Isle of Palms bar and restaurant Budiroes — a tropical/beach styled tavern and music venue that has served as home to veteran Charleston singer/guitarist Ronnie Johnson for over three years — announced plans to close down this week. The beach music/shag-friendly spot (at 1517 Palm Blvd., just a block from the IOP Connector) booked a variety of live bands, DJs, trivia nights, and solo shows.
“We’re having to throw in the towel,” reports Johnson (pictured below). “We had some great nights and tried to do some neat things but … The debilitating economy, along with the intimidating and over zealous behavior of the IOP Police, has severely hurt our Mt. Pleasant and IOP business. We have been unsuccessful at working out some sort of relief or ‘realistic’ rent with our landlord. We clearly can not continue trying to survive with these obstacles constantly pulling us down. [My wife] Kim and I hate the situation as we have put our all — and I mean all — into making Budiroe’s a place where people from all walks of life have been welcomed, and, hopefully, made to feel safe and comfortable, whether with friends or alone as music is such a universal language that speaks to many and can brighten up an otherwise bad day!”
Budiroes’ final weekend in business will feature some cool gigs.
On Thursday, March 5, folk/country singer/guitarst Carroll Brown will conduct a special showcase called Pull Together Night. “Several of us musicians are pulling together to help out the various venues that support us,” says Brown. “We’ll show up with some of our patrons all together to do random gigs at places that support live music;” with Sam Anderson, Pete Ledbetter, Susie Summers, Bob Tobin, and other guests.” The music starts at 8:30 p.m.
On Friday, March 6, members of the East Coast Party Band will play classic shag and blues hits, along with some vintage R&B tunes under the band name The Geechee Boys. On Saturday, March 7 — the club’s final night open — Johnson will close things out with a mix of beach music standards, originals, vintage R&B, country, and shag-able songs starting at 9 p.m.
“Please join us as we bid farewell to a place we have built wonderful and warm memories of good and rough times in our past three years here,” says Johnson. “We do thank all of you who have been so supportive and helpful. We will not forget who you are and what you have meant to us. We are grateful.”
Call (843) 886-8288 for more information.
Stay cool. Support City Paper. City Paper has been bringing the best news, food, arts, music and event coverage to the Holy City since 1997. Support our continued efforts to highlight the best of Charleston with a one-time donation or become a member of the City Paper Club.