Women's Clothing Boutique in South Mount Pleasant, SC

Shrimping has a longstanding history in Mount Pleasant. Several of the trawlers that can be spotted on Shem Creek and in Charleston’s waters belong to families that have been shrimping for generations. Many look forward to the opening of the shrimp season in the Lowcountry, but an influx of imported crustaceans has affected local fishermen’s ability to sell wild-caught domestic shrimp; so much so that an alliance of shrimpers is calling on the local government to declare an economic disaster.

Mount Pleasant’s Economic Development Committee met on Nov. 6 and voted in favor of the proposed economic disaster declaration from the South Carolina Shrimper’s Association and Southern Shrimp Alliance that asserts the Mount Pleasant shrimping fleet can’t sustain itself due to the harmful impacts of shrimp dumping, or the flooding of the market with imported, non-domestic shrimp.

Mount Pleasant is the second municipality in South Carolina to declare a state of economic disaster for the domestic shrimping industry.

Bryan Jones, vice president of the South Carolina Shrimper's Association, said the declaration is more than symbolic — it’s one crucial part of a fight that is bringing fishermen from across the Southern United States together to defend their businesses, livelihoods and the shrimping industry as a whole.

“How do we compete against the Sysco’s of the world and the U.S. Foods of the world? And we know we're never going to be able to replace them, but you would think restaurants within a couple of miles of the coast would have local wild-caught shrimp and not stuff that was grown at a farm halfway around the world or all the way around the world,” Jones said.

The influx of imported shrimp into the nation’s market poses serious threats to the domestic shrimping industry. The impact of shrimp dumping isn’t exclusive to one fisherman who’s down on sales. The shrimping industry is at risk of being squeezed out as a whole and the immediate effects are being played out in Mount Pleasant’s backyard.

Rocky Magwood, a fourth-generation shrimper and president of the South Carolina Shrimper's Association, has been on shrimp boats his entire life. He’s seen firsthand the detrimental impact the shrimp dumping phenomenon has had on the industry. Back in the day, one could go to Shem Creek and see anywhere between 60 to 80 shrimp trawlers in the water, Magwood said. Now only a handful remain consistently in operation.

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“We don't even have double-digit boats in the creek that are actually working. There’s only three or four of us working in the creek right now. And the bunch that are working in the creek, none of us are going every day because we don't have a place to sell our shrimp anymore. It's terrible,” Magwood said.

The price points that the imported shrimp can be sold at can’t be beaten by local fishermen, Jones said. For example, Magwood said he sells his wild-caught shrimp for $7 to $8 per pound. Importers can go as low as $5 per pound, and offer discounts on top. Restaurants can buy far more for far less. Jones told the Economic Development Committee on Nov. 6 that this leaves local shrimpers with overhanging inventory, preventing them from bringing in more catch. Fewer outings mean fewer sold and less sold means smaller paychecks for crewmembers.

“We just want to work. We want to work for a decent paycheck. We know we're not going to become millionaires. We just want to provide for our crews, too,” Jones said. “Every time I'm not out on the boat, I think my crew isn't getting paid. And they're not providing for their family.”

A coalition of fishermen are banding together to take the fight to the federal government. Magwood and Jones will testify as witnesses before the International Trade Commission on Nov. 15. The trade commission is specifically interested in investigating the import of frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador, India, Indonesia and Vietnam.

On a local level, Jones and Magwood said drawing attention to the issue is an important first step in supporting the shrimping fleet. The two encouraged diners and seafood fans to eat wild-caught shrimp when possible and to ask where a restaurant buys their shrimp from if they see it on the menu.

“When you think about the value proposition of why you're paying more money for domestic wild-caught shrimp is because ours doesn't have antibiotics and banned residues because it literally came right from the ocean. It's not grown in a pond that requires all these things. It's not being preserved and stored on a shipping container for months at a time to make its way through the ports of entry,” Jones said.

The SC Shrimper’s Association has compiled a list of restaurants that sell domestic wild-caught shrimp. The list, found at scshrimp.org/our-partners, is not comprehensive, Jones said. Restaurants that sell local shrimp, but are not on the list can be added by contacting scshrimp@scshrimp.org.

MOUNT PLEASANT — His belief in both are unshakeable.

Why not combine them?

“I still enjoy teaching the game, I still enjoy being around kids. And as you know, I still hate to lose,” chuckled Joe Hudak, the memories of 31 years as a college baseball coach as fresh as the ideas for his new venture. “What’s even more exciting to me at this point is of being part of these young men’s spiritual development.”

Baseball and faith have always intertwined in his life, represented by a bracelet on his wrist featuring two hardballs flanking a cross. Hudak won 866 games in his career, 660 during 19 seasons at Winthrop, but when his tenure with the Eagles ended in 2010, he was looking for the next opportunity.

That’s where the seed for Kingsmen Baseball Academy, a full-time baseball development institution for high-school players, sprouted. Headquartered at Mount Pleasant’s Shipyard Park, it’s recruiting players for its first school year, which will begin in August.

A wave of baseball academies has crested with the creation of schools from southern Virginia to Florida, including Lexington’s P27 Academy. The idea is to take players who are planning to play in college — the Kingsmen are already talking to recruits who are committed to college programs for the 2025 season — and give them a baseball experience much more than the standard high-school season. They’ll practice three to four hours per day, do their academic work online and live within five miles of the field.

“We’re talking to a young man right now from Minnesota, who’s committed to Creighton,” Hudak said. “And it’s like we’ve told him — ‘You can stay home, where you’re going to play 20 games in high school, maybe, and the weather is horrible. Or you can come here, where the average temperature from November to February is 64 and a half degrees, play 60-70 games and get on the fast track to be successful in college, not just go to college.’

“And we’ll help them with what it really means to be a Christian. It’s not a list of dos and don’ts, it’s having a personal relationship with Christ. We want them to understand what it is so they can decide if they want to pursue that ideal. We won’t force it on them, but it is who we are.”

The Kingsmen will practice year-round and play in the spring against those other Southeast academies. They’ll take a mission trip to the Dominican Republic every year, where they’ll also play against local teams, with Bible study and church a regular part of their everyday stateside routine.

Tuition that covers travel, housing and all other aspects is $25,000 per year, with limited scholarship opportunities available. It’s open to sophomores, juniors and seniors although rising freshmen could be given a chance, if they meet certain requirements.

The goal is to get 48 players for the first year, enough for two teams. If the Kingsmen can get double that, they will get a year’s head start on their next venture: A branch program located in Gastonia, N.C., for a Charlotte-based team, currently set to start in August 2025.

“We have lodging at two apartment complexes in Charleston nine minutes away from Shipyard, and the players and parents will sign a contract about our expectations,” Hudak said. “We’ll run a really tight ship — they’re high-school kids — and monitor their academics and nutrition. They’ll be on their own at night so we’ll be prepping them for college, even if they don’t play.”

Hudak surrounded himself with a top staff. Charleston Southern alum and former big-leaguer Tyler Thornburg is handling the pitchers and one of his Winthrop products, ninth-round draft pick and Stratford High alum John Murrian, is coaching hitters and catchers. Former CSU baseball coach Jason Murray is a part-time assistant and Coastal Carolina coach Gary Gilmore will also help part-time, after he retires from CCU following this season.

“I wanted to start a baseball academy but wanted it to be faith-based,” Hudak said. “We’ve sent 1,200 flyers around the country to recruits in the Class of 2025, and will do the same for 2026.”

Hudak worked with the Piedmont Fellowship of Christian Athletes from 2010-16, interested in coaching again but not wishing to uproot his children, in high school at the time, from Rock Hill. While coaching his son’s travel-ball team — his son is Preston Hudak, who played at North Carolina before chronic shoulder problems ended his career — the elder Hudak created a summer college-league team that was also faith-based.

The Piedmont Pride would eventually morph into the Kingsmen and their lion’s-head logo. Hudak dreamed of building the academy in York County but the project never really got off the ground, which is when Charleston and Mount Pleasant entered the picture.

Now his vision is nearly reality. Starting in August, the ol’ skipper will once again don the uniform, lace his cleats and lead another team.

“The ability to go to practice every day and play 60 or 70 games is really exciting to me,” said Hudak, who stressed the message of a favorite book of his: “Halftime,” where the message is to have success in life, then transition to significance.

“Our goal is to help them with baseball and their faith.”

MOUNT PLEASANT — A North Carolina-based supermarket chain plans to enter the Charleston market, stepping in after another grocery store's plans fell through.

The Fresh Market has taken over the lease from discount grocer Lidl for a space in Bowman Place Shopping Center, according to a document filed Sept. 27 in the Charleston County land records office.

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A spokeswoman for the Greensboro-based specialty grocer said the company "did not have anything to share at this time" on its open schedule.

Peter Stone of Mount Pleasant's planning department said Fresh Market has not presented construction plans to the town, which usually considers building and facade alterations as well as signage through the Commercial Design Review Board.

German company Lidl, with its U.S. headquarters in Arlington, Va., had planned to move into a 26,000-square-foot space in the Dick's Sporting Goods-anchored retail center near Bowman Road and Johnnie Dodds Boulevard.

Work came to a halt more than a year ago.

A Lidl representative did not respond for comment.

The Fresh Market now has the remainder of the 15-year tenant agreement Lidl signed three years ago next month. The lease also included an option for 15 more years.

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The site originally held a 20,000-square-foot kitchen store, but it closed in early 2020. Lidl wanted a larger space, so it added 6,000 square feet and a loading dock in the rear of the building.

The Fresh Market has nine stores in South Carolina. Its closest location to Charleston is about 70 miles up the coast at Pawleys Island.

The chain offers an upscale assortment of fresh produce, meat and seafood along with a deli, bakery, prepared foods and fresh-cut flowers. The store also has beer, wine, coffee and bulk nuts along with various other items.

In 2017, Fresh Market first eyed the state's fourth-largest municipality and its 95,000 residents who have a median household income of more than $106,000, according to U.S. Census figures.

Publix eventually brought one of its small-format specialty grocery stores called GreenWise Market to the 21,535-square-foot space in Indigo Square Shopping Center off U.S. Highway 17, where Fresh Market was looking.

GreenWise Market, near Mount Pleasant Towne Centre, closed in 2020 about 16 months after it opened. It's now the site of outdoor gear retailer REI Co-op.

Another specialty grocer also made a run in Mount Pleasant. North Carolina-based Southern Season shuttered its store off Coleman Boulevard in 2016, less than three years after it opened. It's now the home of Gold's Gym.

Last year, South American retailer Cencosud acquired a 67 percent stake in The Fresh Market. Existing grocery store shareholders retained a minority equity interest in the company.

The Fresh Market, with 159 stores in 22 states, was founded in 1982. The size of its stores average about 21,000 square feet.

The Bowman Place location is near a 4-mile stretch of Johnnie Dodds Boulevard between the Ravenel Bridge and Interstate 526 that's teeming with supermarkets. They include Harris Teeter, Whole Foods, Publix, Traders Joe's, Aldi and Walmart.

Lidl has a dozen stores in South Carolina, with two in the Charleston area in Goose Creek and North Charleston.

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MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCBD) – With temperatures warming up as the Lowcountry approaches summer, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) is reminding people who live near bodies of water along the coast, like marshes, ponds, or rivers, to be cautious of your surroundings.

Kristan Leader, who is a stay-at-home mom, learned about an uninvited visitor in the driveway of her home in the Brickyard Plantation of Mount Pleasant when her neighbor called to alert her.

An alligator was underneath her SUV.

“My first thought was what could have happened if they had run out there because their tiny little legs would have been right there,” said Leader, who was concerned about her children’s safety.

The family, who was watching from an upstairs window, waited as Mt. Pleasant’s Animal Control attempted to catch and release the gator.

Leader said Officer Heather Cumbee “came on her day off and came with another girl and they wrangled it within 15 minutes.” One of several calls Officer Cumbee has taken regarding alligators so far this season.

“It’s a great feeling to go out and be able to educate and help the animals get to a safe place as well as keep the public safe, and hopefully the animal doesn’t end up back in that situation,” said Officer Cumbee.

Experts say relocating gators from places like driveways or garages can come with difficulties.

“Adult alligators have a strong homing instinct. They want to establish a home range and they will return to that home range even if relocated and they’ll walk over land to do that,” said Morgan Hart, who is the Alligator Project Leader for the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.

Hart explains more alligators are moving around as people move into spaces where those alligators are already living.

“Alligators are often moving from pond to pond or from river to pond. They tend to try to move over land in a straight line and sometimes that means they end up in places they shouldn’t be like garages or under cars,” said Hart.

A place where Leader said she will now check underneath from now on.

While the hot, new restaurants tend to open in downtown Charleston, folks east of the Cooper need to eat too. Mount Pleasant serves up a lot of hidden gems that might not get the same publicity as the peninsula hot spots.

These spots should answer any question that begins, "Can you recommend a restaurant in Mount P?" This group spans multiple cuisines, from Japanese to Vietnamese to Southwestern, and collectively satisfies all of your restaurant needs. Who knew the city full of chain stores and suburbs could offer so much?

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Little Miss Ha is a bright spot to stop in for lunch or dinner while near Mount Pleasant Whole Foods. Chef Janice Nguyen Hudgins serves the Vietnamese she grew up eating (the restaurant is named after her mother). From homemade pork dumplings to pho, this family business offers fresh flavors to the area.

Locals like to debate whether Shem Creek dive Wreck of the Richard & Charlene is too touristy or just the right amount of out-of-towners. Nestled on the water, the dining room is not much more than a screen porch and some plastic furniture. It’s no frills, so stop by after a trip to the beach for some boiled peanuts, a cold beer, and fried shrimp.

Oysters are the star at Nico, but there’s so much more to explore. This bustling brasserie from chef Nico Romo serves a wide variety of raw bar items and classic French dishes like escargot and trout almondine. The wood-fired oven brings a bit of smokiness to the menu through a selection of roasted bivalves and whole roasted fish. The brunch is popular here as well.

Chef Eric Milley constantly rotates the offerings on the menu at I’on eatery the Shellmore, but there’s always an oyster and cheese selection available to pair with the amazing wine selection. The restaurant is small and the kitchen is even smaller, but it puts out big flavors like shrimp and scallop risotto with lobster cream or rigatoni bolognese.

Open since 2003, Langdon's serves some of the best fine dining in Mount Pleasant. The dining room is set for a special night out, but it isn’t stuffy. Start with local goat cheese gnocchi or seared foie gras and then move on to a local fish with lemon-chive beurre blanc or rack of lamb with gruyere potatoes.

Hidden along the busy Coleman Blvd, stands a little green restaurant tucked into a luscious, verdant garden not normally seen in public spaces in Mount Pleasant. The Pickled Palate is a popular lunch spot, often dominated by locals eating soups, salads and sandwiches along side a glass of wine or two.

Post House is a handsome tavern anchoring the Old Village. The neighborhood restaurant focuses on coastal, seasonal cuisine and classic cocktails. Diners can start their meals with blue crab toast or Abundant Seafood crudo and move on to a Peculiar Pig pork chop or flank steak with Spade & Clover potatoes. In addition to dinner, the restaurant offers lunch and brunch.

Established in 1945, H&R Sweet Shop is a staple of the Old Village. The address is an old shotgun-style building with a small cafe on the left and a hat shop on the right. Visitors come for deals on griddled burgers, fried oyster plates, and daily specials like cabbage and rice — most dishes under $10.

Expect friendly and fast service at this Mount Pleasant deli. At Mozzo, it’s common to hear, “Hey Jimmy, are you having the regular?” Other patrons can choose from an extensive sandwich menu featuring proteins like chicken cutlet, roast beef, turkey, and Italian meats served on ten different kinds of bread. Daily soups, house-made pickles, and local iced tea are a few of the many accompaniments offered.

A South-meets-Southwest staple of Mount Pleasant, Red Drum has served the community since 2005. An inviting patio, great margaritas made with real ingredients, crispy fried shrimp, and a wood-fired creations from chef Ben Berryhill keep this a date night destination for many in the Lowcountry.

Kanpai is truly a staple of Mount Pleasant dining. Chef Sean Park puts the utmost care into every plate and seems to score the freshest catches around. Always check out the specials, which can range from uni to chutoro.

Located in Towne Center, Savi Cucina has become known for its excellent wine selection, including a wine-tasting room and coveted inclusion in the wine club membership. House-made pasta like the ricotta gnocchi and pizza options including the original fig and prosciutto pie accompany other Italian classics. Situated across from Regal Palmetto Grande movie theatre, Savi Cucina is a great stop before a film.

After a successful run with Ma’am Saab at former food hall Workshop, restaurateurs Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba opened another Pakistani restaurant, Malika Canteen, in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. Popular menu items include dahi puri, chicken tikka masala, the kabab roll plate, and paneer tikka masala.

Little Miss Ha is a bright spot to stop in for lunch or dinner while near Mount Pleasant Whole Foods. Chef Janice Nguyen Hudgins serves the Vietnamese she grew up eating (the restaurant is named after her mother). From homemade pork dumplings to pho, this family business offers fresh flavors to the area.

Locals like to debate whether Shem Creek dive Wreck of the Richard & Charlene is too touristy or just the right amount of out-of-towners. Nestled on the water, the dining room is not much more than a screen porch and some plastic furniture. It’s no frills, so stop by after a trip to the beach for some boiled peanuts, a cold beer, and fried shrimp.

Oysters are the star at Nico, but there’s so much more to explore. This bustling brasserie from chef Nico Romo serves a wide variety of raw bar items and classic French dishes like escargot and trout almondine. The wood-fired oven brings a bit of smokiness to the menu through a selection of roasted bivalves and whole roasted fish. The brunch is popular here as well.

Chef Eric Milley constantly rotates the offerings on the menu at I’on eatery the Shellmore, but there’s always an oyster and cheese selection available to pair with the amazing wine selection. The restaurant is small and the kitchen is even smaller, but it puts out big flavors like shrimp and scallop risotto with lobster cream or rigatoni bolognese.

Open since 2003, Langdon's serves some of the best fine dining in Mount Pleasant. The dining room is set for a special night out, but it isn’t stuffy. Start with local goat cheese gnocchi or seared foie gras and then move on to a local fish with lemon-chive beurre blanc or rack of lamb with gruyere potatoes.

Hidden along the busy Coleman Blvd, stands a little green restaurant tucked into a luscious, verdant garden not normally seen in public spaces in Mount Pleasant. The Pickled Palate is a popular lunch spot, often dominated by locals eating soups, salads and sandwiches along side a glass of wine or two.

Post House is a handsome tavern anchoring the Old Village. The neighborhood restaurant focuses on coastal, seasonal cuisine and classic cocktails. Diners can start their meals with blue crab toast or Abundant Seafood crudo and move on to a Peculiar Pig pork chop or flank steak with Spade & Clover potatoes. In addition to dinner, the restaurant offers lunch and brunch.

Established in 1945, H&R Sweet Shop is a staple of the Old Village. The address is an old shotgun-style building with a small cafe on the left and a hat shop on the right. Visitors come for deals on griddled burgers, fried oyster plates, and daily specials like cabbage and rice — most dishes under $10.

Expect friendly and fast service at this Mount Pleasant deli. At Mozzo, it’s common to hear, “Hey Jimmy, are you having the regular?” Other patrons can choose from an extensive sandwich menu featuring proteins like chicken cutlet, roast beef, turkey, and Italian meats served on ten different kinds of bread. Daily soups, house-made pickles, and local iced tea are a few of the many accompaniments offered.

A South-meets-Southwest staple of Mount Pleasant, Red Drum has served the community since 2005. An inviting patio, great margaritas made with real ingredients, crispy fried shrimp, and a wood-fired creations from chef Ben Berryhill keep this a date night destination for many in the Lowcountry.

Kanpai is truly a staple of Mount Pleasant dining. Chef Sean Park puts the utmost care into every plate and seems to score the freshest catches around. Always check out the specials, which can range from uni to chutoro.

Located in Towne Center, Savi Cucina has become known for its excellent wine selection, including a wine-tasting room and coveted inclusion in the wine club membership. House-made pasta like the ricotta gnocchi and pizza options including the original fig and prosciutto pie accompany other Italian classics. Situated across from Regal Palmetto Grande movie theatre, Savi Cucina is a great stop before a film.

After a successful run with Ma’am Saab at former food hall Workshop, restaurateurs Maryam Ghaznavi and Raheel Gauba opened another Pakistani restaurant, Malika Canteen, in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. Popular menu items include dahi puri, chicken tikka masala, the kabab roll plate, and paneer tikka masala.