Around Charleston
1 - Roper St. Francis Breaks Ground - The new hospital campus in North Charleston has officially broken ground. FULL PRESS RELEASE
2 - Dockside Condos Face $151m in Repairs - With residents still in the process of moving their belongings out, they were hit with a shocking $151m repair bill. The question now is, do they pay the assessment or sell the building? READ MORE
3 - Old YWCA Approved for demolition - The Coming Street building will be demolished to make way for new CofC dorms, but the site is also a potter’s field with an estimated 4000-5000 unnamed bodies buried. FULL STORY
Historic Home of the Week
55 E Bay St. - This circa 1785, 4-story home sits at the end of Rainbow Row. Its renovation and restoration won it a Carolopolis Award in 2019
5 Bed | 5.5 Bath | 7343 sqft | $9,600,000
ShrimpGate Is Upon Us!
From May 19-22, 2025, SEAD Consulting conducted genetic testing on shrimp from 44 Charleston-area restaurants.
Commissioned by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, this study used patented RIGHTTest™ technology to verify authenticity.
The results were stark: 90% of restaurants (40 out of 44) were found to be deceiving customers.
THE DECEPTION UNCOVERED
These 40 establishments were selling imported, often farm-raised, shrimp.
They falsely marketed it as "local," "Carolina-caught," or "wild-caught U.S.".
Even restaurants overlooking local shrimp boats were found serving foreign imports.
THE 4 TELLING THE TRUTH
Coosaw Crab Creek Shack 8486 Dorchester Road, North Charleston, SC 29420
Grace & Grit (Mount Pleasant) 320 Wingo Way, Suite 100, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Rappahannock Oyster Bar 701 E Bay Street, Suite 110, Charleston, SC 29403
Acme (Lowcountry Kitchen) 31 J C Long Boulevard, Isle of Palms, SC 29451
WHY THIS MATTERS FOR OUR LOWCOUNTRY
This fraud "decimates the entire regional economy and culture" of shrimpers.
Consumers, especially tourists, pay a premium, believing they're getting authentic Lowcountry seafood.
It "irreparably harms the strong reputation and customer goodwill" of our local shrimpers.
REACTIONS TO THE FINDINGS
The results, published June 10, were "shocking" to many, but "no surprise" to others.
A biologist noted it's a "huge problem" across the industry, urging restaurants to "be honest".
Only four restaurants (Coosaw Crab Creek Shack, Grace & Grit, Rappahannock Oyster Bar, Acme) were confirmed to serve genuine U.S. wild-caught shrimp.
THE LAWSUIT IS FILED
On June 13, 2025, the S.C. Shrimpers Association filed a federal complaint.
They are suing the 40 unidentified "John Doe" restaurants in the Charleston area.
The suit accuses them of false advertising and violating the SC Unfair Trade Practices Act.
LEGAL BASIS & WHAT THEY SEEK
The complaint alleges knowing misrepresentation of food as a South Carolina-produced product.
They also cite violation of the United States Lanham Act regarding false advertising.
The Shrimpers Association seeks monetary damages (to be determined at trial) and a court injunction.
A DEMAND FOR TRANSPARENCY
The injunction would prohibit restaurants from labeling imported or farm-raised shrimp as wild-caught or local.
Attorney Gedney Howe IV stated that shrimpers "just want to be able to work and earn a living".
This action aims to "change the tide for the dying industry," says shrimper Rocky Magwood.
Your informed choices can help protect our local shrimpers and ensure the authenticity of our Lowcountry seafood!
Dockside Condos Owners Facing $151 MILLION In Repairs
Location & Background
Dockside Condos are located on Concord Street in downtown Charleston
The building was evacuated in February due to structural instability
Residents had to leave on short notice, leaving their belongings behind
Repair Cost Estimate
Estimated structural repair cost: $151 million
Covers extensive building reinforcement and safety upgrades
No Timeline for Return
Residents have retrieved some belongings
No official word on when, or if, they can move back in
Board’s Statement
No final decision yet on whether to proceed with repairs
The Board of Directors emphasized transparency
“We are actively working to keep an open and ongoing line of communication with all unit owners…”
What’s Next
Owners must eventually vote on whether to pursue the costly repairs
In order to sell off the building…there must be a unanimous vote between all condo owners AND townhome owners, which makes things interesting
The Plot Thickens…
Not only are the condo owners expected to pay the assessment, but so are the 21 adjacent townhome owners.
No structural defects were noted in the townhomes
These are the same townhome owners who filed a lawsuit against the city of Charleston for having to evacuate their units as well
The owners are expected to vote later this summer once all the units have finished moving out their belongings. This is being done only 2 units at a time and is expected to be completed at the end of June.
2393 Folly Rd #1G, Folly Beach, SC 29439
3 beds | 3 baths | 1392 sqft
$500,000
Step into your own slice of paradise at 2393 Folly Road #1G — a spacious 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom condo perfectly positioned to capture the best of Folly Beach living. With permanently unimpeded views of the marsh, a private community pool, and an easy walk to the beach, bars, and restaurants, this rare gem blends serenity and local social energy in one effortless coastal escape. This second-floor condo's layout maximizes the stunning marsh panorama from the main living area and primary suite. Oversized sliding doors lead to a covered porch where salty breezes and golden-hour skies set the tone for relaxed mornings and memorable evenings
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Don’t worry, this newsletter is 100% a product of South Carolina
ShrimpGate is shaping up to be the story of the year! My initial video on Instagram is approaching 400,000 views. Watch it HERE if you haven’t. But it does raise the question of if any of these restaurants were being lied to about the shrimp they were purchasing. That could be why their names haven’t been released, because then you have another lawsuit because their reputation is tarnished and sales tanked. I guess time will tell. We will keep you updated!
-Bill Olson
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