Fleet Landing co-owner Weesie Newton always planned for the waterfront, seafood-focused restaurant to last 20 years.
“Well, we had a 20-year lease, so we were pretty much planning on definitely 20 years,” Newton said. Last year, the restaurant celebrated its two decades of business at 186 Concord St. and re-signed the lease — this time upping the ante to 25 years.
“We are in it for the long haul,” she said.
Newton has seen firsthand the dramatic growth of Charleston during the past 20 years. One thing that hasn’t changed? “It’s always been a visitor destination,” she said. “We’ve always been a tourist town in that way.”
The restaurateur noted, however, that there were far fewer restaurants in Charleston two decades ago. Still, despite the city’s meteoric rise as a top travel and dining destination, Fleet Landing has always been “very consistent” as far as business goes, according to Newton.
“We’ve really stuck to our concept for the full time that we’ve been open,” she said.
For those less familiar with the waterfront mainstay, Fleet Landing specializes in seafood, both from the raw bar and of the fried platter variety.
The restaurant is perhaps best known for Lowcountry dishes, such as its signature stuffed hushpuppies, made with velouté of lobster, shrimp, leeks, corn and Creole tomato sauce.
It is also, most notably, one of the few local restaurants (on the peninsula and beyond) that is actually on the water — a huge draw for visitors and residents alike.
“If a local has a friend in from out of town, they’re bringing them to sit on the water,” Newton said. A lot of folks are repeat customers, as well, not just for the views, but for the food and service, too, according to Newton.
Part of that reliable hospitality comes from having a tenured team. Newton said that as the restaurant celebrated 20 years last November, it also celebrated the anniversaries of two employees who had been with Fleet Landing for every one of those years.
“We have a strong team of people who have been with us many, many years,” she said. Veteran staff help onboard new folks, too. “They learn fairly quickly what we’re about. … I think that we create an experience for guests, and that’s why they want to come back.”
Moving forward
Fleet Landing added a dedicated raw bar in the beginning of 2024. To celebrate its first birthday this February, it will offer diners a flight of four dressed oysters for $15 from Feb. 6 through Feb. 13.
Newton said the raw bar was something the Fleet Landing team had wanted to add for a while. “It’s a gathering place — and it also takes some heat off the kitchen,” she said. “It’s just one more experience for the guest.”
Fleet Landing, which has long stood alone on the Charleston waterfront, will soon welcome a ritzy new hotel neighbor, The Cooper, which is slated to open later this year. Newton said that Fleet Landing looks forward to the hotel’s arrival along with whoever may be opening in the redevelopment of Union Pier.
“We are so excited,” she said. “We’ve been lonely down there on the waterfront. … The Cooper is going to be a gorgeous hotel. … What they’re going to offer is going to be amazing for locals and visitors. We’re very excited about the development of Union Pier, too. The more the merrier.”
And what Newton is always excited about is a rave review of Fleet Landing.
“It’s always great for me to read [a review] when somebody says Fleet Landing is one of their favorite spots,” Newton said.
She said that after all these years, she knows what makes a successful restaurant. “I truly believe the food has to be good, [the] ambiance [has to be there] and the service [also has to be good]. And you can put those in any order — but if you don’t have all three of those, it’s not going to be an overall great experience,” she said. “You can probably have two, and the other one can be okay and still make somebody happy. But it’s really important to have those three things going.”
Fleet Landing hosts a pop-up oyster roast from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 8. Tickets are $25 per bucket (and will be first come, first serve) and can be purchased at fleetlanding.net. The restaurant partners with Holy City Brewing for a four-course beer dinner Feb. 21. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online as well.
Help keep the City Paper free.
No paywalls.
No subscription cost.
Free delivery at 800 locations.
Help support independent journalism by donating today.
