Plumbers in Sullivan's Island, SC

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - Leaders say the search is over in the hunt for a new town administrator for Sullivan’s Island after months of recruitment efforts.

Current Town Administrator Andy Benke says Joseph R. “Joe” Henderson will be the newest town administrator come June.

Benke first announced plans to retire in Oct. of last year after over two decades of service as town administrator for Sullivan’s Island. His announcement kicked off what officials called an extensive search for a replacement, which they say involved the vetting of 28 candidates.

The Town Council unanimously approved Henderson’s appointment to the position.

Henderson served as the director of planning and zoning for Sullivan’s Island from 2013 until 2022, when he was promoted to be the town’s deputy administrator.

Aside from experience, Henderson qualifies for the job with a number of degrees obtained from a series of South Carolina colleges and universities. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Coastal Carolina University, a Graduate Certification in urban planning from the College of Charleston and a Master of public administration from Clemson University.

He also has professional certifications include floodplain management, arboriculture and zone inspection. Before moving to Sullivan’s Island, Henderson working as the zoning administrator and the interim planning director for the city of Conway.

Sullivan’s Island Mayor Patrick O’Neil expressed gratitude for Benke’s 21 years of service before expressing his faith in Henderson.

“We were privileged to have Andy Benke serve as the Administrator since 2003 and wish him well in retirement. His efforts helped keep Sullivan’s Island a desired place to live and visit,” O’Neil said. “As Andy’s Deputy Administrator, Joe Henderson is well suited to succeed him. I am confident that the great work we have started over the past years will continue with Joe.”

Henderson himself expressed his gratefulness to the Town for picking him for the position.

“It’s an honor to continue to serve the community in the role of Town Administrator. We have exciting opportunities and challenges facing the Town in the coming years,” Henderson said. “I’m very fortunate to be supported by the Town Council and the employees who provide the public with exemplary service on all levels.”

Officials say Benke will continue to serve as town administrator until June 18 in order to guarantee a smooth transition.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Sullivan’s Island is a largely untouched Lowcountry paradise that has managed to escape the rush of the vacation rental industry due to the limited space and stringent regulations instated on the island.

Those rules have not stopped a handful of wonderful restaurants from opening near the beach. Here are nine of them, each located on Middle Street.

Dunleavy's Pub

2213 Middle St.

Bill and Patti Dunleavy opened Dunleavy’s Pub on Sullivan’s Island 32 years ago.

It all started when, in the spring of 1992, Bill Dunleavy heard from the people who owned a restaurant that occupied about 4,000 square feet of prime real estate at the corner of Station 22½ Street and Middle Street. They told him they were selling. He said he wasn’t interested in all 4,000 square feet, but he was interested in the bar and the side along Station 22½.

Taking just a slice of the property meant they had to build a new kitchen, new bathrooms and a wall to separate off their piece. But within a month, Bill and Patti opened the doors of Dunleavy’s Pub.

In the 32 years that have passed, restaurants have come and gone on Middle Street, and there is something like twice as many now as when Dunleavy’s first opened.

High Thyme Cuisine

2213 Middle St.

This eclectic eatery has been one of the best-kept secrets on Sullivan's Island for years. Look for lamb meatballs, seared scallops, a grilled pork chop with cheesy grits and more.

Home Team BBQ

2209 Middle St.

Aaron Siegel and Taylor Garrigan put their cheffy spin on traditional barbecue at six South Carolina locations: downtown, West Ashley (the original), Sullivan’s Island, Mount Pleasant, Columbia and Greenville. In addition to classic barbecue favorites and its popular frozen Gamechanger, Home Team serves some of the best smoked chicken wings, Alabama white sauce and nachos in town.

Home Team BBQ's Sullivan’s Island location opened 15 years ago in the space once occupied by Bert’s Pharmacy and Bert’s Bar.

Home Team still utilizes the bar Bert Wurthmann constructed when he converted half of his pharmacy into the beloved Bert’s Bar that served the island until 2007. Island residents who visit Home Team likely recognize Wurthmann in the black-and-white photographs hanging near its entrance today, honoring the building’s historical significance as a social hub for those who lived nearby.

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina

2205 Middle St.

Mex 1 Coastal Cantina has been around since 2012 and now has three locations across the Lowcountry serving up Baja fare. A revamped menu includes pork and pineapple tacos, Mahi Mahi skewers and a Mexicali burrito. For cocktails, the Blue Hawaiian and mango jalapeno margarita are some refreshing options.

Poe's Tavern

2210 Middle St.

While Sullivan’s Island has been visited by many celebrities, from some of Charleston’s first settlers to recognizable writers and movie stars, the island’s most notable former resident is Edgar Allan Poe.

The writer was stationed at Fort Moultrie in the 1820s, and the island had a significant influence on Poe’s work. Sullivan’s Island was a pivotal setting in his story "The Gold Bug" and was referenced in his story "The Balloon Hoax." Today, Poe’s Lowcountry legacy takes the form of Poe Avenue, Goldbug Avenue, Raven Drive and the famous Poe’s Tavern, which specializes in burgers like the Annabel Lee, adorned with a remoulade-topped crab cake.

Sullivan's Fish Camp

2019 Middle St.

Sullivan’s Seafood Restaurant was an island staple from 1988 until Sept. 6, 2020, when owners Sammy Rhodes and Donna Rhodes Hiott permanently closed the local favorite. When they opened Sullivan's Fish Camp in the 2019 Middle St. space in 2022, Ben and Kate Towill set out to honor the building’s past while ushering it into the future.

The Towills are the owners of design and hospitality firm Basic Projects. Kate, head of design for the Charleston-based company, has led the design of residential and commercial properties, including an athletic club and Basic Projects’ two other restaurants: Basic Kitchen and Post House.

Alongside her husband and other members of the team, Kate led the two-year renovation of Sullivan’s Fish Camp, where she wanted to create a 1970s-inspired beachside aesthetic. Her goal was to give the space a fresh look with elements paying homage to Sullivan’s Seafood, like a framed flag and original menu.

And after several visits to the East Side café, I can confidently say that City Lights is a name you’ll want to remember.

Perhaps it already sounds familiar.

In 2006, owners Candace Patterson and Gregg Lambton-Carr opened City Lights on Market Street. As the area and city grew, more and more Charleston locals and tourists flocked to the comfortable, colorful space.

The pandemic coincided with the end of their lease at 141 Market St. While the coffee shop was thriving, a subsequent rent increase made continuing to operate in that location next to impossible. City Lights closed in August 2021.

After taking some time off, the duo landed on a new location for City Lights: A Line Street building steps away from Irish Cantina Lucky Luchador and African restaurant Bintü Atelier.

Delays in the buildout of the 12 Line St. space pushed the coffee shop’s opening back to April 6, when City Lights welcomed its first customers on a busy Cooper River Bridge Run Saturday.

The space is filled with furniture Patterson and her husband Will Kiser constructed themselves, and the bathroom is unapologetically Barbie-themed — pink toilet and all. Offering some of the friendliest service in town, City Lights is pouring drip coffee, espresso drinks, tea and smoothies, a menu that pairs with breakfast burritos, lunch sandwiches and more. Scones, cookies and other pastries are sourced from Saffron.

Soon, City Lights will extend its hours into the late afternoon for those looking to swing by for a beer or glass of wine. For now, the new shop is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Sunday.

The five-bedroom, 3.5-bath, 7,344-square-foot residence at 1702 Ion Ave. was originally built as the Base Commandant’s Quarters and is one of the most elaborate surviving structures at Fort Moultrie, according to Charleston real estate company The Cassina Group.

The home became the residence of Gen. George C. Marshall, chief of staff during WWII who was appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to help the Army prepare for war and coordinate allied operations overseas.

Jimmy Dye, founding partner and broker in charge, represented the sellers, said the home has a “rich history and timeless elegance.”

Though not quite the island’s priciest transaction — that remains with the $10.1 million sale of 2411 Atlantic Ave. in March 2023 — the deal punctuates not only the growing interest in Sullivan’s but in high-value homes, Dye said.

The home went under contract within seven days, enhanced by its unique features of tin-printed ceilings, a renovated kitchen, private pool, multiple fireplaces and large wraparound porches.

The buyer was not identified. The sellers were Charles Stockdale and Caroline Stockdale, who had owned the home since 2015, according to public land records.

New neighbors

A North Charleston shopping center is getting a boost with two new tenants.

Spinx plans to add a new training office at 5101 Ashley Phosphate Road, within the Festival Centre retail complex.

iHeart CBD is planning to open a shop in the same center. With plenty of retail spaces currently up for grabs, Festival Centre is home to other tenants such as CVS, AutoZone, Pizza Hut and two banks.

Closing time

A controversial large-scale residential development in Dorchester County is moving forward.

Buller River Development, Land and Investment, based out of Fort Mill, said it has purchased the property for its planned 1,600-acre Yerby Road project in Summerville.

The transaction is one of the largest residential land purchases in the Charleston region in 15 years, the company said.

Plans include potentially adding more than 1,700 new homes to the area, which residents have pushed back on for years because of environmental concerns.

Public land records show the Bullard has acquired numerous parcels from multiple sellers this year for $29 million under the name BRD Land & Investment. The county approved the development agreement in December.

Nexton offices

Construction has started on a new office complex in Summerville.

The first building is underway at Atelier Downtown Nexton, a 7.5-acre office development on Brighton Park Boulevard off U.S. Highway 17A. Planned by an affiliate of New Jersey-based Sharbell Development, the project will include multiple two-story buildings up to 18,000 square feet.

Hill Construction has started work on the first structure with the second expected to break ground in April. Simultaneously, Hill is in the final stages of construction for a 114,000-square-foot mixed-use/multifamily project in Downtown Nexton for Sharbell. The five-story building includes four floors for apartment living and a 24,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and restaurant space.

On the block

A vacation rental home is on the market in downtown Charleston’s French Quarter neighborhood.

Built in 1871, the Charleston Chestnut Mansion at East Bay and Guignard streets is ready to change hands for $8.25 million. The 8,700 square-foot-property renovated in 2021 has four suites approved for vacation rentals, according to Ryan Carmody and Charles Carmody of the real estate firm CBRE.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - From West Ashley to Sullivan’s Island, businesses spent the day recuperating after heavy rains and strong winds caused them to temporarily lock their doors.

Many of the exterior windows at Hay Tire Pros, off Savannah Highway, shattered, and a large part of their ceiling collapsed on the inside.

Vice President Bill Sekula said that they have always expected severe storms to come through with being in Charleston, but that they have never had this much damage before.

“I guess it was like a microburst or something to that effect, but apparently it was raining harder than usual and then the windows started to buckle and snapped over. These windows on the side just kind of came apart and came out of the building,” Sekula said.

Sekula said glass from the windows was even in the back part of their building which is almost 30 yards away. They had to close the business for the day and return all of their customers’ vehicles. He said the incident happened during hours of operation as employees notified him at around 8 a.m.

The next-door business, Etto Leisure Cars, a golf cart dealer, also saw significant damage. Will Harton, chief executive officer, said that part of their awning was ripped off and hit their power box causing them to lose power.

“I said ‘Oh my goodness.’ You know, you live in Charleston long enough, you know a storm is going to happen. Usually, it’s a hurricane. It’s not a microburst like this, but we will be fine and we will move on from here,” Harton said.

He added that he’s glad that all of his employees are safe and that the building and golf carts can be fixed.

First Alert Chief Meteorologist Bill Walsh said the damage could have been from a potential microburst or straight-line wind, but the National Weather Service has not yet confirmed that.

The Co-Op Frosé and Eatery on Sullivan’s Island had around two feet of water inside their restaurant. Their staff members spent the day using buckets to help get rid of the water. They said they have had flooding in the past, but never anything over a foot, so this is the worst they’ve seen.

“This morning, we lifted everything off the floor because we were expecting rain and heavy floods, but we didn’t know it was going to get this bad. So, as we were lifting things off the floor, it started coming in through the back door. Next thing you know there is water all over the place and we started getting buckets and mops and throwing water out. We’ve been throwing water out for the past three and a half hours,” employee Havannah Malan said.

She said that they have had to get their floors redone three times, and she expects the business will have to get them redone a fourth time after Saturday’s flood.

The businesses said they hope to repair the damages quickly, so they can return to normal operation as soon as possible.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – The future of water service on Sullivan’s Island remains uncertain amid a contractual dispute between the town and Charleston Water System.

“The island has the ability to generate taxes and they need to figure it out because what they did in 2017 was, they just quit paying,” said Sullivan’s Island resident, Dave Spurgin.

A 30-year water supply contract between CWS and the Town of Sullivan’s Island went into effect on July 19, 1994.

Based on letters provided by CWS, there has been a disagreement over the rates since 2017. The water system claims the town owes them $1,078,000 as of last month.

“Years ago, Charleston Water System decided to raise our rates as if our signed contract did not exist. The town disputed that rate increase and has continued to pay the undisputed amount owed in accordance with our longstanding signed agreement,” said Sullivan’s Island Town Councilman Justin Novak on Monday night during a special council meeting.

The statement was part of a longer motion read aloud before council voted to pay $227,361 to satisfy the disputed portion of the amount owed. Island leaders said the amount was calculated by a nationally recognized rate consultant.

CWS CEO Mark Cline released the following statement to News 2 on Tuesday.

“Charleston Water System does not agree with the Town of Sullivan’s Island’s viewpoint or its recollection of the historical facts. We fully intend to discontinue the Town’s water service July 20 unless their past due amount is fully paid and they have entered into a new contract that appropriately covers the costs of providing water service to their community. It’s not fair that our other customers have been subsidizing the Town’s service for years now, and that would continue under their terms.”

Spurgin, who has lived on Sullivan’s Island for nearly 30 years, said he is not concerned about the potential water shut-off.

“No, because we’re going to need our water. They’re not going to shut the water off. The town’s going to have to figure out, the town council is going to have to figure out how to come up with the money,” Spurgin told News 2.

Sullivan’s Island Mayor Pat O’Neil released the following statement.

“Apparently CWS is having very-late-onset buyer’s remorse about a legally binding contract they willingly entered into almost 30 years ago. When we entered into this agreement in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo, the Island was at one of its most vulnerable points in its centuries-long history. Nonetheless we have abided by the language of this contract. It’s hard to accept that CWS (or anyone else) is “subsidizing” SI when we paid almost $2 million (in 1994 dollars) to support the infrastructure that allowed them to sell water to us and to our neighbors on the Isle of Palms, and when in 2020 we gave them an easement through our public park and playground so there would be additional capacity to sell water to our neighbors in Mount Pleasant.”