Mount Pleasant has experienced rapid suburban growth in recent years and is now the fourth-largest city or town in South Carolina. The town, along with nearby Sullivan’s Island and Isle of Palms, is home to more than 100,000 people. The area is known for suburban housing developments, restaurants, bars, parks and shopping of all kinds. But at its heart is the historic Old Village and thriving Shem Creek.
The Old Village is bounded by the Charleston Harbor on the west side, Whilden Street on the east, marshland to the south and the bustling Shem Creek area to the northwest. The village, established in the early 1800s, has varied architecture, some of which dates back to the 1700s.
Head to the area and make it an action-packed day visit, exploring all of the history, outdoor adventure, food, drink and shopping that the village and creek have to offer. Or come
for several shorter, more manageable visits. Either way, most people come back for more.
Living and strolling
One of the many appealing things about the Old Village is that it provides a sense of community for residents as well as adventures for visitors and tourists. Writer and editor Stephanie Hunt has been living in the village for the past 30 years. She can get just about everything she needs without leaving the neighborhood, including fish at Abundant Seafood and produce at the farmers market at Moultrie Middle School.
“It’s self-contained.” she said. “It’s old school. It’s bikeable and walkable.”
Taking a walk or bike ride around the village is a great way to start a visit. Make sure to get down to the Pitt Street Bridge, a linear park with stunning views of the Charleston Harbor where the bridge once connected to Sullivan’s Island.
The neighborhood has changed some over the years, Hunt said. Housing prices have escalated. Some of the older structures have been torn down to make way for newer, more modern architecture. And she’s concerned about the number of trees that have been removed. But it’s still beautiful, she said. “When I come home from a trip, I realize it’s a nice place to be.”
Preserving beauty, character
Town Councilman Howard Chapman said he thinks the town needs to say no more often to people who want to cut down historic trees. And town leaders are working to preserve the historic character of the area.
“We’re making it harder to tear down houses in the Old Village,” he said. That’s being accomplished through zoning that encourages repairs to existing structures, he said. And those efforts are beginning to pay off. That’s essential, he said. “The Old Village is part of the beauty and history of Mount Pleasant.”
Outdoor adventure
The town, along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and others, also worked successfully to restore Crab Bank, a small island in the Charleston Harbor near the mouth of Shem Creek. In its second year since restoration, the seabird sanctuary is home to black skimmers, American oystercatchers and many other birds, Chapman said.
You can see the island from the Old Village’s Alhambra Hall and other places, or take a boat and get a closer view.
Chris Crolley, owner of Coastal Expeditions on Shem Creek, said the restored Crab Bank is “a tourist draw, a million-dollar baby.” And the project “proves that nature and industry don’t have to be mutually exclusive. It’s a workable balance.”
Heading up to Shem Creek at the northwestern end of the historic district is a great way to find an afternoon of outdoor adventure. His company rents kayaks and stand-up paddleboards and does various boat tours.
Shem Creek is also a place to see a few shrimp boats, dolphins and even manatees, Crolley said. And Shem Creek Park at the mouth of the waterway is a great place for a stroll along the boardwalks.
“I can’t imagine what Mount Pleasant would be without the creek,” he said. “Shem Creek leads to the ocean. It’s an outlet to the rest of the world.”
Food and drink to enjoy
While Coastal Expeditions focuses on nature, many other businesses focus on food, drinks and entertainment. Many popular restaurants line the creek, including Water’s Edge, Tavern & Table, Red’s Ice House, Saltwater Cowboys and Vickery’s Bar & Grill.
Dianne Crowley, owner of Red’s, said people in the area are lucky to have a working creek in the middle of Mount Pleasant.
“The fact that we are on the water puts us in a different arena because it brings all of the amenities that city life brings you, and it opens you to all of the beautiful wildlife at your fingertips, like the dolphin swimming beside you while you are at your dinner table.”
Yes, Shem Creek is a great place for lunch or dinner and drinks, although parking can be challenging. Bring your cell phone because some parking requires using QR codes.
Shopping
Finally, no day trip to the Old Village would be complete without doing some shopping. Lisa Thomas is an Old Village resident and owner of Out of Hand, an eclectic gift, housewares and clothing store that she describes as “a mini department store with quirky things.”
Thomas says her store on Pitt Street has something in common with other stores in the Old Village.
“It’s small, intimate and a place to make real connections.”
People can find Old Village businesses just by roaming around, she said. And once they walk in, they often become friends with merchants.
It’s a different kind of customer relationship, she said. “I’m very fortunate to live and work in this special place.”
East of the Cooper by the numbers
Population
102,860
Ethnicity
86.7% White
5% Black
3.7% Hispanic
Median age
41.8
Median household income
$111,015
Percent above $100,000
56%
Households below poverty line
6%
Households above $200,000
23.1%
Households
42,270
Occupancy
64.4% owner-occupied
21.2% rental
14.5% vacant
Education:
9.5%
are high school graduates.
40.2%
have bachelor’s degrees.
26.6%
have graduate degrees.
Spending:
Apparel and services
$131.9M
Education
$115.4M
Entertainment, Rec
$230.9M
Food at home
$396.6M
Food away from home
$225.6M
Health care
$433.7M
Household furnishings
$181.7M
Shelter
$1.5B
Travel
$144.3M
Our Best of Mount Pleasant 2023
Best of Attractionsand City Living
- Best Bed & Breakfast | Post House Inn
- Best Daycare | Carolina Park Academy
- Best Fundraising Event | Cooper River Bridge Run
- Best Place of Worship | Seacoast Church*
- Best Preschool | The O’Quinn Schools*
- Best Public High School | Wando High School
- Best Sunset Spot | Pitt Street Bridge
Best of Culture, Arts and Entertainment
- Best Trivia Night | Charleston Sports Pub*
Best of Shops and Wares
- Best Antique Store | Mount Pleasant Mall
- Best Baby Store, Best Children’s Clothing Retailer | Southern Belles: A Children’s Clothier
- Best Boutique | Copper Penny*
- Best Collegiate Store, Best Gift Store | Palmetto Moon*
- Best Frame Shop | Havens Fine Framing
- Best Furniture Store, Best Home Accessories Store | Celadon Home
- Best Hardware Store | Royall Ace Hardware
- Best Lingerie | Bits of Lace
- Best Local Farm | Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens
- Best Local Liquor Store | Bottles Beverage Superstore
- Best Mall/Shopping Center | Mount Pleasant Towne Center
- Best Smoke Shop | I Heart CBD*
- Best Stationary Store | The Scratch Pad
- Best Tire Store | Gerald’s Tires & Brakes*
Best of Services
- Best Auto Body Shop | Caliber Collision*
- Best Car Wash | Fins Car Wash *
- Best Dry Cleaner | Lyerly’s Dry Cleaners *
- Best Financial Planner | Heath Johnson, Bera Wealth Advisors
- Best Financial Institution | S.C. Federal Credit Union *
Best of Health and Beauty
- Best Aesthetician | Stefanie Sudduth
- Best Day Spa | Woodhouse Spa*
- Best Dental Practice | Solomon Family Dentistry*
- Best Dermatologist | Dr. Marguerite Germain
- Best Dermatology Practice, Best Medical Spa | Germain Dermatology
- Best Eye Doctor, Best Lasik Provider | Dr. Kerry Solomon
- Best Fertility Clinic | Coastal Fertility Specialists*
- Best Gym/Health Club | HYLO Fitness*
- Best Massage Therapist | Robbin Wells, Urban Nirvana
- Best Nail Artist | Tony, Ocean Nails & Spa
- Best Orthodontics Practice | Coastal Kids Dental and Braces
- Best Pediatric Dentist | Dr. Isabel Driggers, Coastal Kids Dental and Braces*
- Best Pediatrician | Dr. Arlene Shawinski, Coastal Pediatric Associates*
- Best Pilates Studio | Pilates of Charleston
- Best Tanning Salon | Charleston Glow*
- Best Waxing Salon | European Wax Center*
- Best Yoga Studio | The Works*
Best of Recreation and Outdoors
- Best Dive Shop | Carolina Dive Locker
- Best Kayak Company, Best Stand Up Paddle Board Company, Best Water Sports Company | Coastal Expeditions*
- Best Marina | Charleston Harbor Marina
- Best Outdoor Outfitters | Half-Moon Outfitters *
Best of Eating
- Best Bagels | Ruby’s New York Style Bagels
- Best Biscuits | Vicious Biscuits
- Best Burger | Poe’s Tavern
- Best Caterer, Best Kid-Friendly Restaurant, Best Mac and Cheese, Best Nachos, Best Tots, Best Wings | Home Team BBQ*
- Best Cheap Meal | Santi’s Restaurante Mexicano*
- Best Chicken Fingers | Boxcar Betty’s*
- Best Deli | East Bay Deli *
- Best Gourmet Sandwich, Best Restaurant for Vegetarians | Five Loaves Cafe
- Best Grits | Grace & Grit
- Best Gyro | Kairos Mediterranean*
- Best Hot Dogs | Jack’s Cosmic Dogs*
- Best Ice Cream, Milkshake | Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream & Sandwich Cafe *
- Best Indian/Pakistani | Malika Canteen*
- Best IOP Brunch, Restaurant | Acme Lowcountry Kitchen
- Best Mexican Restaurant | Santi’s Restaurante Mexicano
- Best Mt. Pleasant Brunch, Best Shrimp and Grits | Page’s Okra Grill
- Best Mt. Pleasant Restaurant | NICO Oysters + Seafood
- Best Outdoor Patio | Saltwater Cowboys
- Best Poke | Poke Bros.*
- Best Restaurant Chef | Nico Romo, Nico Oysters + Seafood, Bistronomy by Nico and Laura
- Best Sub Sandwich/Hoagie | Jersey Mike’s
- Best Sullivan’s Island Brunch, Restaurant | The Obstinate Daughter
- Best Thai | Basil*
Best of Drinking
- Best Beer Retail Selection | Total Wine & More *
- Best Bloody Mary | Page’s Okra Grill
- Best Frozen Drinks | The Co-op Frose & Eatery*
- Best IOP Bar, Best IOP Happy Hour | The Windjammer
- Best Margarita | Santi’s Restaurante Mexicano*
- Best Mount Pleasant Bar, Best Waterfront Bar | Saltwater Cowboys
- Best Mount Pleasant Happy Hour | Red’s Ice House
- Best Sports Bar | Charleston Sports Pub *
- Best Sullivan’s Island Bar, Best Sullivan’s Island Happy Hour | Home Team BBQ*
*Mulitple locations
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