AC Repair in Summers Corner, SC

A long-anticipated Publix supermarket is finally turning dirt in Summerville’s Summers Corner development at 1612 Beech Hill Road.

First announced in January, the project generated new buzz Nov. 23 after the neighborhood posted the news on its Facebook page that the site is finally under construction. The post garnering 900 likes and more than 200 shares in just days.

A spokesperson for the Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer said the store expects to hire about 140 employees.

The Publix will be the anchor tenant for the new retail center, with plans calling for a 50,800-square-foot supermarket and eight 1,200-square-foot suites.

At full buildout, Summers Corner is expected to exceed 7,500 homes.

On a related note, Publix will mark its return to Daniel Island next Wednesday at 7 a.m., after a nearly year-long absence that left DI without its own full-service grocery store. The chain closed its original location at 162 Seven Farms Road in late 2024 and rebuilt a larger supermarket in its place in less than 12 months.

Goodbye, Ruby Tuesday

Ruby Tuesday has pulled out of North Charleston leaving the chain with just one Lowcountry restaurant.

A sign on the door at 7400 Northside Drive directs customers to the West Ashley location at 1953 Savannah Highway. Company representatives did not respond to a request for comment.

Maryville, Tenn.-based Ruby Tuesday is owned NRD Capital, a private equity firm. The casual dining closed its Summerville location earlier this year.

Completely floored

Floor & Decor has opened its long-awaited warehouse store and design center at 1155 Holliday Farms Blvd. next to The Home Depot in Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant.

The new store employs about 50 workers and is led by Matthew Peiffer, whose title is chief executive merchant.

The Atlanta-based retailer specializes in flooring for homeowners and professionals. It operates more than 250 warehouse-style outlets nationwide, including South Carolina stores in North Charleston, Columbia, Greenville and Murrells Inlet.

A ribbon cutting is set for Dec. 2 at the Mount Pleasant store, featuring giveaways including a $5,000 floor makeover and 2026 Charleston Southern University football season tickets.

Palm pleasant

Gwynn’s of Mount Pleasant, a mainstay luxury boutique that plans to open a second location in downtown Charleston, has unveiled five holiday window displays with a 1967-era Palm Springs, Calif. theme.

The department store’s inspiration this year is “A Holiday on Holiday” concept, capturing “the golden glow of a retro holiday.”

The mid-century-inspired vignettes include glittering garments, glowing pink flamingos and rotating disco balls that channel holiday department-store spectacles in major cities.

Market to market

A food truck is opening a brick-and-mortar downtown.

Luther’s Market & Eatery, known for its pastas, casseroles and sauces, will take over 227 Rutledge Ave., formerly home to Pinot & Provisions, which closed Oct. 31.

The new tenant is expected to open in January and will offer global comfort foods from the mother-and-son duo of Kiki Luthringshausen and Hudson Luthringshausen. Until then, their pastas and sauces are currently available via their food truck and at Corner Store, a grab-and-go market that opened this summer in West Ashley in the former home of Taco Bartina.

3rd First Watch

First Watch, a breakfast, brunch and lunch spot, will open its third Lowcountry restaurant on Dec. 15 at the Market Place at Carnes Crossroads in Goose Creek. Founded in 1983, the Florida-based chain operates more than 620 restaurants in 32 states, including locations in Summerville, North Charleston and Mount Pleasant.

Mall market

The Joy Market has returned to Citadel Mall in West Ashley with a rotating lineup of local vendors selling holiday goods. It runs Nov. 26–Dec. 30 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with gift-wrapping available.

Very neighborly

Park Circle home-decor shop Neighborly will celebrate its one-year anniversary with a holiday market on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 29 with live music, food trucks and 18 vendors.

The event will run from noon to 5 p.m.

Let it snow

Tanger Outlets in North Charleston will bring winter magic to shoppers with “snow flurries” every Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. from Nov. 29 until Dec. 20 near the shopping center’s 40-foot-tall Christmas tree.

Kids can also leave messages for Santa via the mall’s “Santa Hotline.”

No. 1 pick

A national indoor pickleball club operator that's opening in North Charleston next month has announced a partnership with a fashion brand created for the sport's “court-to-cocktail” lifestyle.

SUMMERVILLE, S.C. (WCSC) — The Summers Corner community hosted its 4th Annual Winter Festival – Whoville edition, bringing families and friends out for festive fun and supporting local businesses for the holidays.

This year’s brought Grinches of all ages and even Cindy Lou Who singing Christmas songs. The festival included a petting zoo, free Christmas train rides and snow for family entertainment.

Vendors said shopping locally has a far greater impact than what people may see. For some business owners, the community support makes a significant difference in their lives.

“Being able to come to these events, we do this full-time. I was able to cover my kids’ entire Christmas just by coming to vendor events. So, I’m very thankful for all of our customers and everybody that supports us,” co-owner of The Scented Cactus Co. Kaylee Holmes said.

For Samantha Creech, owner of Southern Naturals, the support means even more during difficult times.

“My husband has stage four cancer. And so this is how we support our family. But you never know what somebody’s going through, and how supporting them and what that means to them,” Creech said.

Rebecca Stephenson, a resident and event organizer, emphasized the importance of community connection.

“These are your neighbors, these are people that share your parks, there are people that you wave by as you’re driving down the street and, you know, you’re supporting their livelihood, and their ability to raise their families, and pay their bills and in the same turn, you’re also getting some really cool gifts and really cool experiences that honestly, where else can you get that?” Stephenson said.

Local financial advisor Alwyn Coetzee sponsored this year’s Christmas train rides for families to enjoy and said that, for his family and being in the financial planning practice, it’s really important to give back to our community.

“It’s for a very brief moment where we can still enjoy this and the magic and Santa Claus and all the amazing stuff, and so that brings a lot of joy to my life to see everyone here,” Coetzee said.