Week of October 26

The Charleston Briefing — Week of October 26 A new restaurant nears opening in the old Gingerline space, king tides threaten downtown streets, and Air Canada quietly exits Charleston for good. A busy week on the food and civic fronts: a Caribbean-trained ownership group is nearing the finish line at the former Gingerline address on Meeting Street, while Caviar & Bananas added another location to its downtown footprint. On the infrastructure side, king tides were forecast to flood Charleston streets Sunday through Tuesday, and Mayor Cogswell convened a working session on saving neglected historic buildings after a recent church demolition drew community outcry. Air Canada's exit from Charleston International, meanwhile, is part of a sweeping North American pullback tied to declining Canadian travel to the U.S. For eating and drinking: keep an eye on the Gingerline space for an imminent opening, and Caviar & Bananas' new site is worth locating if you haven't yet. Anyone worried about Tuesday morning's commute should check tide charts before heading downtown. And if you haven't been to the IAAM's 'They Lived' exhibit since it opened during Homecoming, it remains the most substantive new museum offering in the city right now. Kendrick's Restaurant Moves Toward Opening in Former Gingerline Space A new restaurant from owners who previously cooked in the Caribbean is nearing its debut inside the downtown address that housed Gingerline and, before that, Ruth's Chris Steak House. The Post & Courier reported the opening is imminent but did not confirm a precise date. Why it matters: One of downtown's more prominent vacant dining rooms is finally getting a tenant. Watch this space — literally. Source: Post & Courier (Oct 24, 2026) King Tides Set to Flood Downtown Charleston Through Tuesday The Post & Courier reported that king tides are expected to inundate Charleston and other Lowcountry areas beginning Sunday, with the worst flooding anticipated during morning high tides over three consecutive days. Why it matters: Check tide charts before heading downtown Monday and Tuesday morning. Low-lying streets near the Battery and Harleston Village will be the first to go. Source: Post & Courier (Oct 25, 2026) Mayor Cogswell Convenes Historic Preservation Talks After Church Demolition Backlash City leaders, preservationists, and Mayor William Cogswell met October 23rd to discuss concrete mechanisms for saving neglected historic structures, spurred by a recent church demolition that the Post & Courier reports left the surrounding community feeling blindsided. Why it matters: The outcome of these talks will shape what tools the city has — and how fast it can use them — the next time a neglected building heads toward the wrecking ball. Source: Post & Courier (Oct 24, 2026) Air Canada Pulls Charleston Route in Broader U.S. Retreat Air Canada is cutting its Charleston International service as part of a sweeping reduction of U.S. routes, driven by a measurable drop in Canadian travel south of the border. The Post & Courier obtained data showing just how sharply that slowdown is hitting regional airports. Why it matters: If you had a Toronto connection in your travel plans, it's time to rebook. Broader implications for international seat capacity at CHS are worth watching. Source: Post & Courier (Oct 24, 2026) United Airlines to Add Nonstop Charleston–San Francisco Route Charleston International Airport will gain a second nonstop flight to California when United Airlines launches its new San Francisco route, the Charleston City Paper reported Thursday. The addition also opens connections onward to Pacific destinations. Why it matters: A direct shot to SFO is overdue. Book early — inaugural routes on new corridors tend to price competitively before demand catches up. Source: Charleston City Paper (Oct 23, 2026) Caviar & Bananas Expands with New Charleston Location The gourmet market and café added another site this week, per the Post & Courier's Thursday briefing. The growing local brand now operates multiple Peninsula-area addresses. Why it matters: Worth knowing if your nearest location has been inconvenient — check which neighborhood the new outpost lands in before making the trip. Source: Post & Courier (Oct 23, 2026) S.C. Statesman and College of Charleston Law Dean Alex Sanders Dies at 88 Alex Sanders — legislator, appellate judge, president of the College of Charleston, and arguably the Lowcountry's finest raconteur — died this week. The Charleston City Paper remembered him as someone whose gift for a story rivaled six decades of genuine public service. Why it matters: Sanders shaped Charleston's legal and academic culture across generations. His passing closes a particular chapter of Palmetto State civic life. Source: Charleston City Paper (Oct 22, 2026)

What mattered this week

Kendrick's Restaurant Moves Toward Opening in Former Gingerline Space

King Tides Set to Flood Downtown Charleston Through Tuesday

Mayor Cogswell Convenes Historic Preservation Talks After Church Demolition Backlash

Air Canada Pulls Charleston Route in Broader U.S. Retreat

United Airlines to Add Nonstop Charleston–San Francisco Route

Caviar & Bananas Expands with New Charleston Location

S.C. Statesman and College of Charleston Law Dean Alex Sanders Dies at 88