Indoor Golf Simulator in Mt Pleasant, SC

MOUNT PLEASANT — The former Bed Bath & Beyond storefront in Towne Centre could finally welcome customers again, with two major tenants poised to move in after the space sat empty for three years.

Preliminary plans submitted to the town’s Design Review Board call for a “façade renovation” for companies Crate & Barrel and L.L. Bean. Local engineering firm Seamon Whiteside submitted the application on Aug. 12 for the project at 1744 Towne Center Way.

Renderings show the store would split the space vacated in early 2023 by Bed, Bath & Beyond, the major home goods retail brand.

Continental Realty has owned the Mount Pleasant shopping and dining complex since 2020, when it paid $147 million for the 51-acre property.

A representative with the investment firm declined to comment.

According to renderings Seamon Whiteside submitted, L.L. Bean, or Tenant A, would set up on the left side when facing the building, taking up 15,483 square feet of space. The Maine-based brand is known for its outdoor gear and classic New England apparel.

The neighboring Crate & Barrel, Tenant B, would occupy the remaining 18,830 square feet with its home goods and furniture selection.

The moves would mark both brands’ entry into South Carolina. The closest L.L. Bean shops are in Alabama, Florida and Virginia. Crate & Barrel’s nearest retail locations are in Atlanta and Charlotte.

Design plans for their newest stores would require demolition and redesign of the front of the building. A new canopy line and other landscaping would be added to complement curb appeal.

Crate & Barrell would get a new entrance, while L.L. Bean would use the same entry location as Bed Bath & Beyond with an upgraded doorway.

Seamon Whiteside said there would not be any changes to the parking lot and that live oaks adjacent to the building will remain in place and preserved with protective fencing during construction.

CRC had previously tried to rezone portions of Towne Centre to allow for housing, offices, greenspace and more as the firm struggled to fill the big-box space. The company created a Plan B should Belk department store and the Regal Cinema theater not renew their leases down the line. Plans were never concrete enough for town’s Planning Committee and were scrapped in August 2025 as time ran out.

Crate & Barrel and L.L. Bean’s entry into Mount Pleasant comes as American lifestyle and retail brand Anthropologie, which is owned by Urban Outfitters, prepares to open at the Fairmount Shopping Center on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard.

MOUNT PLEASANT — Driven by a rise in the use of artificial intelligence, data centers are cropping up across South Carolina — and so are efforts to rein them in.

Mount Pleasant will join the growing list of municipalities to mull placing restrictions on data centers. The town’s Planning Committee will discuss the topic on Aug. 31.

“After seeing some of the issues with data centers popping up in South Carolina, it really just started as an honest or simple question to the planning department of ‘Could a data center open in Mount Pleasant?’ And I was a bit surprised by the answer to that,” Councilman Daniel Brownstein said.

Currently, Mount Pleasant’s code permits the construction of data centers in areas zoned for light industrial use, economic development or areawide business-2, Michele Reed, planning director for the town, confirmed Aug. 27.

That means a developer seeking to build a data center in areas zoned for those purposes in Mount Pleasant could do so without a vote from town council or a public hearing. Plans would still be reviewed by the town’s Design Review Board, though there would be no special exception or additional review necessary.

Data centers, per the town’s zoning code, are defined as facilities “containing one or more large-scale computer systems used for data storage and processing for off-site users.” They’re often used to host a company’s IT services or house digital information.

The committee will discuss myriad ways to place limits on data centers, including a temporary moratorium, requiring data center developers to submit impact studies, or enacting special zoning restrictions.

“'We’re looking at a way just to tighten up the zoning code so that if a data center was interested in coming to Mount Pleasant, that there would be some sort of public process that it would have to go through,” Brownstein said.

There are a handful of large-scale data centers in the state, and more in various stages of development and build-out, though the exact number isn’t clear. The South Carolina Department of Commerce, an agency that drives economic development in the state, doesn’t keep track of that number.

Google has operated a campus in Berkeley County since 2008 and in 2024 announced plans to expand.

Data centers come with high-dollar investments in the state’s tech industry. But those investments are often shrouded in secrecy and can provoke public scrutiny.

In Marion County earlier this year, leaders hastily approved tax incentives for a multibillion dollar data center in the rural Pee Dee county. The project was later scrapped following resident backlash.

Similar attempts to bring data centers to Spartanburg and Colleton counties drew intense public opposition from residents who feared the developments would raise utility rates, pollute the area’s natural resources and put a strain on the water supply.

Data centers, depending on their size, need large swaths of land, require many megawatts of electricity and depend on thousands of gallons of water to keep them from overheating. They can also be fairly noisy, raising additional concerns among people living nearby.

A growing number of counties in South Carolina are passing data center moratoriums, temporary bans put in place so leaders can study the impact of the developments and possibly adopt limits on water usage and noise levels.

So far, Colleton, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenwood, Newberry and Spartanburg counties have discussed or adopted moratoriums on data centers within the past year.

Mount Pleasant doesn’t exactly offer the kind of incentives that attract data centers, which typically come to rural areas with low land costs. Building in Mount Pleasant is expensive (though the town does offer tax incentives). The town is nearly built-out, shifting toward adaptive reuse, or redevelopment, opportunities.

Brownstein said he’s unaware of any current plans to bring a data center to Mount Pleasant, but wants to ensure the town isn’t caught “flat-footed” if, or when, a developer eyes the town for a facility.

The Planning Committee will meet on Aug. 31 to discuss data centers at 10:45 a.m. The meeting will take place at Mount Pleasant Town Hall located at 100 Ann Edwards Lane.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – A long-studied and debated roadway improvement project is moving forward after Mount Pleasant Town Council voted Tuesday evening.

The council voted 5-4 not to withhold municipal consent, allowing development work to proceed in the town and Charleston County.

The plan, also referred to as the “Road to Compromise,” will connect Park West Blvd. to Highway 41, one of the fastest-growing areas in the region. In the near future, Charleston County leaders say more than 12,000 homes are planned in the Cainhoy area, with 25% of expected future trips to and from that area using Highway 41.

Officials and several residents at Tuesday’s 4+ hour town council meeting say it will provide a much-needed alternative for drivers on the highly traveled corridor.

“This compromise is not unreasonable,” Mount Pleasant resident Rodney German said. “I know there’s a lot to be concerned with, the traffic going through Laurel Hill would lighten the load of what’s going through 41.”

Several other residents expressed concerns over the project, as the proposed road would cut through a portion of the historic Phillips community and Laurel Hill County Park.

“Our neighbors, you get to drive through it and complain about it, but we actually live it,” resident Fred Smalls said. “We’ve always advocated for a solution to this problem. One that benefits everyone.”

The Phillips community is a historic town, settled by formerly enslaved people in the 1870s. Registered in the National Register of Historic Places in 2023, the descendants of those settlers still own the land. Many advocates have spoken against this widening project in this area.

Over nearly a decade, Charleston County conducted extensive research on the environmental and residential impacts of the widening project. Hundreds of public comments were heard opposing the widening in the Phillips area. This led County Council to direct the project team to evaluate alternatives to minimize impacts to the community.

And for the affected area of Laurel Hill County Park, the County is minimizing the width of the road through this stretch. The County will also incorporate more than 400 trees into the landscape plan, while improving drainage and reducing the impact on the surrounding marsh.

The project has been in the works for at least nine years, as the County has researched traffic and the surrounding areas.

In total, the County received more than 7,300 public comments, studying 20 different alternatives as a result. The County estimates the project will cost $245 million.

Following the council’s vote on Tuesday, Town Councilman Howard Chapman spoke directly to the hundreds of people in attendance for the meeting, discussing the compromise.

“Thank you to our citizens of the Phillips community for working with us on what we need to do to get better transportation that is safe and useful and doesn’t take property from residents,” Chapman said.

Charleston County and Mount Pleasant will move forward with the project, aiming to award construction contracts as early as Oct. 2026.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) — The South Carolina Department of Public Health is monitoring an assisted living facility in Mount Pleasant following reports of malfunctioning HVAC units, and family members of residents are calling for a more permanent solution to what they say is a repeated problem.

The Palms at Mount Pleasant, located on Bowman Road, has had two unannounced inspections in the past two months. Records from a June 11 inspection show room temperatures ranging from 72 to 78 degrees, within regulations. A July 8 inspection recorded room temperatures reaching as high as 86 degrees.

Jon and Laurie Kinsey, who live in Kansas, have a 98-year-old relative residing at the facility. They said they felt powerless as the situation unfolded.

“We felt kind of helpless here,” the Kinseys said.

The couple said this is not the first time they have experienced issues with the facility’s HVAC system. Even with a temporary fix in place for their loved one, they said they remain concerned about other residents.

“It’s too, too hot for old people…we’re just trying to look out for everybody there because they’re all paying rate that would get those services,” they said.

Dr. Lauren Brady, an HCA Healthcare emergency room physician, said overheating occurs frequently across the Lowcountry due to high temperatures and humidity. She said the risks are heightened for elderly individuals with underlying health conditions.

“Just because it’s not quite that high doesn’t mean it’s not concerning--especially with, like I said, the other comorbidities or diseases that these individuals could have,” Brady said.

Brady said prolonged heat exposure poses serious risks for elderly residents.

“Especially elderly — prolonged periods of exposure to heat can definitely be very concerning and even life-threatening if unaddressed,” she said.

Brady said people should check on elderly loved ones and watch for signs including confusion, lack of sweat and changes in health.

A media spokesperson for The Palms at Mount Pleasant’s management company provided the following statement in full:

“The safety, comfort and well-being of our residents remain our highest priority. Today, all residents have air conditioning in their apartments. There was a mechanical failure involving the community’s cooling system, which has been addressed. While repairs and replacement of cooling system components continue, a dedicated contractor remains onsite 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond immediately to any issues and ensure resident comfort.

As the community’s third-party management company, we responded immediately, proactively notified the Department of Public Health, and continue to work closely with the Department to ensure full compliance with all applicable regulations and guidance."

MOUNT PLEASANT — Residents who are worried that a popular wings restaurant is closed can rest assured the business isn’t shuttered for good, but rather for some exciting renovations.

Tru Blue’s House of Wings on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard has been closed since just before July 4, and owner Mike Gandy said he plans to re-open in mid-September after he wraps up a full renovation of the restaurant’s interior, from ceiling to floor.

"We’re redoing the bar, taking out the (dropped) ceiling and adding new furniture,” he told The Post and Courier. “It’s going to look pretty good. It’ll be a whole different vibe.”

True Blue’s is one of the oldest bars in Mount Pleasant, in operation since the 1980s. Gandy’s signature chicken recipe won him first place in Post and Courier’s 2026 “Wing War” tournament.

Gandy expressed his appreciation for all those who’ve checked in on the business, eager to see it reopen.

“We really appreciate the support and everyone reaching out,” he said. “Unfortunately dealing with permitting and government is a little bit tough. … But we’re looking forward to getting the wings out there.”

It’s understandable why locals could be concerned that the business’ closure might not have been temporary, though.

True Blue is part of two shopping plazas on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard that were sold in May 2025 — and many tenants have since moved out. The Anna Knapp Plaza and neighboring Fairmount Plaza were bought by locally based RCB Development for $15 million, according to public real estate records.

While many tenants said they were able to continue their lease agreements, several couldn’t afford the increases in rent.

Davide Davino, the owner of Cuoco Pazzo Trattoria, has said his monthly rent under the new ownership would spike from $4,800 to almost $16,000. He moved to the Oakland Shopping Center in Mount Pleasant in May.

Molly Maid found a new space in Goose Creek and SpinJen Productions leased out a new space elsewhere in Mount Pleasant. Longtime tenant Play it Again Sports also relocated in June from its corner spot of 10 years to the Plaza at East Cooper on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard, next to the Aldi grocery store.

Russell Canard, who serves as principal and managing partner partner of RCB with Reed Brownell, previously said it’s “always a balance” trying to retain tenants and “achieve certain rents” given the sale price and the capital needed to renovate the property.

“Revitalizing an aging property requires investment, but we also recognize the importance of maintaining a center that reflects the community and supports local businesses,” Canard said.

News dropped months ago that Anthropologie is moving into the former Danco Furniture spot, although representatives from RCB said no time frame has been set when the store would officially open.

But Gandy said he’s sticking around for the long haul and has already re-signed his lease.

“We do have a new landlord who purchased those two shopping centers,” he said. “They’re spending a lot of money on the outside of the building. They did offer a little bit of tenant improvement when I resigned my lease.”

In addition to a renovated space, the owner promises plenty of chicken wings and his authentic Maryland crab cakes when he reopens.