Fresh Market gets to work on Mount Pleasant store; new gym coming to North Charleston (2024)

A highly talked-about grocery store could be opening in Mount Pleasant in 2025.

Construction is underway on the area’s first The Fresh Market in Bowman Place Shopping Center at 1118 Bowman Place, between Dick’s Sporting Goods and DSW.

Peter Stone, a senior planner with the town, said the design and all permits have been granted to move the project forward.

The Fresh Market did not respond to requests for comment, but employees at the neighboring DSW shoe store said they’ve been told the store is expected to open in 2025.

Some of the parking in the Bowman Place lot has now been fenced off for construction, while inside the store, workers are breaking ground and tearing up the concrete floor that previously housed Kitchen & Co.

The Fresh Market signed a deal last year to slip into the 26,000-square-foot space that was originally to be occupied by a discount grocer: Lidl added 6,000 square feet and a loading dock but never opened its doors at Bowman Place.

The Fresh Market, based in Greensboro, N.C., has assumed the remainder of the 15-year lease Lidl signed around 2021, with an option to extend the terms for another 15 years, according to Charleston County real estate records.

The chain has nine grocery stores in South Carolina, including three along the coast in Hilton Head, Pawleys Island and Myrtle Beach.

Not judging

Out with the old and in with the new.

Following the closing of Gold’s Gym at 5101 Ashley Phosphate Road in North Charleston, a Planet Fitness will be taking over for its third location in the city.

A spokesperson for the Hampton, N.H.-based chain said it’s tentatively scheduled to open in the late summer or early fall.

”We are looking forward to helping the North Charleston community improve their physical and mental wellness in our newest judgement free zone,” the spokesperson said.

Planet Fitness operates more than 50 gyms in South Carolina, according to its website .

Ciao, Bella

An Italian eatery inside Citadel Mall will close April 30.

The small-scale Bella Roma serves up favorites like chicken parmesan, fettucine alfredo and cannoli to go. Owners Fabio and Barbara Spadaro shared news of the closing on their Facebook page .

The duo will not be opening any other local ventures, citing “For family reasons we decided to go back to Italy. We invite everyone to support us until the end of the month.”

Kitchen upgrade

A kitchen, bath and closet design center will open a new Charleston location April 25.

The Designery Charleston, owned by Nate Van Valkenburg, is ready for launch at 1217 Remount Road. Inside the showroom, customers can personally design their kitchen and view finish selections for 100 cabinet styles.

Van Valkenburg also owns a Window Hero and a Yard Patrol Pros in the area, which along with The Designery Charleston are franchised by HomeFront Brands.

Market makers

The Carnes Crossroads Farmers Market in Goose Creek returns April 26 from 5 to 8 p.m.

The event, which takes place every fourth Friday through September at 513 Wodin Place, features more than 50 vendors, including local farmers and entrepreneurs, as well as live music and food trucks.

A week later, on May 4, the fourth annual Ravenel Depot Farmers Market will be starting back up at 5775 S.C. Highway 165 at the town’s train depot. It takes place on the first and third Saturday of the month through Dec. 14 from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

In addition to live music and food trucks, roughly 20 vendors will be on hand with fresh produce, breads and baked goods, local crafts, artwork and more.

Going green

A South Carolina commercial landscape business is growing more than grass.

The Greenery Inc. is expanding its footprint with a new branch at 5080 Coosaw Creek Blvd. in North Charleston.

The company offers commercial landscape services to resorts, municipalities, industrial and commercial businesses, planned communities and more in Greenville and Spartanburg, as well as Bluffton, Beaufort, Savannah and Hilton Head Island, where it was started in 1973.

The company also has Florida offices in Jacksonville, Amelia Island and Daytona.

“We have been serving the Charleston market since 1999,” CEO Lee Edwards said. “It’s the second-largest market that we are in, and we think it’s going to be a huge part of our future through our strategic plan and our employee-owned leadership.”