Island Café first opened in 1986. This hidden gem of a restaurant is open for lunch and dinner as well as brunch on Sundays. Cuisine: American/Grill/French • 1515 Palm Boulevard Suite A • (843) 886-8809 • www.longislandcafesc.com • $-$$

Luke ‘N Ollies has delivery available after 5:00 p.m. unless dine-in service is busy. With only the finest ingredients, every pie is made to order. Cuisine: Italian/Pizza • 1101-C Ocean Boulevard • (843) 242-8121 • www.lukenollies.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Sea Biscuit Café has been serving delicious, Southern cuisine on the Isle of Palms since 1986. Locals and tourists alike make it a favorite stop on their way to enjoy the beautiful sites of Charleston and the surrounding islands. Seasonal hours. Cash only. Cuisine: American • 21 JC Long Boulevard • (843) 886-4079 • www.seabiscuitcafeiop.com • $

The Windjammer was founded in 1972 and is located on the front beach of Isle of Palms. Visit Charleston’s premier beach club and enjoy great food and entertainment. Cuisine: American • 1008 Ocean Boulevard • (843) 886-8596 • www.the-windjammer.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

MORE: Eating on the Isle of Palms


North Mount Pleasant

Prices: $ – 15 or less | $$ – 15 to 22 | $$$ – More than 22

78° West Atlantic Coast is named for the popular fishing spot on the 78° longitude line. This family-friendly restaurant is new to the area. Enjoy flavors from the Caribbean Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, Southern cuisine and lobsters flown in from Kennebunkport every week. Cuisine: American/Seafood • 2700 N. Highway 17, Unit C 120 • 843-388-2601 • www.78degreeswestsc.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets allowed

A Dough Re Mi is a New York style pizzeria with several televisions for viewing. Cuisine: Pizza • 2700 U.S. Highway 17, Suite 100 • 843-881-6989 • www.adoughremi.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Amalfi’s specializes in Italian cuisine, using the finest and freshest products available. Cuisine: Italian • 664 East Long Point Road • 843-793-4265 • www.amalfisofmountpleasant.com • $

Annie’s Bistro Francais is the neighborhood’s taste of France. Everything is fresh with no pre-packaging, and the food is made to order. Cuisine: French • 1795 N. Highway 17, #3 • 843-352-7690 • anniesbistrofrancais.wordpress.com • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Ardoa Wine Bar provides an innovative way to sample premium wine by the glass. Taste vibrant wines paired with gourmet foods and desserts. Ardoa Wine Bar is French-inspired and offers great food selections. Cuisine: French/Wine Bar • 1960 Riviera Drive, Suite D • 843-416-8262 • www.ardoawinebar.com • $-$$

Bamboo Garden serves delicious Chinese food to take out or dine in, with a wide variety of dishes that include seafood, chicken and beef. Cuisine: Chinese • 553 Belle Station Blvd. • 843-849-8477 • www.bamboogardentogo.com • $

Basil Thai invites you to celebrate refined Thai and an invigorating dining experience in the heart of Mount Pleasant. Gluten free and vegetarian options. Cuisine: Thai/Vegetarian/Gluten Free • 1465 Long Grove Drive • (843) 606-9641 • www.eatatbasil.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Big Game Bar & Grill is where Mount Pleasant watches the big games. There’s a lunch and dinner menu and 18 televisions, including two big screens, to catch your favorite sports. Cuisine: American/Pub • 545 Belle Station Blvd. • 843-388-5711 • www.biggamesc.com • $

Blue’s Local Grill offers fun, casual dining in Mount Pleasant. Cuisine: American/Bar • 1905 Highway 41, Suite 305 • 843-216-3200 • www.blueslocalgrill.com • $

Bougnat is a casual French restaurant where you can gather your family and friends. Chef Bernard Vard comes from the town of Clermond Ferrand in the center region of Auvergne, France. Cuisine: French • 536 Belle Station Plaza • 843-416-4808 • www.bougnatcharleston.com • $-$$$

Bricco Bracco translates to “this and that.” The menu is derived from many years of Italian cooking and building layers of flavor combinations. Cuisine: Italian • 161 Basketweave Drive • 843-416-8290 • www.briccobracco.net • $-$$ • Best Italian Food MPM

Burton’s Grill is passionate about providing gracious, engaging and individualized service as well as delivering exceptional, fresh, high-quality food, inspired by local flavors, in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. Cuisine: American • 1875 North Highway 17 • 843-606-2590 • www.burtonsgrill.com • $-$$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Cainhoy Cookin Depot gives you down-home food with an uptown taste, at value prices. Cuisine: Southern/soul • 1190 Clements Ferry Road • 843-216-8299 • www.cainhoycookindepot.com • $-$$

Calder’s Buffalo Pub is a friendly neighborhood pub that has the best wings in Charleston, maybe the coldest beer and, of course, plenty of sports on TV. Cuisine: American/pub • 1971 Riviera Drive • 843- 881-0049 • $-$$

Carmen y Juan’s has some of the best home-style Mexican food in the Lowcountry, with handmade tortillas and the freshest salsas. They bring you the authentic cuisine of Mexico. Cuisine: Mexican • 1118 Park West Blvd. • 843-856-0805 • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Charleston Bagel Company has an experienced baking team that takes great pride in their work and it shows. Using only the finest ingredients, their bakers craft your perfect bagel daily based on traditional New York recipes. Cuisine: Bakery/bagel • 656-A Long Point Road • 843-881-8835
www.charlestonbagel.com • $

Crave Kitchen & Cocktails is located just over the bridge from the Isle of Palms. Crave proudly serves superb dining and classic cocktails. Cuisine: Casual fine dining/classic cocktails • 1968 Riviera Drive, Unit O • 843-884-1177 • www.cravekitchenandcocktails.com • $$-$$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Best Mac ‘N Cheese winner MPM

Cupcake is South Carolina’s sweet spot. Baked fresh daily, its cupcakes are concocted from the finest all-natural ingredients, like real vanilla beans, sweet cream butter, fresh fruit and rich chocolate. They offer nine favorite flavors daily and over 50 scrumptious taste sensations to sample each year. Cuisine: Bakery/dessert/coffee shop • 644 Long Point Road • 843-856-7080 • www.freshcupcakes.com • $-$$$

Dog & Duck – Pleasing a hungry crowd is no challenge with Dog and Duck’s extensive menu. Featuring a tasty variety of sandwiches, salads, burgers and sandwiches plus apps, this popular joint is a great pick any time of day. Cuisine: American/Spirits • 624 Long Point Road 843-881-3056 • www.dogandduckfamilypubs.com • $ Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Best Dog-Friendly Restaurant MPM winner

East Bay Deli is locally owned and is a popular place to eat for locals and tourists alike. East Bay Deli is a New York style deli but with a distinctive Southern flair. Cuisine: Deli • 1120 Oakland Market Road • 843-216-5423 • www.eastbaydeli.net • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Pets allowed • Best Deli winner MPM

East Coast Wings & Grill wants you to feel the flavor and taste the heat. Different flavors of the month, such as honey mustard, sweet & sour or garlic parmesan. Cuisine: American/Chicken • 1909 N. Highway 17 • 843-388-0093 • www.eastcoastwings.com • $

Eggs Up Grill serves smiles and good food daily. Check out their delicious menu, with more than 30 new items. Breakfast and lunch are what they do. Family friendly is who they are. Cuisine: American • 2664 Highway 17 • 843-388-3654 • www.eggsupgrill.com • $

Five Guys offers made-to-order burgers with over 250,000 ways to customize your burger. Cuisine: American/burgers • 1795 N. Highway 17, Unit 2 • 843-881-4550 • www.fiveguys.com • $

Fresh Berry Frozen Yogurt Café has exclusive frozen yogurts, with over 25 toppings available. Cuisine: Yogurt • 766 S. Shelmore Blvd., Unit 201 • 843-388-3632 • www.freshberry.net • $

Fuji Sushi Bar & Grill has been providing Mount Pleasant with authentic Japanese cuisine since 2009. Cuisine: Steakhouse/sushi • 644-Q Long Point Road • 843-856-5798 • www.fujisushibarandgrill.com • $$-$$$

Gilligan’s Seafood Restaurant serves the freshest seafood and other ingredients available in a family-friendly, casual atmosphere. Cuisine: American/seafood • 1475 Long Grove Drive • 843-849-2244 • www.gilligans.net • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Golden Bowl restaurant offers delicious dining and carry-out. The restaurant has been recognized for its outstanding Chinese and Asian cuisine, excellent service and friendly staff. Cuisine: Chinese • 2700 N. Highway 17 • 843-216-8884 • www.goldenbowlmtpleasant.com • $

The Granary features a locally sourced and seasonal menu that embodies the spirit of the Lowcountry and celebrates its abundant resources. Cuisine: American/Southern • 624 Long Point Road • 843- 216-3832 • www.thegranarycharleston.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Great Harvest Bread is America’s farm-to-table bakery. For over 30 years, it have been using traditional methods of baking to create breads that are truly one-of-a-kind. Bakery/sandwiches • 644 Long Point Road, Unit H • 843-881-7310 • www.greatharvest.com $

Great Wall Chinese Restaurant serves high-quality, Hunan and Szechuan cuisine. Every dish includes the freshest ingredients and health-conscious preparation. Cuisine: Chinese/Asian • 1909 Highway 17 North • 843-884-8646 • www.greatwallmtpleasant.com • $

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria is an institution in the world of pizza, with over 100 years of coal-fired brick-oven pizza-making traditions. Cuisine: Pizza • 1244 Belk Drive • 843-971-9368 • www.grimaldispizzeria.com • $

Jack’s Cosmic Dogs was a concept that the owners focused on from their memories of childhood – hot dogs, fresh cut fries, soft serve ice cream, draft root beer and vintage long neck soda. Cuisine: American/Hot Dogs • 2805 North Highway 17 • 843-884-7677 • www.jackscosmicdogs.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Best Hot Dog MPM

Joey’s Bag A Donuts invites you to come for the food and stay for the fun. Cuisine: Bakery/coffee • 1118 Park West Blvd. • 843-987-5639 • www.joey-bag-a-donuts.com • $

Ladles Soup restaurants are owner-operated and locally grown in Charleston. Ladles offers a large selection of homemade soups, salads and sandwiches. Cuisine: Soups/sandwiches • 1164 Basketweave Drive • 843-606-2711 • www.ladlessoups.com • $

Langdon’s Restaurant & Wine Bar is a classic fine dining restaurant that fuses Lowcountry and global flavors and warm hospitality in a refined, contemporary setting. Cuisine: Southern • 778 S. Shelmore Blvd., Suite 105 • 843-388-9200 • www.owensdininggroup.com • $-$$$

Long Point Grill has creative cuisine that speaks volumes in flavor, a neighborhood grill with a variety of entrees. Cuisine: American • 479 Long Point Road • 843-884-3101 • www.dinewithsal.com • $-$$

Mamma Brown’s BBQ utilizes the Gullah way of cooking that was passed down to the Brown family and over time, perfected to what is now secret recipes. We promise you’ll never go home hungry. Cuisine: Southern/BBQ 2840 Highway 17 • 843-849-5522
www.mammabrownsbbq.com • $

Marble Slab Creamery offers homemade ice cream with unlimited mix-ins for one price. Cuisine: Fast food/Ice Cream • 1903 N. Highway 17, Suite 103 • 843-388-0052 • www.marbleslab.com • $

Matt’s Pizza Department offers authentic New York style pizzas that are hand-tossed with freshly prepared dough, specially spiced homemade tomato sauce and freshly grated mozzarella cheese. Cuisine: Pizza/Calzones • 1055 Highway 41, Suite 100 • 843-856-7800 • www.nypizzaonline.com • $

McAlister’s Deli was founded in 1989 and is a fast casual restaurant chain known for sandwiches, spuds, soups, salads, desserts and McAlister’s famous sweet tea. Cuisine: Deli/Sandwiches/American • 644 Long Point Road • 843-284-2288 • www.mcalistersdeli.com • $

Mellow Mushroom is a state of mind, a culture, a way of being. Its mission is to provide delicious food in a fun and creative environment. Cuisine: Classic Southern pizza • 3110 N. Highway 17 • 843-881-4743 • www.mellowmushroom.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets allowed • Best Pizza MPM

Mi Xao serves Vietnamese inspired stir fries, big bowls of pho and fresh spring and summer rolls. Cuisine: Vietnamese • 1055 Highway 41 • 843-388-5733 • www.mixaocafe.com • $

Moe’s Southwest Grill has a mission to bring the highest quality ingredients to every guest, every day, everywhere. Cuisine: Southwest/Mexican • 612 Long Point Road, Unit A • 843-216-9885 • www.moes.com • $

Momma Goldberg’s Deli has operated for more than 37 years. Cuisine: Deli • 230 Mathis Ferry Road • 843-352-7939 • www.mommagoldbergsdeli.com • $

O’Brion’s Pub & Grill is a place of great food, good times and new friends. Cuisine: American • 2014 Highway 41 • 843-971-3822 • www.obrionspub.com • $

On Forty One values and celebrates its relationship with South Carolina farmers and purveyors. Through Chef Brannon Flories longstanding relationships, On Forty One is able to offer truly local, fresh and seasonal cuisine. Cuisine: Southern/Backyard Dining • 1055 Highway 41 • 843-352-9235
www.onfortyone.squarespace.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets allowed

Opal Restaurant & Bar is a contemporary neighborhood eatery offering California-Mediterranean inspired cuisine in an elegant but convivial atmosphere. Cuisine: Californian/Mediterranean • 1960 Riviera Drive • 843-654-9070 • www.owensdiningroup.com

Pawley’s Front Porch offers appetizers, burgers, wraps and sandwiches. They also serve brunch. Cuisine: American • 608 A Long Point Road • 843-216-5889 • www.pawleysfrontporch.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Pets allowed

Richards Bar & Grill is a restaurant, bar and entertainment locale that keeps it simple. Cuisine: American • 2237 North Highway 17 • 843-881-4861

Rio Chico Mexican Restaurant serves the best Mexican at a comfortable price. Cuisine: Mexican • 660C Long Point Road • 843-388-0465 • www.riograndemtpleasant.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

The Rusty Rudder Restaurant & Bar attracts locals and tourists alike. Live entertainment from the best local and regional bands every day. Cuisine: American/Seafood • 3563 North Highway 17 • 843- 388-3177 • www.mtpleasant.therustyrudder.net • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets allowed

Saveurs Du Monde Café is where you can find a wide variety of products in a friendly, busy café. Open for lunch and breakfast. Cuisine: Bakery/French/Deli • 1960 Riviera Drive • 843-352-7498 • www.saveursdumondecafe.com • $

SOL Southwest Kitchen & Tequila Bar blends the bold flavors of the Southwest with Southern culinary influences. Cuisine: Southwest/Fusion • 1101 Stockade Lane • 843-388-4302 • www.solmtpleasant.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets allowed • Best Cocktail/Best New Restaurant winner MPM

Square Onion serves gourmet sandwiches, soups and salads, take-and-bake casseroles, daily dinner entrees, desserts, a variety of dips and spreads and a unique beer and wine selection. They are a local, culinary destination in the heart of the Lowcountry. Cuisine: American/Seafood • 18 B Resolute Lane • 843-856-4246 • www.squareonion.com • $-$$$

Sushi Taro is based on the belief that the customer’s needs are of the utmost importance. Cuisine: Japanese/Asian/Sushi • 1171 Basketweave Drive • 843-388-7995 • www.sushitaromtpleasant.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Reservations recommended

Tailgators Grill serves great food, great drinks and a great atmosphere – pastas, wraps, classic sandwiches, chicken wings and awesome bar appetizers. Cuisine: American • 1937 Clements Ferry Road • 843-388-0330 • www.tailgatorscharleston.com • $

Tasi Bites & Blends is the healthy side of fast food, featuring beach food, sweet and savory crepes, fruit smoothies, deli wraps and hoagies. Cuisine: Deli/Vegetarian/Smoothies • 1948 Long Grove Drive • 843-856-4264 • www.tasifresh.com • $

Toffino’s Italian Bakery was established in 1992 and proudly offers authentic Italian pastries, hoagies and pizza. Recipes have been passed down from generation to generation. Cuisine: Bakery/deli/pizza • 1903 Highway 41, Unit 201 • 843-884-9990 • www.toffinositalian.com • $-$$

Tokyo Bistro uses only the freshest and natural ingredients to prepare every dish and ensures its customers a cozy and inviting ambience. Cuisine: Asian • 1501 North Highway 17 • 843-971-0277 • www.tokyobistrosc.com $

Tsunami is a modern Asian cuisine and sushi restaurant with a full bar. Providing an exceptional dining experience is their priority. Cuisine: Sushi/Asian/Japanese • 1909 N. Highway 17 • 843-881-7061 • www.tsunamicompany.com • $-$$ • Best Sushi MPM

Umi Japanese Restaurant offers a variety of delicious sushi rolls, hibachi platters and more. Cuisine: Japanese • 1117 Park West Blvd. • 843-881-2286 • www.umimountpleasant.tripod.com • $-$$

Wild Wing Café has the best wings south of Buffalo in 33 different made-from-scratch flavors, but there is a whole lot more at the Wing. With options for everyone, they’ve got just the one to make ya wild! Cuisine: American/Wings • 1181 Oakland Market Road • 843-849-8646
www.wildwingcafe.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets allowed

The Wine Bar offers a unique selection of wines, craft beers, cheeses, charcuterie meats and chocolates. Cuisine: Wine Bar/Cheese/Meats • 664-G Long Point Road • 843-849-5185 • www.thewinebarmtp.com • $-$$

Yamato Japanese Restaurant is the original Japanese steakhouse of South Carolina. Yamato uses only USDA choice beef, tender chicken breasts and the highest quality seafood. All dipping sauces are homemade. Cuisine: Japanese/Sushi • 1993 Riviera Drive • 843-881-1190 • www.yamatoinc.com • $$

Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream & Sandwich Café aims to give customers more than they expect with the finest ingredients, large portions and superior service. Cuisine: Deli/Sandwiches/Burgers • 1502 North Highway 17 • 843-849-3698 • www.yeolefashioned.com • $ • Best Ice Cream MPM

Zoe’s Kitchen embraces the Mediterranean way of life: family, good friends, great food and eating wholesome, fresh ingredients. Cuisine: Mediterranean • 1242 Belle Drive, Suite 101 • 843-606-3262 • www.zoeskitchen.com • $


South Mount Pleasant

Prices: $ – 15 or less | $$ – 15 to 22 | $$$ – More than 22

Visit Bistro Toulose online. Bistro Toulose -  A Parisian style bistro in Mount Pleasant
Bistro Toulouse has a modern interpretation of classic French dishes in a Parisian style bistro in Mount Pleasant. Offering creative cocktails, fine wine and craft beer with exceptional service. Cuisine: French/Wine Bar • 1220 Ben Sawyer Boulevard • (843) 216-3434 • www.bistrotoulouse.com • $-$$

Ali Baba Mediterranean Cuisine has food for any occasion prepared by Chef Ismail Anej. They have a large selection of exotic sandwiches and plates for lunch and dinner. Cuisine: Mediterranean • 920 Houston Northcutt Boulevard • (843) 388-0683 • www.alibabafalafel.com • $

The Americano serves brunch, ceviche Americano, yellow fin tuna or Tres Leche French toast. There are many options as well as a full drink menu. Cuisine: Cuban/Latin/South American • 819 Coleman Boulevard • (843) 352-2641 • www.theamericanomp.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Pets Welcome Outdoors

Andolini’s Pizza makes fresh, hand tossed New York style pies. They make their own dough, grate their own cheese and make fresh sauce daily. Dine-in or carryout available. Cuisine: Pizza • 414 Coleman Boulevard • (843) 849-7437 • www.andolinis.com • $-$$

Aya Cookhouse serves dinner and their menu offers a variety: Korean Fried Chicken, Soup Dumplings ‘XLB,’ Orange Duck, Seoul Food or ‘Filli’ Cheese Steak made with Phillipinno spiced beef. Cuisine: Asian/Chinese/Eclectic • 915 Houston Northcutt Boulevard • (843) 352-2153 • www.ayacookhouse.com • $-$$

Bacco opened in the summer of 2007 and has served Mount Pleasant dishes inspired by the northern regions of Italy. Their ever changing menu highlights seasonal dishes that stay true to the rustic and simple styles of cooking that Italy is known for. Cuisine: Italian • 976 Houston Northcutt Boulevard • (843) 884-6969 • www.baccocharleston.com • $-$$

Bakies makes all of their sweets (cakes, cookies, cupcakes and more) from scratch in their local bakery. They use top quality, fresh ingredients, real butter and cream cheese. Bakies offers custom cakes, festive sweets and even baking classes. Cuisine: Baked Goods/Sweets • 426 W. Coleman Boulevard Suite C • (843) 881-2364 • www.bakiessc.com • $

Bambu Asian Bistro has been dedicated to offering the most memorable dining experience. They pick ingredients carefully and cook them in a healthier way to provide nutritious food. Cuisine: Asian • 604 Coleman Boulevard • (843) 284-8229 • www.bambuasiansushi.com • $-$$

Baroni’s Pizza sauce is a family recipe and a secret. Their crust is hand-tossed and their fresh veggies and toppings come from local farms. Cuisine: Pizza/Dine-in/Carry-out • 1220 Ben Sawyer Boulevard • (843) 328-3382 • www.baronispizza.com • $

Boulevard Diner has local favorites served in classic diner style. For diners seeking out good southern comfort food, Boulevard Diner has that and more. They serve local favorites like meatloaf and fried okra and you can expect a traditional southern twist. Cuisine: Southern • 409 West Coleman Boulevard • (843) 216-2611 • www.dinewithsal.com • $

Bricco Bracco Cucina is a family friendly atmosphere that brings a little taste of New Jersey to Charleston. They focus on home style cooking to welcome each guest. Cuisine: Italian/Seafood • 1034 Chuck Dawley Boulevard • (843) 352 2294 • www.briccobracco.net • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Best Italian Food MPM

Buddy Roe’s Shrimp Shack is Charleston’s best kept secret located halfway between Mount Pleasant and Sullivan’s Island. It is a clean little hangout where locals converge to enjoy palate pleasing local seafood and local/regional entertainment. Cuisine: Seafood 1528 Ben Sawyer Boulevard • (843) 388-5270 • www.buddyroesshrimpshack.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Charleston’s Cafe has been a Charleston tradition since 1986. Amber Clark Craig combines the best of her family’s expertise from The Baker’s Café and The Bookstore Café to create one of the most unique breakfast, lunch and brunch cafes. Cuisine: Southern/Catering • 1039 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard • (843) 856-7796 • www.charlestonscafe.com • $ • Indoor Seating

Charleston Harbor & Fish House invites you to experience cuisine from their point of view. Conveniently located at Patriot’s Point, it is easy access by land or sea. The cuisine focuses on local sustainable seafood with fresh specials that change daily. Cuisine: Seafood • 32 Patriots Point • (843) 284-7070 • www.charlestonharborfishhouse.com • $-$$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

China East Restaurant services include on-line ordering, carry-out, delivery or dine-in. The restaurant offers a wide array of authentic Asian dishes, ranging from traditional Chinese dishes to new style entrees. Cuisine: Szechuan/Hunan/Cantonese • 920 Houston Northcutt Suite A5 • (843) 849-7288 • www.chinaeastmtpleasant.com • $

Coleman Public House features 16 constantly changing taps and an always growing bottled beer selection. Kitchen is open daily. Cuisine: American/Breakfast/Late Night/Tap Room • 427 West Coleman • (843) 416-8833 • www.colemanpublichouse.com • $$

Collective Coffee Co. is a café and coffee shop that serves breakfast favorites, healthy lunches and impeccable coffee and tea. The Collective’s menu features a long list of homemade specialties. Cuisine: Coffee/Sandwiches • 766 S. Shelmore Boulevard • (843) 284-8703 • www.collective-coffee.com • $

Cuoco Pazzo is proud to have been serving authentic Italian cuisine to Mount Pleasant residents and visitors for the past six years. Cuisine: Italian • 1035 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard • (843) 971-9034 • www.cuocopazzo.net • $-$$

The Fighting Lady Café serves lunch Monday through Saturday. Menu options include appetizers, sandwiches, salads, BBQ plates and a choice of several desserts. Located in the original CPO Galley of the USS Yorktown, the café is air conditioned and offers table side service. Cuisine: Southern • 40 Patriots Point Road • (866) 831-1720 • www.patriotspoint.org • $

Finz Bar and Grill offers the best in seafood with a fun bar environment. You can choose from an assortment of seafood cooked to perfection and daily new drink specials. Cuisine: Seafood • 440 West Coleman Boulevard • (843) 654-7296 • www.finzbar.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Pets Allowed Outdoors

Five Loaves Café is a chef driven concept with a focus on healthy, fresh, and vegetarian friendly foods, as well as being sensitive of gluten free diets and allergies. Fresh, delicious food with a friendly and calm ambience is the Five Loaves vision. Cuisine: American/Vegetarian/Gluten Free • 1055 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard Suite 60 • (843) 849-1043 • www.fiveloavescafe.com • $

Graze offers creative, casual cuisine. Graze is a restaurant where food is very fresh, creative and ever-changing. The menu is eclectic in variety from fresh seafood to vegetarian options. Cuisine: Eclectic/Seafood/Vegetarian • 863 Houston Northcutt Boulevard • (843) 606-2493 • www.grazecharleston.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Harbor Breeze is committed to serving fresh food with local ingredients (when available) with the friendliest service in town. Whether you’re in the mood for some fresh seafood, a great burger, or some of our gourmet tacos you are in the right place. Cuisine: American • 176 Patriots Point Road • (843) 606-2110 • www.harbor-breeze.com • $

Indigo Grille is conveniently located right off the main lobby area at the Charleston Harbor Resort. You can start your day by enjoying a leisurely breakfast while admiring the spectacular views from the wrap around terrace. Cuisine: American • 20 Patriots Point Road • (843) 856-0028 • www.charlestonharborresort.com

Jonny’s Hotdogs is a hot dog joint that serves breakfast and brunch. Cuisine: Hotdogs • 883 Ben Sawyer Boulevard • (843) 849-5485 • $

Juanita Greenberg’s has grown from just an awesome Mexican food to a whole lot more. Seating inside and outside with margaritas that will make you want to jump right into the glass, TV’s all around and a casual, groovy, retro-cool atmosphere that’ll make you want to stick around long after your food is gone. Cuisine: Mexican/Southwest • 410 W. Coleman Boulevard • (843) 329-6224 • www.juanitagreenbergs.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Kanpai Japanese Restaurant offers Asian Fusion. Chef/Owner Sean Park is well-known for sushi dishes with imaginative artistry. Cuisine: Asian • 1035 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard • (843) 388-8001 • http://kanpai7777.wix.com/kanpairestaurant • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

The Kickin’ Chicken is committed to the guest in providing a welcoming, casual and fun environment with exceptional food at a great value. It is slap-yo-mama-yummy. Cuisine: Chicken/Salads • 1119 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard • (843) 881-8734 • www.kickinchicken.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Pets Allowed Outdoors

King Street Grille takes their food seriously, so you won’t find your average sports bar fare here. At King Street Grille, you can relax and watch the games with great food and beer in a great atmosphere. Cuisine: American/Late Night/Breakfast • 1136 Hungryneck Boulevard • (843) 216-7272 • www.thekingstreetgrille.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

La Pizzeria has been a family-owned and operated restaurant since 2007. All of our ingredients are from local farmers or Italy to create the tastiest meal possible. Cuisine: Italian • 976 Houston Northcutt Boulevard • (843) 375-4607 • www.mtplapizzeria.com • $-$$

Liberty Tap Room & Grill is an upscale, casual dining restaurant serving traditional American cuisine with a twist in a fun, modern atmosphere. Cuisine: American • 1028 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard • (843) 971-7777 • www.libertytaproom.com • $-$$

Local Bar offers a full, award-winning sushi bar, mouthwatering dishes, an expansive drink menu and most of all live music and the best DJ’s in town. Cuisine: American/Sushi • 1150 Queensborough Boulevard Unit B • (843) 388-5114 • $-$$$

Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant prides themselves on providing customers with a unique and pleasurable dining experience. Bienvenidos Amigos! All dishes are prepared with an authentic, yet mild flavor. Cuisine: Mexican • 1136 Hungryneck Boulevard Suite K • (843) 971-7838 • www.losarcosmexican.com • $ • Best Mexican MPM

Mozzo Delicatessen is a great place to discover in Mount Pleasant. Open for breakfast and lunch daily. Cuisine: Deli/Breakfast/American • 730 Coleman Boulevard • (843) 388-5755 • www.mozzodeli.com • $-$$

Melvin’s Southern Barbeque became a South Carolina tradition that began in 1939. Come on down and experience the one-of-a-kind flavor and friendly service. Cuisine: Barbeque • 925 Houston Northcutt Boulevard • (843) 881-0549 • www.melvinsbbq.com • $

Metto Coffee & Tea serves specialty coffee, made from scratch pastries and paninis, talented and friendly baristas. Cuisine: Pastries/Sandwiches • 3521 West Coleman Boulevard • (843) 216-8832

Moe’s Southwest Grill brings the highest-quality ingredients to every guest, every day, everywhere. Our food is freshly prepared in our restaurants daily. Cuisine: Southwest/Mexican • 900 Houston Northcutt Boulevard • (843) 388-2200 • www.moes.com • $

MOSAIC Restaurant Charleston originally opened in 1997 with the mission to effectively nourish body and soul while preserving the highest level of quality, service and value. We offer healthy, eclectic, world cuisine to appeal to a broad range of tastes. Cuisine: Eclectic World Cuisine • 1150 Hungryneck Boulevard • (843) 388-1490 • www.mosaicedibles.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Mustard Seed offers customers a healthier alternative to the usual burgers and fries. Our focus in on good food made with the freshest of ingredients and our extensive menu is complemented by inventive, ever-changing specials. Cuisine: American/Sunday Brunch • 1036 Chuck Dawley Boulevard • (843) 849-0050 • www.dinewithsal.com • $

My Father’s Moustache Eatery & Pub is owned by descendants from both English and Scottish heritage and the past is brought to life in their pub. Serves weekend brunch and English breakfast. Cuisine: English/American • 1405 Ben Sawyer Boulevard • (843) 884-2425 • www.myfathersmustache.com • $

The New Asian Flavor is a Best of Mount Pleasant winner in 2013 by Mount Pleasant Magazine readers for best Asian. The New Asian Flavor serves lunch and dinner and offers a Chinese and Thai menu. Dine-in, carryout and delivery. Cuisine: Chinese/Thai • 1145 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard Suite C • (843) 971-6868 • www.theasianflavor.com • $

O’Brion’s Pub is a place of great food, good times and new friends. We sincerely believe there is an art to the way a customer should be treated and the way our place should feel. Cuisine: American • 361 North Shelmore • (843) 388-9733 • www.obrionspub.com • $

Old Village Post House is a neighborhood gem that’s part tavern, part inn. As comfortable as your best friend’s home, serving only the tastiest fare with the warmest hospitality. Cuisine: American/Sunday Brunch • 101 Pitt Street • (843) 388-8935 • www.mavericksouthernkitchens.com • $$-$$$

Page’s Okra Grill is local food for local folks. Our intent is to provide the best value, southern food in the Charleston area in an atmosphere that feels like home. Cuisine: Southern/American • 302 Coleman Boulevard • (843) 881-3333 • www.pagesokragrill.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Best Desert/Best Breakfast/Best Shrimp n’grits MPM

Pane E. Vino is Mount Pleasant’s finest Italian fare with exciting dishes and unique ambiance. At Pane E. Vino, every dish is created using only the freshest, finest ingredients. Our award winning menu and attention to detail create a truly enjoyable experience. Buon Appetito. Cuisine: Italian • 201 Coleman Boulevard • (843) 388-8808 • www.panevinocharleston.com • $-$$ • RR

Papa ZuZu’s begins with simplicity. They did not invent the tomato or feta cheese, but they use simple items such as these in the most fresh and most authentic way possible. Cuisine: Vegetarian/Vegan • 426 W. Coleman Boulevard • (843) 881-9848 • www.papazuzus.com • $

Pattaya Restaurant prepares each dish according to the customer’s preference whether the dish is hot, mild, or tolerable. We hope you enjoy your experience with our variety of flavorful dishes and friendly service. Cuisine: Thai/Vietnamese • 607 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard Suite C • (843) 856-1808 • http://www.thegrubclub.com/r/restaurant_7561_pattaya-thai-restaurant.htm • $

The Pickled Palate provides a delicious and affordable dining experience in a welcoming environment. They offer fresh Italian panini made with local breads, homemade soups and wonderful salads with homemade dressing. Cuisine: Deli/Sandwiches • 411 Hibben Street • (843) 388-7813 • www.thepickledpalate.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets Welcome

Pitt Street Pharmacy is still the heart of Old Village. It is simply a part of life to stop at the soda fountain for ice cream, a malted milkshake or grilled cheese sandwich. Cuisine: Ice Cream/Sandwiches • 111 Pitt Street • (843) 884-4051 • www.pittstreetpharmacy.com • $

R.B.’s Seafood Restaurant has been a delight for locals and visitors for over 40 years on Shem Creek. Cuisine: Seafood/American • 97 Church Street • (843) 881-0466 • www.rbsonshemcreek.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Red Drum welcomes you to the intersection of south by southwest. It’s the islander’s hangout where the food honors southern heritage and Chef/Owner Ben Berryhill’s Texan cuisine. Cuisine: Southern/Southwestern • 803 Coleman Boulevard • (843) 849-0313 • www.reddrumrestaurant.com • $$-$$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Best Restaurant Service/Best Brunch MPM

Red’s Ice House is a public gathering place at the water’s edge where locals and visitor, regardless of their age, wealth or culture, could gather, watch the boats go by and help celebrate, preserve and protect the rich and storied tradition of Shem Creek. Cuisine: American/Seafood • 98 Church Street • (843) 388-0003 • www.redsicehouse.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pet Friendly • Best Bar MPM

Senor Tequila is authentic Mexican Cuisine. Welcome Amigos. Cuisine: Mexican • 612 Coleman Boulevard • (843) 856-8998 • www.senortequilacharleston.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Sesame Burgers & Beef believes that eating a gourmet burger should make you feel good, not guilty. They proudly serve delicious, healthful gourmet meals while protecting our environment and festering local economy. Cuisine: Gourmet Burgers/Late-night • 675 E. Johnnie Dodds Boulevard • (843) 884-5553 • www.sesameburgersandbeer.com • $ • Best Burger MPM

The Shelter Kitchen & Bar is located on Shem Creek and has quickly become one of Mount Pleasant’s favorite bars and restaurants. Open for lunch and brunch is served every weekend. The Shelter is the place for cold beer, drinks to suit any situation, good food, friendly service and reasonable prices. Cuisine: American • 202 Coleman Boulevard • (843) 388-3625 • www.theshelterkitchenandbar.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets Welcome

Shem Creek Bar & Grill are committed to satisfying our customers with great food and excellent service. They offer a wide variety of delicious dishes for lunch and dinner. Cuisine: Seafood/Oyster Bar • 508 Mill Street • (843) 884-8102 • www.shemcreekbarandgrill.com • $$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Best Raw Bar MPM

Skoogies Chicago Style Deli is the best little deli south of Chicago. Skoogies offers delicious, authentic steamed Chicago style hot dogs, polish sausages, and chili dogs. Cuisine: Delicatessen/Franks/Sandwiches • 840 Coleman Boulevard Suite C • (843) 884-0172 • www.originalskoogies.com • $

Slice Pizzeria Restaurant strives to deliver the best New York style pizza and Italian dishes in a casual and fun atmosphere. They combine a New York pizzeria with a full service, full menu Italian restaurant. Cuisine: Italian/Pizza • 1150 Hungry Neck Boulevard • (843) 388-4071 • www.slicepizzeriarestaurant.com • $

Southerly offers sophisticated southern fare for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. The menu focuses on local food producers. Cuisine: Southern • 730 Coleman Boulevard • (843) 416-3965 • www.southernseason.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

The Southern Bar & Grill features a great vibe and menu along with homegrown live music. Cuisine: American • 730 Coleman Boulevard • (843) 849-0396 • $

The Sprout is an organic café and juice bar. Raising the level of health in the world. Vegan. Raw. Organic. Local. Cuisine: Organic/Vegan • 627 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard • (843) 849-8554 • www.thehealthysprout.com • $

Stack’s Coastal Kitchen/Stack’s Evening Eats offers prepared entrees for home as well as soups, salads and sandwiches. Open for lunch daily and dinner Monday through Saturday. Cuisine: American/Seafood • 1440 Ben Sawyer Boulevard Suite 1107 • (843) 388-6968 • www.stackscoastalkitchen.com • $-$$$

Steel City Pizza Co. are builders of good food, their name is riding on it…every guest, every party, every slice, every time. Cuisine: Pizza/Delivery • 1440 Ben Sawyer Boulevard • (843) 856-2525 • www.steelcitypizza.com • $

Sticky Fingers Restaurant is known for authentic, hickory-smoked ribs and barbeque. Cuisine: BBQ/Chicken • 341 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard • (843) 856-7427 • www.stickyfingers.com • $

Tasty Thai & Sushi of Mount Pleasant is an experience of traditional Thai owners and chefs. We offer truly authentic cuisine from Pad Thai (National dish of Thailand) to Basil Duck as well as Nam Sod and Larbb. Cuisine: Sushi/Asian/Thai • 320 West Coleman Boulevard • (843) 388-3912 • www.tastythaiandsushi.com • $-$$

Tavern and Table is like neighborhood taverns of old. Tavern and Table on Shem Creek is designed to be that local gathering place where friends and family get together for classic cocktails and spectacular handcrafted food in an atmosphere as comfortable as your living room. Cuisine: Seafood/American • (843) 352-9510 • www.tavernandtable.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Triangle Char + Bar boasts a hip menu including local grass-fed beef burgers, tasty tacos, a cool selection of craft beers and jumbo cocktails. Cuisine: Burgers/Tacos/Craft Beers 1440 Ben Sawyer Boulevard Suite 1400 • (843) 606-2900 • www.trianglecharandbar.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating, Pets Welcome

Tru Blue’s House of Wings is located in the heart of Mount Pleasant with an exciting selection of menu items in a casual, entertaining atmosphere for your fun and enjoyment. Serves an open bar and a sit-down menu. Cuisine: American/Bar • 1039 Johnnie Dodd’s Boulevard Suite 10 • (843) 881-1858 • $

Verde offers a selection with fresh ingredients, beautifully prepared proteins and handmade dressings that take a salad to a whole new level. Cuisine: Fresh Salad/Wraps • 730 Coleman Boulevard • (843) 388-4394 • www.eatatverde.com • $

Vickery’s Shem Creek Bar & Grill boast water on three sides so all tables are good tables. It is Vickery’s intent to serve a variety of dishes, some simple and creative, some complex from various regions and ethnicities, consistently good and fairly priced. Cuisine: American/Seafood 1313 Shrimp Lane • (843) 884-4440 • www.vickerys.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Village Bakery is a local favorite for scrumptious pastries or the perfect sandwich. The delectable desserts really make this eatery stand out. Cuisine: Pastries/Sandwiches • 125 Pitt Street • (843) 216-6771 • www.dinewithsal.com • $

Water Dog Grill has great food, family friendly, live music and sports all the time. 24 craft beers on tap. Really local. Cuisine: American • 1035 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard • (834) 216-0990

Water’s Edge is located on scenic Shem Creek, bringing Downtown dining to the Mount Pleasant area. Executive Chef/Owner Jimmy Purcell, a native Charlestonian, has created a menu that appeals to every taste bud with fresh local fish, prime rib and many more Lowcountry dishes. Cuisine: Seafood/Southern • 1407 Shrimp Boat Lane • (843) 884-4074 • www.waters-edge-restaurant.com • $$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Best Place to Dine Outdoors/Best Place to Take an Out-of-Towner/Best Happy Hour MPM Winner

Wild Wing Café has the best wings south of Buffalo in 33 different made from scratch flavors but there’s a whole lot more at the Wing as well. With options for everyone, we’ve got just the one to make ya wild! Cuisine: American • 644 Coleman Boulevard • (843) 971-9464 • www.wildwingcafe.com • $-$$ • Indoor/Outdoor • Best Wings MPM

The Wreck of the Richard & Charlene is named for a North Atlantic style trawler that was damaged by Hurricane Hugo. The Wreck serves up a distinctive selection of seafood indigenous to coastal South Carolina and is prepared in the old Lowcountry way. Cuisine: Seafood • 106 Haddrell Street • (843) 884-0052 • www.wreckrc.com • $$-$$$ • Voted Best Seafood MPM


Sullivan’s Island

Prices: $ – 15 or less | $$ – 15 to 22 | $$$ – More than 22

Café Medley has anything and everything to do with coffee, goodies and wine. Café Medley is Sullivan’s Island new go-to place for gourmet ice cream, wine, baked goods and espresso. Cuisine: Desserts/Sandwiches/Wine • 2213 Middle Street • (843) 793-4055 • www.cafemedley.com • $

Dunleavy’s Pub is proud to be a part of an endangered species, the family owned and operated business. Please enjoy our hospitality and know that we are grateful for your patronage. Cuisine: American/Pub • 2213 Middle Street • (843) 883-9646 • www.dunleavysonsullivans.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

High Thyme is a favorite spot for the locals in the heart of Sullivan’s Island, offering dinner as well as Sunday brunch and live music. Creative tapas, fresh seafood and a great wine list keep regulars coming back. Cuisine: American • 2213 Middle St # C • (843) 883-3536 • www.HighThymeCuisine.com • $$-$$

Home Team BBQ is a popular spot for delicious wood-fired chicken wings, extensive libation options and plenty of live music. You’ll find a variety of dishes made from fresh ingredients, from starters and salads to tacos, sides, sliders, sandwiches and wraps. Cuisine: American/Barbecue • 2209 Middle Street • (843) 883-3131 • www.HomeTeamBBQ.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

The Obstinate Daughter is a name in homage to the Revolutionary War history of Sullivan’s Island. Open for lunch and dinner as well as Saturday/Sunday brunch. Cuisine: Italian/Pizza/Seafood • 2063 Middle Street • (843) 416-5020 • www.theobstinatedaughter.com • $-$$

Poe’s Tavern is located two blocks from the beach on beautiful Sullivan’s Island. Named for Edgar Allen Poe who at the age of 18 enlisted in the army and called Sullivan’s Island home. We’re best known for great burgers and drinks. Cuisine: American • 2210 Middle Street • (843) 883-0083 • www.poestavern.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

SALT at Station 22 is smack dab in the middle of Sullivan’s Island, just blocks from the beach and in the center of where it is all happening. Dinner is served daily and their Sunday brunch is one of the most delicious you will find in Charleston. Cuisine: American • 2005 Middle Street • (843) 883-3355 • www.saltstation22.com • $$ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating

Sullivan’s Restaurant is a favorite hole-in-the-wall for home cooked Southern favorites. Stop by after church on Sunday for their scratch made desserts and famous seafood platters. Open for dinner seven days a week, plus weekend brunches. Cuisine: Southern/Home Cooked • 2019 Middle Street • (843) 883-3222 • $-$$

Taco Mamacita serves made-from-scratch, super fresh, totally tasty eats and drinks in a fun, laid-back setting and delivers the most awesome customer service of all time to every guest, every time. Cuisine: Mexican • 2213-B Middle Street • (843) 789-4107 • www.tacomamacita.com • $ • Indoor/Outdoor Seating • Best Taco Winner MPM

MORE: Eating on the Isle of Palms

2012 PGA Spectators Arrive at Walterboro

More than 200,000 people will make their way to Kiawah Island for the 2012 PGA Championship in August, a seven-day affair that is expected to be the largest sporting event in South Carolina history. Many of them, participants and spectators alike, will be introduced to the Palmetto State when they touch down at Lowcountry Regional Airport in Walterboro.

Lowcountry Regional, just 51 miles northwest of Kiawah, is the state’s largest general aviation airport. With three runways ranging in length from 5,500 feet to 6,007 feet, it can easily accommodate all corporate jets, as well as the popular Boeing 737. And, according to Walterboro Economic Development Director Hank Amundson, the airport already has a history with golf tournaments, helping to serve the transportation needs of people attending the Masters in Augusta, Georgia, and the Heritage, in Hilton Head, South Carolina, in April 2012.

“That was the busiest April we ever had at the airport,” Amundson commented. “Some people took a helicopter from here to Augusta, while others got there on smaller planes.”

He added that rental cars are available at the airport and that a limousine service also will provide transportation from Walterboro to Kiawah.

Walterboro Tourism Director Donna Laird cited several other reasons why flying through Walterboro might be more fun and less frenetic than using a larger, more congested commercial airport such as those in Charleston and Savannah. For example, pilots can call ahead and order lunch from one of many local restaurants, and passengers can walk right from the plane to their ground transportation. The airport also has a pilot’s lounge and a flight planning room, “just to make the whole flight experience less stressful,” Laird pointed out.

“A Lufthansa pilot who landed his own plane here told me there isn’t any place easier to fly into,” she said.

Possibly more important than convenience, though, is the cost of putting Lowcountry Regional Airport on your travel itinerary. There is no landing fee, and ramp charges are waived for pilots who purchase fuel, which is $1 to $1.50 per gallon cheaper than at other airports in the area.

“We have reduced our fuel prices to the lowest in the region for commercial airports,” said Bill Young, mayor of Walterboro and, since 1989, vice chairman of the Walterboro-Colleton Airport Commission. “And, since the privacy and convenience we offer is attractive to many travelers, a number of well-known celebrities fly in and out of Lowcountry Regional.”

The airport, no more than a rough landing strip in the 1920s and 1930s, earned its place in American history during World War II, serving as a training ground both for the Tuskegee Airmen, the nation’s first African-American military aviators, and Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle’s Tokyo Raiders, who avenged the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Today, according to Young, the airport is primed to serve as an economic engine for Walterboro and its environs and fully prepared to offer financial incentives to pilots and to companies that choose to locate to the area. For example, aircraft that use Lowcountry Regional as their home base earn a property tax reduction from 10.5 percent to only 4 percent.

“Two jets from Columbia recently relocated to our airport, saving their owners about $70,000 a year in taxes,” Young pointed out.

He added that incentives also are available to help pay for construction and infrastructure costs for companies that move to the area surrounding the airport, along with tax credits worth up to $4,500 for each job created. In addition, as a member of the Southern Carolina Alliance, Colleton County can offer “additional benefits and opportunities.”

“We see Lowcountry Regional as an opportunity to bring in good paying jobs for our citizens and to broaden our tax base,” Young said. “We believe that we have much to offer aviation-related industries as South Carolina expands into the aeronautics arena.”

Read more about Walterboro, SC at the City of Walterboro‘s website.

Masonborough in Park West

If you haven’t ventured to Park West lately, you’re missing out. This Mount Pleasant community is thriving again, with 43 homes selling in the last six months and another 21 under contract. Masonborough, one of its key subdivisions, is leading the pack for custom-built homes.

“It’s certainly an advantage of Masonborough that folks can purchase a home site and build the home of their choosing,” said Clay Cunningham, a Broker Associate at Carolina One Real Estate. “Most of the home sites in Masonborough offer plenty of space–we’re talking in most cases a third acre or more. And there are several home sites with terrific marsh views. Most of the houses back up to the natural marshes and wetlands, rather than to another house. Some even offer waterfront with dock and boating in your backyard.”

The aesthetic in the community one reminiscent of Lowcountry leisure, with many of the Masonborough homes elevated from the ground and featuring large porches. Darrell Creek and the Wando River surround the neighborhood.

Masonborough began with over 250 home sites for the purpose of custom construction. Since the advent of the subdivision, about 190 families have named “These are larger homes, a minimum of 2500 square feet, with newer construction, something that people really seem to like,” said Cunningham.

the subdivision home, (including what is currently under construction) while approximately 65 sites remain vacant.

“Sixteen of the sites have recently been purchased by various builders,” said Cunningham. “I represented one of the builders in purchasing several of them.”

Price-wise, Masonborough homes are currently ranging from $500k to around 1.5 million, including the waterfront homes in the subdivision.

“It’s a serious hot spot right now,” said Cunningham with a smile. “A lot of the building companies are building here again and finding a great opportunity here, after the lull that took place for a few years.”

To give you an idea of how “hot” we’re talking, Cunningham said that in the last six months alone, over 20 lots in Masonborough have been purchased.

“We expect many homes to be sold–it’s definitely trending,” he said.

Of course, Masonborough is just a small part of the Park West community, which has over 16 subdivisions.

“Mount Pleasant is growing, and Park West has allowed a good bit of that growth to take place,” said Cunningham. “The land was available out here and we’ve used it responsibly for developments like this.”

When it comes to that small town feeling, Park West is attractive to plenty of home buyers. It offers retail shopping, plenty of restaurants, schools that are close by, as well as medical facilities right at the fingertips of the residents.

“My family and I moved out here when our children were still of school age, and the kids could reach school without even bothering with Highway 17,” remarked Cunningham. “I think that’s a big draw. There’s also a huge recreational facility, complete with a swimming pool, and the new Mount Pleasant Hospital is also at reach without getting on the highway.”

Cunningham feels that newcomers to the area seek out Park West – in search of community, space and value.

Contact Clay Cunningham by telephone at (843) 345-4647, visit his website at www.ParkWestNeighborhoods.com or email him at [email protected].

East Cooper Icons

The East Cooper area has grown from a suburb of Charleston into quite a metropolitan area in the last couple of decades. New neighborhoods have sprung up almost overnight, bringing wide new roads lined with shops and restaurants. There’s so much to do and see but when you tire of the everyday pursuits, here’s an idea. Take a little trip back in time. Visit some of the places that mean “Mount Pleasant and the Islands” to old timers and newcomers alike.

Charleston may be known as the Holy City, but there are plenty of historic churches to discover in Mount Pleasant. One of the best known is Christ Episcopal Church, which dates back to the early 1700s. Christ Church was one of 10 parishes created by the Church Act of 1706; a simple wooden building was erected for services. After the original church burned to the ground in 1725, it was replaced by the simple brick structure that still remains.

In the ensuing years, the church was burned by the British and, later, gutted by Union troops. Though it survived and was repaired, the congregation grew smaller and services ceased altogether in 1874. The church and grounds fell into disrepair, and it was not until 1923 that a restoration project began. Services began again in the mid-50s and continue to this day. The church and surrounding land is an oasis along busy Highway 17 North and well worth a stop. As you wander through the church yard, you may recognize many old Mount Pleasant family names.

Drive a little further north on Highway 17 and you’ll soon come across the “basket ladies,” whose families have been making sweetgrass baskets for generations. This art form, which has its roots in Africa, was brought to the Lowcountry by slaves. Using materials native to the region, including sweetgrass, pine needles and palmetto strips, these artisans create beautiful baskets in every shape and size. You might find these baskets a little pricey at first look, but go ahead and treat yourself. These baskets will last a lifetime, with proper care, and even increase in value. How often do you get a chanceto own a museum quality piece?

If you’d really like to take a trip to a time gone by, don’t miss Mount Pleasant’s Old Village, where old historic homes jostle with their modern neighbors. This is the kind of neighborhood where people walk or bike to the original “business area.” Though only a block long, Pitt Street is still a thriving business center, featuring an upscale restaurant/bed and breakfast along with little shops and galleries. Don’t miss the Pitt Street Pharmacy, where you can stop in for a hot dog and soda—a genuine fountain soda, for those who can remember such a thing! Pitt Street Pharmacy, Old Village Alhambra Hall Much of the Old Village area is along the waterfront, although it can be hard to get more than a glimpse here and there as you drive along narrow tree-shaded streets. A spectacular view of the harbor and the Holy City itself awaits you at Alhambra Hall. You can walk around the grounds and enjoy the breeze. It’s a popular place for events such as the annual Blessing of the Fleet and is much in demand for weddings and receptions. Take a peek inside and you’ll see why—vaulted ceilings, hardwood floors and wide porches make this former ferry terminal a southern classic.

Not far from Alhambra Hall is another great spot where you can enjoy a different side of Mount Pleasant. The old Pitt Street Bridge was replaced many years ago by the Ben Sawyer Bridge, but the remains are still there.

This area teems with all sorts of wildlife, from tiny fiddler crabs to majestic water birds. It’s a favored fishing place, as well. From the Pitt Street Bridge, you can almost see another East Cooper icon. It’s well worth the trip to Sullivan’s Island to pay a visit to Chief Osceola at Fort Moultrie (map link). The Seminole Indian chief is buried on the grounds, at the entrance to the fort. Named for Colonel William Moultrie, the fort was created with palmetto logs and sand, and it dates back to the Revolutionary War. The current structure was built in 1809 and served as home base to likes of General Sherman, of Civil War fame, and Edgar Allan Poe, who used Lowcountry settings in some of his work. There’s quite a lot history to be enjoyed here, and you’ll want to take it all in.

For a slightly different East Cooper treat, pay a visit to Page’s Thieves Market. Almost on the edge of Mount Pleasant, before you get on the causeway, Page’s has an assortment of cool and funky things that you may or may not need—but there’s so much fun just looking around. It’s been a regular place for locals to buy and sell for decades. And, if you don’t find something this time around, stop by in a week or two for a new selection and to fi nd out when Linda Page’s next auction will take place. East Cooper? There’s so much to explore!

I’On, Mount Pleasant

It is an idyllic place to live. I’On, a small village nestled just off Mathis Ferry road in Mount Pleasant, was designed to foster neighborliness and a real sense of community.

I’On homes are built in the style of old Charleston and accented with porches where friends congregate to enjoy pleasant breezes and catch up on neighborhood news. I’On is divided into several distinct boroughs with homes ranging in price from about $500,000 to $3,000,000 which makes living there a viable option for many buyers considering Mount Pleasant.

Developed originally as a walking community, I’On has more than fulfilled its mission to create an alternative to urban sprawl. Houses sit close together intending to foster friendship and good neighbors. And there are plenty of sidewalks to invite evening strolls and and the day-to-day contact that is so important to the residents of I’On.

A delightful town square, anchored by The Inn at I’On and Jacob’s Kitchen, features a variety of boutiques and shops including The Square Onion where you can pick up a tasty takeout or O’Briens, the local pub, where neighbors convene for a casual meal or just to socialize.

Catha Remington, a Realtor with Carolina One Real Estate and Mortgage, and a current homeowner in I’On, can’t say enough about the wonderful lifestyle here.

“I came from New Jersey and l began searching up and down the East coast thinking when I began looking of settling in Wilmington, North Carolina or Florida where one of my daughters lives. Upon visiting Kiawah, where her family had vacationed several years, Remington explained ” On my way out of Charleston, I toured I’On and as I pulled into the community I remember saying oh, I could live here.”

“I really looked at this community,” Remington added. “I drove through in the morning, at noon and in the evening and then asked residents what made I’On special to them. I liked their answers! ”

What I’On offers is more than a home. The lifestyle is the big draw and has many attractive facets. I’On has traditional amenities such as pools and tennis courts, an exercise facility as well as walking trails ad The Rookery, a haven for dozens of species of birds.

But beyond outdoor activities such as fishing from one of the six community docks and kayaking on the lake, residents enjoy getting together for a variety of social events including monthly coffees, lectures, art associations, book clubs and supper groups.

“The best event is First Fridays,” Remington said. “Everyone brings an appetizer and their favorite drink and we just all socialize. Often we have as many as 80 people.”

Several times during the year, I’On puts on programs such as concerts or holiday events which are open to the public. Residents of I’On have access to the Creek Club, a lovely building often used for weddings and other special occasions. Set along the creek with landscaping indigenous to the south, the Creek club is an exceptional backdrop for any social gathering.

Beautiful homes, lush surroundings, congenial neighbors, an abundance of recreational activities and easy access to Charleston make I’On quite possibly the perfect place to live.

Because of those attributes I’On has received numerous accolades from organizations such as the Department of Natural Resources and Charleston Trident Homebuilders Association for its ground breaking design.

But the real winners are the people who discover the lifestyle that is uniquely I’On.

Is I’On for you? Find out more by contacting Catha Remington at (843)697-1667 or (843)849-5212 or email her at [email protected].

Medical University Of South Carolina Hospital

One of the first medical schools in the United States was built in 1824 in Charleston, South Carolina. The Medical University Of South Carolina (MUSC) was a private medical college that was and remains today as not only an excellent healthcare facility, but also functions as a teaching facility for medical students from numerous fields of study. Originally Roper Hospital was used by Medical University students for clinical teaching. Eventually, the Medical University recognized the need for its own teaching facilities. In 1955, the Medical University opened its doors to its first patients. MUSC has now grown into an outstanding medical center and university with six different colleges for medical students furthering their education. The Medical University also provides patients with numerous healthcare facilities and programs including three separate hospitals; the University Hospital, the Institute of Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital. The Medical University also offers a range of centers for specialized care such as the Heart Center, Transplantation Center, Hollings Cancer Center, Digestive Diseases Center and the Storm Eye Institute. This 709-bed learning hospital has well-served the state of South Carolina and many others for almost 200 years.

Medical University Of South Carolina Hospital
169 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC 29403
(843) 792-2300
(843) 792-3811
(843) 792-4445
(843) 792-9729
www.MUSC.edu
# of Beds: 709
Year Built: 1824

Roper St. Francis Hospital Was Built With Mount Pleasant In Mind

Roper Hospital Physicians

Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital was built with the local community in mind. In operation since November 2010, the 85-bed hospital is located just off Highway 17 North near Wando High School.

“We are truly a community-centered hospital,” said John Sullivan, FACHE, Mount Pleasant Hospital chief executive officer and vice president of operations for Roper St. Francis Healthcare. “Our patients, visitors and neighbors were at the top of our minds during every phase of our design and construction.”

The medical facility is set on 78 acres of land, nearly half of it protected wetlands and woodland.

“The natural beauty of our hospital’s surroundings greatly enhance the healing power for our patients and all the people who care for them,” said Sullivan, who began his career in the health care field in 1971 in Kentucky and has worked in the Carolinas since the 1990s.

FIND ROPER DOCTORS NOW

He is well aware of the need for two major hospitals – the other is East Cooper Medical Center – in one of the fastest growing areas of South Carolina.

“It’s important that we respond by making sure medical care and services are easily accessible and conveniently located, close to where people live and work,” he pointed out. “Competition makes everyone better, and, in the end, the patients benefit.”

The facility features a 24-hour emergency room, home-like labor and delivery suites, inpatient and outpatient surgery, an intensive care unit, medical-surgical units, comprehensive imaging services, a laboratory, a pharmacy and a helipad. There also is an on-campus building with offices for up to 45 doctors offering both primary and specialty care.

“The new Mount Pleasant Hospital will offer the same high-quality, personalized care that Roper St. Francis has long been known for in the Carolina Lowcountry,” Sullivan pointed out.

Roper Hospital, the first community hospital in the Carolinas, was founded in 1850, while St. Francis Hospital opened its doors in 1882 as St. Francis Xavier Infirmary, the state’s first Catholic hospital. In 1998, Roper and Bon Secours St. Francis hospitals merged to form the largest health care system in the Charleston area, known today as Roper St. Francis Healthcare.

Roper St. Francis Healthcare is the Charleston area’s largest non-government employer. Its medical staff includes nearly 800 physicians representing every medical specialty. Ranked 46th among the top 100 integrated health networks in the nation, Roper St. Francis Healthcare has earned dozens of national awards recognizing high levels of patient, physician and employee satisfaction.

Sullivan, one of more than 4,800 employees of Roper St. Francis Healthcare, realizes the mammoth task of bringing quality health care to residents of East Cooper.

“I felt this was an opportunity to get back to the front line of patient care and also an opportunity to be part of something that doesn’t happen too often – bringing a new hospital to life. It is a great privilege and a great responsibility, and we want to do it in a way that will build a great foundation for years to come,” he said.

To learn more about Roper St. Francis Mount Pleasant Hospital, visit Roper St Francis online.

One Man’s Burden, Hurricane Hugo hit Sullivan’s Island

If ever Sullivan’s Island Police Sgt. David J. Price could erase a period of his life, he would most certainly eliminate the last two weeks of September and the first two weeks of October, 1989.

During those four weeks, Price lost 99 percent of his worldly possessions, protected a devastated jurisdiction, shared the grief and sorrow of his fellow Islander’s losses, and worried about the well being of his estranged wife and three children who live in the San Francisco Bay area.

Another man would have said, “Enough is enough.” Price didn’t. He just went about his business.

“I’m not hunting for any glory,” he said during a routine patrol of Sullivan’s Island. I’m just an ordinary person who, like many others, lost everything during the hurricane.

The destructive powers of Hurricane Hugo, which struck the Charleston area on the night of September 21, were initially underrated by many locals, including Price.

“This was my second hurricane. I rode one out when I lived in Hawaii back in ’79, but it wasn’t as powerful as Hugo. I underestimated what it would do, but I guess we all did.” he said matter-of-factly.

The son of a Georgian minister, Price has lived in a number of states throughout the country. He came to the Sullivan’s Island Police Department after a two-year stint with the Estill Department. A member of Sullivan’s Island force for four years, Price is the only one (of the five officers) who lives on the island.

“We had a hurricane tracking map on the office wall, and we didn’t use it for show. We had been pinpointing it (Hugo), and followed it closely on the news. But on Wednesday (Sept. 20) we got the word from the Emergency Preparedness officials to evacuate the island.

“My immediate thoughts were of long traffic lines, the people who had been here for so many years and would be forced to evacuate, and those folks who couldn’t leave. I knew we would have problems.

“We then went through the streets and used the loudspeakers to say: Mandatory evacuation; leave immediately. I must have said that a million times.

“There were several senior citizens I knew that could not get off the island by themselves, so I went and helped them move to the Moultrie Middle School shelter. I was really concerned about getting them to safety.”

Thursday morning, Price and his fellow officers were positioned by the Ben Sawyer Bridge, informing travelers that they would not be allowed on the island. He later patrolled the area and convinced local surfers to depart the Station 22 beach, which was enjoying Hugo’s lone benefit – great waves for surfing. During his rounds, Price occasionally stopped by his apartment on Station 20 to pack several things into the trunk of his police car. He knew he wouldn’t be spending the night in the comfort of his home.

“We had plans to stay in the police station as long as possible (Thursday night) and then move into the I’ On Avenue bunkers. When the chief (Jack Lillienthal) and I saw the wind lift a truck , and then heard there was the possibility of a 30-foot surge, we left for Mt. Pleasant. By midnight, we were on the causeway after crossing a shaking bridge, but we couldn’t see in front of us. It was hard to keep the vehicle on the road. Chief made us wear life-vests before we left the island, and at first I thought it was silly, but I was glad we did. It was a great decision.”

Price eventually stayed with friends in Mt. Pleasant but recalled that he still couldn’t relax. The ripping sound of the wind, the cracking of trees, and the scratching of the roof shingles kept him wide awake, and he later went outside during the calm of the hurricane’s eye. He could see stars, but quickly returned inside when the wind began to pick back up.

“It’s just a job. I didn’t do anything heroic,” he said of his days following the hurricane. I just did what I was suppose to do, nothing special.”

Although it was still dark, Price, who was unable to sleep, made an attempt to return to the island. Boats, debris and fallen telephone poles blocked his path on the causeway, but he eventually got as far as Toller’s Cove. Price said he was “in a state of shock” when he witnessed the Ben Sawyer Bridge dangling in the Intra-coastal Waterway.

Several island officials were the first to take a volunteer boat to the island.

Chief and the fire chief were in the first boat and I’ll always remember them telling me, “You won’t believe this. It’s something.” I began to think of how long it would take for the island to recover, how the senior citizens would manage, and if most residents would pack up and leave.

“Late Friday afternoon, I went to look at my apartment. I was actually scared to open the door. My hand was shaking, and I couldn’t get my key in the door. I had to force the door to get it open. Then I saw it. I was dumbstruck. I saw everything turned over, mud everywhere. It was a hollow feeling to see all your possessions ruined. Things that I bought piece by piece. All of the rooms were trashed.

“I had a footlocker with photos of the kids and my paperwork in it. I walked over to it and hesitated before opening. After I lifted the top, and saw it was full of water, I began to cry. I literally bawled like a baby. It was bad enough to have lost my furniture, but to have lost those photos nearly killed me. I immediately left and couldn’t go back in there. I was glad to have my work to get my mind off what I had lost.”

Price was made responsible for helping to keep people off the island. Although there were no problems with looters, the police did have to contend with scavengers. Price exterminated four Copperhead snakes in one day, using “Old Betsy” (as he calls his pistol) and ran another one over with his car. He added that the National Guard did an excellent job, and assisted area law enforcement personnel. He was grateful for the Guard’s around-the-clock work.

By Tuesday, Sept. 26, officials began to allow residents to return to the island via ferry rides from a Shem Creek restaurant.

“I knew people would be frustrated, but many folks were cheerful and polite. I think they were genuinely happy to be back, and I’m sure many were hiding their actual fears. I just listened to them. Even if they complained, I just listened. Sometimes listening is the best medicine, and it was this time. In most cases, I could relate to what they were going through since I just went through it myself.”

Price came to grips with his personal losses and tried not to think about them. His new attitude was that the crying time was over and that you just have to go to work. He did.

“It’s just a job. I didn’t do anything heroic,” he said of his days following the hurricane. I just did what I was suppose to do, nothing special.”

During the weeks that followed Hugo, Sullivan’s Island began to slowly return to a state of “normalcy.” Then, on October 16, Price, like the rest of us, heard on the news of the earthquake in California. He feared for his wife and his three children (daughters of ages 23 and 13, and a son, 20).

“They’re okay, but it took me over an hour to get a hold of them. I was almost in a panic. When I finally got them, they were telling me what had happened, and I became speechless. I was almost ready to cry again, for I knew what they were going through.”

David Price, the policeman, is a hero for listening, being genuinely concerned, and simply doing his job. David Price, the survivor, has no choice but to take things day-by-day. Yet he sincerely wishes life came with an endless supply of erasures, so he could eliminate four long, hard and disastrous weeks.

Isle in the Eye, Hurricane Hugo

It was 8 a.m., Sept. 25, four days beyond Hugo. After an all night drive from Atlanta, my son’s evacuation home, I boarded the harbor-tour boat at Patriot’s Point for a return to the devastated Isle of Palms. In a pouring rain that added to the gloom, we were a rag-tag crowd gathered from all points of shelter.

Having run the curfew gauntlets, dodged fallen trees and avoided dangling electric lines, I tried to bring my weary brain back into balance. “No, this is not the Holocaust,” I told myself. “We are not bound for a concentration camp. We are only displaced persons on a mission of renewal and rejuvenation.”

This was the first boat to the island, and the first time anyone had been able to get back since the storm drove us away. To add another war-like dimension to the incredible scene, we, in effect, had to give our name, rank and serial number before boarding the boat. You had to have the proper ID to prove your right to take the “Isle of Palms Clipper.”

“Where are you taking us, Captain?” Another disheartening response. The only place the boat could berth was at the Wild Dunes Marina, a few miles from the other end of the island, where most of us wanted to go.

The rain blew across the deck. The man sitting next to me was an airline pilot who had just come to Mt. Pleasant from New York. He wore only shorts and a sport shirt, was protected only by an umbrella and was shivering. “Didn’t have time to find clothes,” he said. “I’ve rented out my house on the island for the winter, and I need to find out if the people can move in.” (It turned out he didn’t have a house remaining to rent.)

And then a voice of hope was heard:

“…the light house is still standing”
“……Stella Maris Church looks OK”
“…………Some places don’t look too bad”

My thoughts were strange. Why did this Biblical phrase flash through my mind: “Many are called, but few are chosen?”

We were on the river nearly an hour and had just passed Goat Island. It looked as though a water-going street sweeper had passed by, throwing docks and chairs, boats and chimneys , toilet bowls and bookcases upon the shore. For a mile the land was littered with household furnishings and debris, while in the background an occasional desolate and gutted dwelling raised its broken body.

The scene and the circumstances became even weirder. The ill-clothed and bleary-eyed group stood and stared at a crazy bridge, askew at a 35 degree angle, useful only for a wild, high-jumping water skier.

“How could wind blow down the Ben Sawyer Bridge like that?” someone asked. No answer, except one woman who spoke in a trembling voice, “It’s awesome.” An angry voice: “You can thank Sullivan’s Island for that. That lousy bridge should have been replaced years ago!”

As if foretelling the future, the man with the red beard and cowboy hat said, “The Corps of Engineers ought to be able to raise it and put it back on track.”

Up the Intracoastal Waterway, passing Sullivan’s Island, the awful fury of Hugo became more and more visible. Roofs missing, houses sliced in two, one standing on its side. Where docks stood, I saw but a few sticks poking out of the water. “My God,” the lady in the blue jumpsuit screamed, “That’s where my friend lived!” Her voice died to a whisper. “No more. It’s broken to pieces.”

The landing in sight, we passed a graveyard of boats, maybe a hundred tossed like matchsticks onto the land across form the marina. We hugged our rain gear and lifted bags as we moved toward the gangplank. The captain’s voice came over the loudspeaker. “This boat will leave at 12 o’clock sharp. You don’t want to be left behind. There’s no food on the island, and no place to stay overnight.” A deck hand told one elderly lady that she couldn’t get off the boat. It was too dangerous for her.

An Isle of Palms city council member reinforced the warning. “Be prepared for the worst,” she said. “There are snakes, streets washed out, holes filled with water maybe 10 feet deep. Gas is leaking on the island. There’s raw sewage and dead animals. Don’t touch your mouth!”

The dreary group, soaked now, stumbled across the dock. Somebody said there may be no transportation. How could I walkfrom one end of the island to the other in an hour and a half? Under these conditions? I admit, I was ready to give up. “You’ve won, Hugo!” But JoAnn, my daughter-in-law, bolstered my sunken spirits.

“We’ve come too far to give up now. Let’s walk out to Palm Boulevard. Maybe we’ll find a ride.” And we did — a pick-uptruck pulling a flat bed trailer. The “last-mile gang” splashed through the muddy water and piled onto the truck. The life-saving driver avoided washed out streets by steering into yards and around scattered house furnishings. Sometimes the trailer caught obstructions, and amid shouts of “hold up,” we piled off and freed the trailer hitch. One man tried to relieve the tension by shouting to the driver, “Look out for the house in the middle of the street.” It had been carried 30 feet from its foundation onto Palm Boulevard.

An interminable time elapsed, amid “oh’s” and “ah’s” and “Look at that house. It’s a mess!” We came to my house at 4th Avenue. Across heaps of marsh grass, around jagged lumber, over a vagrant lawn mower, I came in view of it. “Hey,” I said to JoAnn, “looks pretty good — still standing.” We hurried in to question the appearance of normality. Boots flopping, raincoat dripping, vision dulled, the question was answered. The house had fallen off its foundation, six feet down and six feet over plants and bushes.

Trees were uprooted. The neighbor’s tall pine had crashed down on the fence. No more grape arbor. We entered the house over the broken deck and through the sliding glass door that slipped off its track. The fallen chimney was only a minor obstruction. Inside, a giant named Hugo had vented his wrath, tumbling furniture into muddy heaps of junk. A 4-foot wave of water had drowned the lovebirds in their cage, corroded tools and electrical appliances, destroyed cloth and clothing. Utter chaos! I was silent — feeling shock, numbness, disbelief. I was beyond fear or worry. I waited for the firing squad to send the final bullet into my brain.

We picked up a few things — and put them down again; stuffed a memento into the plastic bag. “There’s the old family Seth Thomas mantel clock. Let’s take that — and we may be able to clean up the photo album, and let’s go. There’s nothing more we can do now.”

Back on Palm Boulevard, people were struggling along the street carrying bags of salvage — refugees, hoping to get a ride back to the boat. One man came out of a ruin carrying a cat in his arms. “She was still in the house. All I could save. Glad my wife didn’t come. She’s pregnant and I couldn’t stand a miscarriage right now.”

We got back to the marina by noon. The boat didn’t leave as scheduled and we waiting in line for an hour, directly opposite a drain pipe that splashed rain water over us. Insult to injury.

Then we felt like celebrities. There were TV reporters asking, “What’s it like at your house? What did you find? How do you feel?” (Like Hell! — a little aside remark) Helicopters buzzed overhead, sort of like Vietnam. I felt fortunate not to be rocketed.

The voyage back to Patriot’s Point was uneventful, even a relief. One man said, “Now I know what ‘Come hell or high water’ means.” The same rag-tag gang rode easier now. We had seen the worst and survived. “Where there’s life, there’s hope,” the woman in the blue jumpsuit had said. One guy said he would go back and start all over again. Me? I’d cry tomorrow.