The Charleston Briefing — Week of September 7 — Charleston Briefing, Week of September 7, 2026

01

Peninsula Grill to close as Planters Inn renovation begins

Peninsula Grill, the white-tablecloth anchor of Planters Inn on Market Street, is preparing to close as the hotel embarks on renovations. The restaurant has anchored the upper end of Charleston's dining scene for decades, known particularly for its coconut cake and candlelit courtyard.

Why it matters · Last call is coming — if a farewell dinner at Peninsula Grill is on your list, don't wait until the door is locked.

via Post & Courier · Aug 20, 2026

02

Opening↳ Two Blokes Brewing

Two Blokes Brewing opens Cannon Street taproom on the downtown peninsula

Two Blokes Brewing, run by familiar local operators, opened its Cannon Street taproom on Aug. 11, giving the downtown peninsula its newest craft-beer destination. The Post & Courier and Charleston City Paper both covered the opening, noting the brewery's local roots and the significance of landing in the heart of the city.

Why it matters · Worth a walk-in on a weeknight — the taproom is new enough that lines haven't formed yet.

via Charleston City Paper · Sep 4, 2026

03

Culture↳ PURE Theatre

PURE Theatre's world premiere skewers Southern sanctimony to sharp effect

City Paper's review of PURE Theatre's world-premiere production calls it "a searing sendup of Southern sanctimony" that exposes the hypocrisy behind performative piety — and lands its punches. The production is running now on the downtown peninsula.

Why it matters · World premieres at PURE don't linger — check the run dates and secure a seat before this one closes.

via Charleston City Paper · Sep 3, 2026

04

Business↳ Big John's Tavern

Big John's Tavern owners sued over more than $600K in alleged unpaid debts

The owners who took over Big John's Tavern in 2021 are now facing multiple lawsuits from investors, vendors, and the owner of a brewery they acquired — with total alleged debts exceeding $600,000. The bar, a longstanding institution on East Bay Street, reopened under the current ownership after a period of closure.

Why it matters · The legal picture is murky enough that regulars should keep an eye on whether operations are affected going forward.

via Post & Courier · Aug 31, 2026

05

Food & Drink↳ babas on meeting

Babas on Meeting signs lease for former Rodney Scott's BBQ space on King Street

Rodney Scott's BBQ will not return to 1011 King St., and the new tenant is confirmed: babas on meeting has signed a lease to take over the space. The handoff closes a chapter on one of Charleston's most prominent barbecue addresses while Rodney Scott's co-founder Nick Pihakis separately filed for bankruptcy with $44 million in listed debts.

Why it matters · A major King Street corner is turning over — babas brings a different register to the block, and it's worth watching how the space is reimagined.

via Post & Courier · Aug 21, 2026

06

Opening↳ Palmetto Moon

Palmetto Moon, founded as a mall kiosk in 2002, plans first King Street store

Palmetto Moon, the South Carolina–rooted retailer that grew from a single collegiate-gear kiosk into a Southeast chain, has announced plans to open its first downtown Charleston location on King Street. The Post & Courier called it a "pinch-me" moment for the brand's founders.

Why it matters · A genuinely local retail origin story lands on the state's most competitive shopping corridor — the King Street address signals the brand has arrived on its own terms.

via Post & Courier · Sep 1, 2026

07

Business↳ Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina

Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina sells for $182.5M to two buyers

The waterfront Mount Pleasant resort and marina, which a Cincinnati-based insurance company had been trying to unload since March 2025, has sold for $182.5 million to a pair of buyers. The property at Patriots Point is one of the more prominent hospitality assets on the harbor.

Why it matters · A new ownership structure at a property this visible will shape what the waterfront experience looks like on the Mount Pleasant side of the harbor.