New insurance director promises some help for coastal areas

(Columbia-AP) February 28, 2007 - New State Insurance Director Scott Richardson told a legislative committee Wednesday morning help is on the way for dealing with the insurance problems of coastal residents.

But Richardson says a proposal to expand what's called the state wind pool will not solve the problem.

Some lawmakers want to sharply expand the area where a state-backed group provides insurance to those unable to get it from private companies. Only certain immediate beach areas are covered now. Richardson says he's only willing to expand the coverage in a handful of areas. He says a wide expansion would cost homeowners thousands in higher premiums.

Worries about hurricane damage have prompted some companies to cancel policies or to charge sharply higher premiums.

The committee took no action Wednesday.

Provided by Bryce Mursch WIS10 Columbia

Mad River Bar and Grille takes on parking and drinking and driving issues

By Kathleen Dayton
Staff Writer

A downtown restaurant that attracts a late-night crowd is taking the initiative to alleviate two problems that nightspots in the city continually battle: limited parking and intoxicated patrons.

“Give us the keys, please,” is the motto for a new service being offered by Mad River Bar and Grille on North Market Street.

The Market Street area is one of the most congested parts of the city and one that keeps going until the wee hours.

Mad River has partnered with Charleston Executive Limousine Service to offer transportation on the peninsula to and from the restaurant for its patrons for free.

“It’s already proven lucrative for my business,” said general manager Brian Strazza, who is director of operations for Mad River’s five restaurants. The restaurant’s other locations are in Baltimore, Chicago, New York and Philadelphia.

The beginnings of the transportation idea came when Strazza secured a reservation for a large party of guests by offering to pick them up for free in a 15-passenger coach van he hired from Charleston Executive Limo.

The guests, a group from the Medical University of South Carolina, were coming to downtown from various parts of the Charleston area.

Strazza offered them a free ride from a designated spot where they would all be able to park for free after dark. The free shuttle to the restaurant clinched the group’s reservation and established the first arrangement between Strazza and the limo service.

“It’s an expense, but it’s a strong business move, too,” Strazza said. “I don’t want to see anybody getting into trouble leaving my bar.”

Strazza hopes eventually to hire two or three vans from Charleston Executive, he said.

“It would be great if other bars would join in and make Charleston a little safer,” he said. “We’re just taking a shot at this. It could be a complete bust, I don’t know. I’m going to stick with it at least through summer.”

Scott Crowe, owner of Charleston Executive Limo, said he has approached a number of downtown businesses about the free ride concept in the past.

“I’ve floated it around to some people, but they can’t seem to make a business decision,” Crowe said. “I’ve seen it done in other cities and especially college towns. I don’t see it as a money-maker, I see it as a community service of two businesses that are compatible, working together, giving people an alternative.”

Crowe has one driver dedicated to serving Mad River’s patrons on weekends between 10 p.m. and 2:30 a.m. As the service becomes established, it could expand to other nights of the week, hours could change or the service could be extended to communities outside the peninsula.

Right now, Strazza is offering to pick up patrons at designated parking areas or metered spaces in the city where parking is free after 6 p.m. A free ride to and from Mad River Bar & Grille can be set up by calling (843) 345-LIMO.

Crowe said he is charging Strazza less than a regular charter service would charge for the shuttle.

“They’re contributing a minimal amount to cover gas and a little bit of expenses,” Crowe said. “A charter company would charge between $80 and $90 an hour and we’re cutting that probably by 75 percent. We just basically crunched some numbers to do it and offer it as a public service. Mad River thinks it’s good for business and gives their patrons a safe ride home.”

Other restaurants have occasionally run shuttles as part of special packages, such as symphony concerts at the Galliard Auditorium that start with dinner in a downtown restaurant.

Most restaurants will call cabs for patrons who don’t seem capable of driving home, but the patron usually has to pay for the cab. A few restaurants offer valet parking or have considered offering it.

Laura Bright, director of marketing for Maverick Restaurant Group, said parking is not as much an issue for her company’s restaurants, High Cotton and Slightly North of Broad on East Bay Street, because they are near parking garages and do not have late night hours.

“We’re not a late-night place. That’s when parking really can get bad,” Bright said.

“I have to applaud Mad River, especially because of the drinking and driving issue. They want to attract business but they also want to help people get home. It will be interesting to see if it works.”

Hearing people tell him they do not patronize downtown bars and restaurants because of the parking problems solidified Strazza’s decision to offer the service.

“The city’s done some good things. There’s lots of places to park, but you have to pay for it,” Strazza said. “You’re either going to get a ticket or you’re going to get in trouble driving out of there. We’re just helping these people get home and not getting themselves in a mess of trouble. I imagine after a while it will catch on and others will do it as well. We’re not trying to corner the free-van service. It just feels like the right thing to do.”

Kathleen Dayton is a staff writer for the Business Journal.

Shem Creek Bar & Grill Restaurant
Off Coleman Blvd. (Shem Creek), SC 29464

My family and I went out to dinner last night to the "Shem Creek Bar & Grill" Restaurant located just off of Coleman Blvd. on Shem Creek in Mount Pleasant, SC.  The service was poor and the food was over cooked.  The Shem Creek Bar & Grill has been in Mount Pleasant for many years and I have been there many times (but, it had been awhile since the last time).  I had the "Jambalaya" it wasn't very good, the rice was hard and the chicken overcooked.  My wife had the "Damn Good Crab Caks" (as they're called on the menu) they were okay but nothing to brag about.  There are many good restaurants around Mount Pleasant, SC so I'm sure that I won't be back to the "Shem Creek Bar & Grill" anytime soon.

Cuisine: Surf & Turf

My Dining Rating is 1 out of 5   (5=Excellent)

Charleston Metro Chamber Helps Land AirTran Airways to Charleston Airport

The Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that AirTran Airways will begin air service to Charleston International Airport May 24, 2007.

The cost of air travel is one of the top issues for the business community and that is why the Chamber has responded by partnering with the Charleston County Aviation Authority and Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau to actively recruit AirTran Airways to Charleston to lower air travel costs and expand air service.

“We are thrilled to welcome AirTran Airways to Charleston. Today is a new day in our region,” said Tom Hood, chairman of the Chamber Board at the official announcement February 22. “Air travel costs significantly impact the bottom line of the business community when they have to pay high costs to fly. For too long, high airfares have hindered regional economic development and caused great expense and inconvenience to the Charleston business community and the general traveling public. The Chamber has recognized this problem and several months ago began a renewed effort, along with the Charleston County Aviation Authority and Charleston Convention & Visitors Bureau, to attract a low-cost air carrier to Charleston.”

On behalf of the business community, the Chamber has committed to work to ensure AirTran Airways success in Charleston. Beginning today, the Chamber is launching an intense effort to secure a commitment from the area’s business community to spend at least 20 percent of their normal air travel budget on AirTran Airways. For those businesses that would like to commit, CLICK HERE for the online form to make your pledge. Our goal is to demonstrate to AirTran that the business community understands to keep low cost air service in charleston, we have to fly AirTran.

In addition, the Chamber will have an educational campaign over the next several months to help the Charleston community understand the importance of supporting AirTran Airways in the long term.

provided by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce

Family Circle adds five top players to event

Serena Williams will join Maria Sharapova, Justine Henin, Amélie Mauresmo and Martina Hingis at the Family Circle Cup in April. The tennis event now boasts five of the top six players in the world.

By Daily Journal Staff
Provided by theCharleston Business Journal

AirTran Coming To Charleston, SC International Airport

AirTran Airways, the Orlando, Fla.-based low fare carrier, has scheduled a news conference at 3:30 p.m. today at Charleston International Airport. David Jennings, chairman of the Charleston County Aviation Authority, said the airline will announce its plans to begin service May 24 with two round trips to Atlanta and will add two more trips on June 7. When the full compliment of flights are in service, they will cover the four significant travel periods: early morning, mid-to-late morning, afternoon and evening so it creates exactly what we want for the leisure traveler and the business traveler, Jennings said. I believe once they are here, they will stay. AirTran turned down the Charleston airport in 2003, but industry experts expected the airline might take another look at Charleston after AirTran last year announced it would pull out of the Myrtle Beach International Airport. AirTran had served Myrtle Beach on a seasonal basis for years, suspending flights in the winter months when tourist traffic slows. Charleston International Airport has a higher rate of business travelers than the Myrtle Beach Airport, with an even amount of business and leisure travelers, said Becky Beamon, spokeswoman for Charleston International Airport. Charleston attorney Mark Fava, who formerly worked as chief operations attorney for Delta Airlines, said the AirTran announcement is a huge success for the partnership efforts of the local business community. They clearly recognized the need from an economic development perspective for this type of competition,” Fava said. The Charleston County Aviation Authority formed an aviation consortium among local business groups last fall and hired an aviation consultant to help the region draw stronger air service. The last low-fare carrier to serve the Charleston airport was Independence Air, which folded after less than two years. The lack of low-fare carriers at the airport has help drive fares in Charleston higher than most other U.S. destinations. Fava said AirTran’s introductory fares could lower fares as much as 60% and 70% on average for routes that are already serviced by other carriers. After the introductory period, rates could still fall by 30% to 40%, Fava said. An economic benefit study produced for Richmond International Airport in Virginia showed an increase of 17.7% in passenger traffic at the airport in for the first full year after low fare carriers began serving the airport. The introduction of low fare carriers there also accounted for $22.8 million in total consumer savings, plus additional jobs, the study reported. Fava said the challenge for AirTran will be the ability to sustain market competition once other carriers start matching AirTrans fares. AirTran shares a hub in Atlanta with Delta Airlines. AirTran is currently one of the nations more stable airlines and posted a profit of $18.8 million in the first nine months of 2006. Average one-way fares on the airline are around $90. Dean Harton, president of Hawthorne Corp. a Charleston management and investment firm that includes Hawthorne Aviation, said the lack of low fare carriers in the Charleston area has been a deterrent to attracting industry to the area. Harton said it costs 50% more to travel out of Charleston International Airport than other areas. It is difficult to get to places and the prices are outrageous, Harton said.

Provided by the Charleston Business Journal

Nations only tea plantation announces new tour

The Charleston Tea Plantation announced a new narrated, air-conditioned bus tour illustrating how tea is planted, grown and harvested. Since re-opening in 2006, more than 20,000 visitors have toured the nation’s only tea plantation and 2007 visits have nearly tripled. Nearly 70% of the 2007 visitors have taken the new bus tour.

“Our new field tour is an intimate way for guests to learn about the unique horticultural aspects of Camellia Sinensis and to get an up-close, behind-the-scenes view of how tea is made from leaf to cup,” said William B. Hall, partner, Charleston Tea Plantation.

The plantation is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. It is located at 6617 Maybank Highway on Wadmalaw Island.

Provided by the Charleston Regional Business Journal, By Daily Journal Staff

Music Man Barbeque
Moncks Corner, SC 29461

I had lunch today with an old friend at the Music Man Bar-B-Que in Moncks Corner.  This is absolutely the best barbeque in the lowcountry.  I had the buffet which had a variety of items.  Their "banana pudding" is out of this world.   I have eaten there many times in the past and the food and service has always been wonderful.  If you're ever in the mood for Bar-b-que and around Moncks Corner - you have to try this place.  It's only open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday's.

My Dining Rating is 5 out of 5   (5=Excellent)

LongPoint Grill
Longpoint Rd. Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

Tonight we dined at the LongPoint Grill located on Longpoint Rd. in Mount Pleasant, SC. The service was great and the food was even better. I had the Meatloaf Dish with mash potatoes and green beans. There's not a bad dish on the menu (I've had most items). I have eaten there many times in the past and the food and service has always been wonderful.

My Dining Rating is 5 out of 5 (5=Excellent)

T-Bonz Steakhouse Restaurant
Hwy 17 Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

I ate lunch today at T-Bonz Steakhouse Restaurant located on hwy-17 in Mount Pleasant, SC.   I had the "steak salad" which I've had many times and is a great choice. The wait staff is friendly and always willing to please.  Save some room for desert.  They have the best deserts in town!  I have eaten there many times in the past and the food is usually great.

My Dining Rating is 4 out of 5   (5=Excellent)

Mount Pleasant - Town Council says "NO SMOKING"

Tonight February 13, 2007 at the Town Council meeting in Mount Pleasant after much debate and public outcry - Town Council passed an ordinance for the town attorney to prepare a ordinance within 30 days to ban smoking in ALL public places (Restaurants, bars, etc...).  The vote was 7-3 in favor.  When this is brought back to council next month - there should be a vote on this ordinance whether to enact or not.  The time frame to enact this ordinance seems to be a sticking point for some members and at least one member (the mayor - Harry Hallman) wants to wait to see how the law suits against Sullivan's Island and Charleston turn out before taking up this issue.  This discussion was placed on the agenda by Town council member Gary Santos and Paul Gawrych.  Stay tuned!

Basil Restaurant
460 King St. Charleston, SC 2940
(843) 724-2490

My youngest daughter and her best friend and I ate lunch today at Basil Restaurant located on King St. downtown Charleston, SC.  The service was good but the food was great as usual.  I had the "Pad Prick" with chicken (wonderful). The "Stuffed Shrimp" and "Egg Rolls" are also great there.  I have eaten there many times in the past and the food has always been great.

Cuisine: Thai

My Dining Rating is 4 out of 5   (5=Excellent)

Coastal Insurance Update

Coastal insurance received more attention this week in the General Assembly than any other issue, as a result of REALTOR® member visits to the Statehouse on Tuesday to lobby their legislators on this important issue. REALTORS® shared their experiences and asked legislators to provide a market-based solution to this grave issue that would result in increased availability and more stable and predictable future rates.

Consequently, a great deal of discussion among legislators ensued in the Chambers of the House and Senate. Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell even made this statement on the floor of the Senate, “I have heard loud and clear from South Carolina REALTORS® on this issue, and they need help. And they need it now.” This occurred in the speech he delivered when introducing the South Carolina Insurance Accountability, Reorganization, and Relief Act of 2007 (S. 412) aimed at addressing this problem. Specifically, Senator McConnell’s bill:

• Requires direct election of the Director of the Department of Insurance;
• Converts the SC Wind and Hail Underwriting Association (wind pool) to a SC Hurricane Underwriting Association to provide hurricane insurance as a public, tax-exempt body;
• Establishes a Commission on Hurricane Loss Methodology;
• Establishes the SC Hurricane Damage Mitigation Program; and
• Provides that notice of a policy not being renewed must be given 100 days prior to expiration of the property insurance and disallows policy cancellation during hurricane season.
• To view a more detailed summary, please visit the Legislative section of screaltors.com.

In the House, Speaker Bobby Harrell, finding that the spiraling cost of property insurance has reached critical mass, introduced a joint resolution (H. 3447) to establish a committee composed of three members of the Senate, three members of the House and three appointees by the Governor to study the coastal insurance issue and submit a report prior to April 1, 2007. The joint resolution received third reading in the House and has been sent to the Senate for consideration.

At Tuesday’s SCAR Legislative Leadership Panel discussion Senate President Pro Tempore Glenn McConnell, Senate Minority Leader John Land, House Speaker Bobby Harrell, House Majority Leader Jim Merrill, and House Minority Leader Harry Ott all addressed property insurance and expressed the General Assembly’s dedication to resolving this issue. SCAR leadership and staff will continue to monitor this vital issue for REALTORS® and work to keep it on the agenda for members of the General Assembly.

In other insurance news, SC Department of Insurance Director Eleanor Kitzman tendered her resignation to Governor Sanford on Tuesday. In a Wednesday press conference, the Governor tapped Senator Scott Richardson (R-Beaufort County) to succeed her and pointed to the coastal insurance issue as being a huge contributing factor to his selection of Senator Richardson. Richardson will vacate his Senate seat, if confirmed by the Senate for this position.

In the press, the Post and Courier published an article on this issue, which highlights coastal insurance as being a statewide issue that must be addressed. Click here to view the article.

Provided by: Cashion Didier and Russ Hightower
SCAR Legislative Team

Southeastern Wildlife Exposition: Feb.16-18. Now in its 25th year, SEWE is the largest event of its kind in the nation, attracting more than 35,000 attendees. More than 120 artists and 350 exhibitors will showcase art and outdoor gear. Jack Hanna (pictured) of Jack Hanna's Animal Adventures will host educational live animal presentations and the Purina Incredible Dog Team will perform in Marion Square. Click here for a schedule and more information.

as provided by Chaleston Regional Business Journal

Blues Bash: If you like blues, clear your schedule. The Southern Comfort Lowcountry Blues Bash kicks off Friday for 10 days of incredible music. Blues lovers can enjoy 43 acts and more than 60 shows at 17 local clubs, restaurants and bars. Colorful acts with equally colorful names like Shrimp City Slim, Big Sam's Funky Nation, Nappy Brown, Mighty Lester, Motherless Chillin' and Creole Zydeco Farmers will show off their musical mojo. Tickets range from $3 to $15 and many shows have no admission charge. While many venues are open to all ages, some are 21+ only, so you may want to call ahead. Click for a complete schedule. Also, check out the Charleston County Public Library's events for special Lowcountry Blues Bash films and discussions. (Pictured: Wanda Johnson, right,and Shrimp City Slim/photo by Don Taylor).

provided by Charleston Regional Business Journal

Hotel, medical facility coming to Mount Pleasant

A Courtyard by Marriott hotel is under construction at one of Mount Pleasant’s most prominent intersections: the corner of Interstate 526 and U.S. Highway 17.

The130-room, 77,366-square-foot hotel is scheduled to be completed by September. It will have an outdoor swimming pool and a meeting room with capacity for 122 people.

South Hampton Ventures, a limited liability corporation that is a subsidiary of Bennett Hofford Construction Co. Inc., is the owner of the franchise being built on four acres just south of Mount Pleasant’s Towne Centre.

“We see it as the center of Mount Pleasant. We feel like it will be a great location and have really good visibility for people coming in from (Interstate) 526 and (U.S.) 17,” said Tracy Ray, a developer with Bennett Hofford.

CPI General Contractors is handling the approximately $13.5 million project.

Next to the hotel and fronting U.S. 17, Imaging Specialists of Charleston is building a 14,500-square-foot medical imaging facility that will be the first stand-alone office for the 21 radiologists of Charleston Radiology Associates PA. It is an expansion for the group, which primarily provides radiology services for Trident Medical Center and Summerville Medical Center.

Imaging Specialists of Charleston will offer advanced technology at no additional cost, including a 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging technology, which offers higher magnetic field imaging that is not widely available.

“This is the next generation of MRI,” said Dr. Michael Garovich, president of Charleston Radiologists PA. “What’s really exciting is added quality doesn’t cost patients any more than studies on a lower field strength magnet.”

 The new imaging center will offer 24-hour turnaround for results and a boutique environment that is more like a hotel than a medical facility, said Hunter Kerrison, spokeswoman for Imaging Specialists.

Imaging Specialists of Charleston is scheduled to open in June.

By Kathleen Dayton , Staff Writer

as provided by Charleston Regional Business Journal

    South Carolina Realtors Capitol Conference

I just got back from Columbia, SC this afternoon from the South Carolina Realtors Conference.  It was an interesting conference deicated to meeting with our State Repesentatives and Senators and hearing their agenda for the year and relating to them our (Realtor / Client) issues that we have.  Along the Coastal areas of South Carolina - insurance is one of the biggest issues that we as Realtors are facing.  Insurance rates are skyrocketing that is if you can get a policy.  We're seeing insurance companies drop their customers; some after many years of paying premiums.  Condo / Townhome insurance premiums are especially being hit hard. 

Other key issues of concern are:

Education - We need to continue to raise the level of education across the State.

Infrastructure - South Carolina's roads are in their worst condition ever. Funding for transportation is stagnant and lagging far behind our neighboring states. 

Ethics & conflicts of interest - An opinion issued last year by the SC Ethics Commission will force professionals serving in local government to resign, rather than recuse themselves, in cases of conflict of interest. 

Earnest money disputes - The SC Association of REALTORS hears frustrations from its members on a daily basis regarding the manner in which earnest money disputes in real estate transactions are handled.

I was able to meet and speak with Senator Larry Grooms and Repesentative Chip Limehouse. I realted my concerns to them about our coastal insurance problems and ask for their support in trying to resolve the problem.

Souls Alive
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member and nine-time Grammy winner Bonnie Raitt will perform at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center this spring. Tickets for the April 24 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday. Joining Raitt on her Souls Alike Tour 2007 is New Orleans keyboardist Jon Cleary. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, online and by phone at (843) 554-6060. All seats are $60. Raitt produced her latest (and 18th) album, “Souls Alike,” which blends songs from relatively unknown songwriters with the familiarity of Raitt’s touring band. Raitt’s upcoming Charleston performance is her first in the Lowcountry in more than 12 years.

Lease indicates Kohl’s is coming to Mount Pleasant
By Kathleen Dayton , Staff Writer

Kohl’s, the Ohio-based department store chain, signed a ground lease Monday with Avtex Commercial Properties Inc. of Greenville. Avtex is the developer of The Market at Oakland in Mount Pleasant.

Jason Smallwood, leasing agent for Avtex, confirmed that negotiations with Kohl’s had been finalized.

“That is a done deal,” he said.

Officials with the department store chain have not yet announced their plans to build in the area.

Anne Simaytis, a public relations coordinator for the chain, said Kohl’s has an ongoing real estate assessment process and is constantly reviewing sites in communities nationwide.

“When we have firm details, we are happy to share them,” she said.

Kelli Ramey, the chain’s manager of public relations, said Kohl’s normally announces new store plans just prior to store openings, which take place in spring and fall.

Jeff Ball, commercial plan reviewer for the town of Mount Pleasant, said Kohl’s had submitted an application for a building permit and he estimates it could be ready by mid-March.

“They have gone through the planning department’s required review in order to get approval for their conceptual plans, how the building looks and its size,” Ball said.

Kohl’s plans nearly 90,000 square feet of retail space on a 10-acre site at The Market at Oakland, which is located on U.S. Highway 17 near Park West.

Simaytis said Kohl’s department stores normally hire about 150 full- and part-time employees. The chain currently has 817 stores in 45 states, including seven stores in South Carolina, where its presence has been on the increase. New stores are set to open this spring in Florence and Rock Hill, Simaytis said. The chain opened a store in Myrtle Beach last October and launched its Summerville store in 2004.

Kohl’s had net sales of $13.4 billion in 2005. Sales for 2006 have not been released, but sales for the five-week period ended Dec. 30, 2006, increased 11.2% from the same period in 2005.

Simaytis said Kohl’s looks for communities with a high concentration of families and children. The chain will join a 185,000-square-foot Wal-Mart anchoring The Market at Oakland.

“Mount Pleasant is a market that a lot of retailers want to be in,” said Smallwood, the AVTEX leasing agent. “Most retailers are very aware of this market.”

The Market at Oakland broke ground in November 2004 and will be built in four phases on 75 acres, Smallwood said. Kohl’s and Wal-Mart are so far the only retailers who have signed leases.

“We’re just getting to see who’s interested in the center,” Smallwood said. “I certainly hope it attracts a mixture of national and local tenants, something that really helps the Mount Pleasant area.

The area’s burgeoning population will soon support two Wal-Marts in the area, as the discount giant plans to keep its existing Mount Pleasant store near the intersection of U.S. Highway 17 and Interstate 526 open along with the new store.

Wal-Mart, Kohl’s and any other retailer locating in the The Market at Oakland will be part of a master plan approved by Avtex and Mount Pleasant Town Council. Buildings in the project must develop facades that follow specific architectural design criteria.

The Market at Oakland is a village concept with 415,000 square feet planned for retail space and 273,400 square feet of space reserved for offices and economic development. A Wachovia bank branch office is also part of the project and is under construction at the corner of U.S. Highway 17 and Porchers Bluff Road

The Market at Oakland is being constructed on part of a former plantation with a home dating from 1859 that is still a private residence. The home and grounds are being preserved and the plans for the retail project are focused on preserving open space. More than 200 acres of the plantation property has been placed in a conservation easement.

as provided by Charleston Regional Business Journal