Reminiscing Closed CHS Restaurants + Greek Festival

We all love to reminisce about the old Charleston. A lot has changed, and a lot of great restaurants have gone out of business along the way. Below are a few of my favorites I'd love to bring back to the peninsula. Hit reply with one restaurant you wish you could bring back, and the best answer will get a shout-out in the next newsletter.

🍗Wild Wing Cafe
The original Wild Wing opened across from the City Market in February 1992 and held down that corner for nearly 25 years before the lease expired in late 2016. Wing Wednesday was the move: a dozen wings free with a dozen, $2 vodka drinks, and a live band.

🍕Andolini's Pizza
The Wentworth Street original was the College of Charleston spot. Big 19-inch hand-tossed New York style pies and slices that were a meal on their own. The lunch deal was unbeatable: $5 got you a slice, a side salad, and a drink. The last Andolini's location closed on December 31, 2022 after 30 years in business, voted Charleston's best pizza 25 years running.

🥘Barsa Tapas
Barsa opened on Upper King at the start of 2011 and spent 14 years as Charleston's go-to tapas spot. Spanish small plates with a Southern drawl: lamb meatballs, patatas bravas, empanadas, and a seafood paella that was worth the wait every time. The daily happy hour was hard to beat with $1 off beers, $2 off wine, $3 house liquor, and $5 sangrias. Owner Drazen Romic retired and Barsa served its last guests on December 21, 2024. Upper King hasn't quite filled the gap.

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Food Truck Friday (More Info) · 11am-3pm · Kiawah Island Town Hall Lawn · FREE · Food truck event featuring Dough Boyz Pizza.

Charleston Greek Festival (More Info) · Fri 4pm-9pm, Sat 11am-9pm, Sun 12pm-5pm · Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, Downtown · $5 admission (active military free) · Three days of authentic Greek food, wine, live music, traditional dancing, and church tours. Free parking at 333 Fishburne Street with shuttle service. Gyros, spanakopita, baklava, and ouzo all in one place.

Sounds on the Square (More Info) · 7pm-9pm · Hutchinson Square, Summerville · FREE · Outdoor music event with live entertainment from headliner Vinyl Daze, local food trucks, and community gathering. Bring blanket or lawn chair.

Party at the Point (More Info) · 5-9 p.m. · Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina · $15 · Charleston’s premier happy hour concert series, featuring a tribute to Reggae Legends.

Every Paw Counts: Southern Paws 6th Annual 5K (More Info) · 8-10:30 AM · Boone Hall Plantation, Mount Pleasant · $40+ · Southern Paws Animal Rescue hosts their 6th Annual 5K fundraising run.

Holy City Burger Battle (More Info) · 12-4PM · Holy City Brewing, North Charleston · $54 · A professional panel of judges, along with all ticket holders, will sample all-you-can-eat burger sliders and crown who makes the best burger in Charleston + live music and cold brews.

Saints with Soul: Charlton Singleton and Friends (More Info) · 7-9 PM · Firefly Distillery, North Charleston · $12 · Two-time Grammy winner Charlton Singleton performs James Brown, Wilson Pickett, and Al Green.

Concert in the Park: Charleston Jazz Express ft. Zandrina Dunning (More Info) · 7-9PM · Smythe Park, Daniel Island · FREE · Jazz under the oaks at Smythe Park. Bring a blanket.

Pickers Hullabaloo Flea Market (More Info) · 10AM-4PM · Firefly Distillery, North Charleston · 100+ vintage vendors, food trucks, and live music for a Sunday treasure hunt.

Mother's Day at American Gardens (More Info) · 12-5PM · American Gardens, Charleston · Flowers, food, and music in the gardens for Mother's Day.

2nd Sunday on King Street (FREE PARKING) · 12-5PM · King Street, Charleston · King Street shuts down to traffic and opens up to the people. Stroll, shop, eat, and soak in the block-party energy from Calhoun to Queen.

🌳 South Carolina state parks could see a record $185 million investment for upgrades and expansion if lawmakers approve the agency's ambitious funding request. The massive budget would go toward improving facilities, adding new amenities, and expanding park access across the state. For Charleston area residents who frequent places like Hunting Island or Edisto Beach State Park, this could mean significantly better camping facilities, trails, and visitor centers in the coming years.

🏠 A new South Carolina bill could reshape how short-term rental managers operate throughout the Charleston area, potentially affecting thousands of Airbnb and VRBO properties. The legislation would create new regulations and licensing requirements for property management companies that handle vacation rentals.

🍖 Rodney Scott's BBQ closed its King Street flagship "until further notice" after a breach of contract lawsuit was filed against parent company Pihakis Restaurant Group over unpaid balances on a $350,000 loan. Locations in Atlanta, Nashville, and Birmingham went dark too as the group faces close to $14 million in lawsuits and liens. King Street has lost one of its biggest barbecue names, at least for now.

🎃 Boone Hall Fright Nights is calling it quits after 22 years. The Mount Pleasant haunted hayride and house attraction won't return this fall, with marketing director Jason Young citing rising operational costs and a pivot toward more family-friendly programming. The event has been scaring locals since 2004 and drew tens of thousands of visitors each Halloween season.

That's everything for this Friday. Enjoy the weekend, Charleston. We'll be back in your inbox Monday morning.

- Ryan from All Things Charleston

Search Properties for Sale or Find Your Home Valuation:
michelle.charlestonhomeguides.com

Michelle Wells, REALTOR
843.607.3621
[email protected]