Roofing Contractor in Charleston, SC

A sandwich chain that's operated in South Carolina for more than 80 years has added a West Ashley stop.

Groucho’s Deli, led by Max Miller — the great-grandson of founder Harold “Groucho” Miller — opened at 975 Savannah Highway in St. Andrews Shopping Center.

Miller has been working for the family business since growing up Columbia, where his grandfather opened the first restaurant in 1941 in the Five Points area.

“When I was 12 years old, I remember my dad used to pull a bar stool up and set me in front of the cash register,” Miller said.

After attending the College of Charleston, he opened his first Groucho’s Deli in Mount Pleasant in 2020.

The West Ashley outpost is Miller's second franchise, co-owned by Nick Basile, a lifelong friend and the former manager of the Five Points Groucho’s.

“He and I worked there almost every day in high school,” Miller said.

The West Ashley shop renews Groucho's presence in Charleston after the downtown location at 364A King St. closed in 2022 after 20 years. The franchise owner stated he had been priced out of the market.

Another Groucho’s Deli opened in Summerville in 2017 and is still going strong and another is in Mount Pleasant.

The deli, known for its “dipper” subs, large salads and signature “Formula 45 Sauce, was first franchised in the early 2000s by Bruce Miller, the third generation to operate the restaurant. The chain has grown to 32 locations in three states, with about three new stores added a year.

The count has come far since its namesake founder to Columbia in 1941 after spending his childhood in a Philadelphia orphanage with "a handful" of original recipes for potato salad coleslaw and dressings for salads and sandwiches.

Charleston will be the point of embarkation for an transcontinental excursion that ends almost 4,000 miles away in the 49th state, requiring travelers to board five ships and at least two airplanes to complete the lengthy journey.

American Cruise Lines unveiled several new packages last week ties to the nation’s 250th birthday next year.

Among them is “Spring Across America 2026,” a 51-day, 50-night sailing that departs the Holy City next April 3 for points south, including Beaufort and Hilton Head Island.

The first leg, on the 100-guest American Liberty, ends at Amelia Island near Jacksonville, Fla., where passengers with time to spare will switch to the American Pioneer for a trip around the tip of the Sunshine State and up to St. Petersburg.

Then, they’ll hop on a plane for Memphis for a segment on the American Serenade that'll take them down the Mississippi to New Orleans. From there, they’ll head west via another commercial aircraft to Clarkton, Wash., near the Idaho border to check out the sights along the Columbia and Snake rivers on the American Harmony.

The final stretch, on the American Constitution, shoves off from Seattle. It’ll ferry travelers along the coast of British Columbia before dropping anchor at the final port of call on May 23 in the Alaska capital of Juneau.

“With seamless ship transitions, immersive excursions, and ever-changing scenery, this coast-to-coast voyage is a rare chance to experience the country’s diverse landscapes, history, and cultures — all in one epic journey,” the Guilford, Conn.-based boutique cruise line said.

Prices for Spring Across America were not posted on the company’s website as of April 14.

Sports talk

Not all of the main sports action was at the Masters last week.

At Kiawah Island Golf Resort, about 160 miles from Augusta National, a low-key, high-level get-together was back for at least the fourth spring go-around at to the luxury seaside resort.

The annual corporate global leadership summit, organized by Bruin Capital and the online news outlet Sportico, brings together high-level power brokers from the sports, media, technology and finance industries.

The A-list attendees this year included NBA commissioner Adam Silver and former U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, according to CBNC, which, as in previous years, was granted exclusive access to the mostly off-the-record conference.

The cable network’s on-air interviews featured billionaire Marc Rowen of private-equity giant Apollo Global Management and Vlad Tenev, the CEO and co-founder of the stock-trading platform Robinhood.

Variety reported other attendees included actor Ryan Reynolds, who co-owns of a Welsh soccer club, “Yellowstone” creator and horseman Taylor Sheridan, Dallas Mavericks investor and “Shark Tank” co-host Mark Cuban, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan and Eldridge CEO Todd Boehly, who owns a home on Sullivan’s Island.

The Kiawah gathering has been described a “super-sized” version of a yearly luncheon that Bruin Capital once held in New York. Another media report from a 2022 invitee said the organizers are looking to develop a sports summit akin to a well-known Allen & Co. media and finance conference held annually in Sun Valley, Idaho.

New use

The former Roper Hospice Cottage in Mount Pleasant is being put back to use.

The parent of Palmetto Lowcountry Behavioral Health in North Charleston is repurposing the 2.8-acre property at 676 Wando Park Blvd. as Sea Grove Recovery, which will treat substance use and mental health disorders. A ribbon cutting was scheduled for April 15.

The 41-bed treatment center will be operated by Foundations Recovery Network, which is part of King of Prussia, Pa.-based Universal Health Services Inc.

“The facility is designed to support individuals on their journey to recovery, with an emphasis on evidence-based treatments, compassionate care, and a holistic approach to wellness,” according to a written statement.

Universal Health Services, under the name Palmetto Behavioral Health System LLC, bought the Mount Pleasant property near Long Point Road and Interstate 526 for $4.5 million in September 2023. It declined at the time to reveal its plans.

Roper St. Francis Healthcare shuttered the end-of-life services campus in mid-2023 after an 18-year run under a transition “to patient homes and within our hospitals as part of our strategic plan,” a spokesman said.

Makimg connections

Home Telecom has expanded its SmartTown Community Wi-Fi to Moncks Corner, following what the company calls a “successful inaugural launch" last fall in Nexton.

The program offers wireless broadband throughout public parks and spaces in town, with the same speed and security measures customers have at home.

Wi-Fi access is now available in areas such as the ballfields at the Moncks Corner Recreational Complex, the Train Depot, Unity Park, the Home Telecom Miracle League Field, and the Market Pavilion, where a farmers market and other events are held.

Gina Shuler, vice president of marketing at Home Telecom, said Nexton and Moncks Corner are “just the start.

“SmartTown connections are expanding within our service areas and beyond, ensuring Home Telecom customers can stay securely connected,” Schuler said.

Nexton’s program rolled out in November, making Wi-Fi accessible in the Nexton Square, Brighton Park Great Lawn, The Hub and Brown Family Park.

Masters in midwifery

Demand for midwives is spurring the University of South Carolina’s College of Nursing into action.

The school announced will be offer the state’s only accredited nurse-midwifery education program starting this fall. It will prepare students to provide reproductive health and primary care with a special emphasis on prenatal and postpartum pregnancy, childbirth and gynecologic health.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 7 percent increase in nurse midwives over the next decade.

The blended online and hands-on training program will allow registered nurses to earn a master's degree and to sit for a certification exam.

Ten midwifery practices across the state have committed to providing clinical education opportunities for the students, including multiple locations in the Charleston area, according to the college, which anticipates expanding on the specialty further. It plans to launch a doctorate of nursing with a focus on midwifery in 2026.

Disc breaks

Following the opening of its first retailer, Santee Cooper's Camp Hall business park is gearing up for its first recreational amenity.

The industrial hub near the Volvo Cars plant in Berkeley County will unveil an 18-hole disc golf course, featuring Innova Discatchers and 13-by-6-feet concrete tee pads. The layout will open April 26 with a tournament to mark the occasion.

Additional features include new basketball courts, a kid-friendly playground and walking trails next to Refuel Gas Station, which opened in mid-March as the first retailer at Avian Commons, the commercial center of the property.

Plans call for small businesses, food stops and other conveniences to serve on-site workers, residents and travelers in the region.

Santee Cooper came up with Camp Hall when Volvo announced in 2015 that it would build its only U.S. manufacturing plant near Ridgeville. The state-owned power and water utility bought the former timber property for development from MeadWestvaco Corp. for $34.1 million.

More often than not, tipsters, readers, friends, and family of Eater have one question: Where should I eat right now? What are the new restaurants? What's everyone talking about? While the Eater 18 is a crucial resource covering old standbys and neighborhood essentials across the city, it is not a chronicle of the "it" places of the moment. Enter the Eater Heatmap, which will change continually to highlight the spots crowds are flocking to at the moment or generating a big buzz. Folks are asking, "Have you been yet?" Try one of these newbies today.

This month, chef Sean Brock’s Joyland location joins the list.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Chinese American restaurant Jackrabbit Filly moved up the street to a bigger dining room and more prominent location. With the move comes a more extensive menu with exciting new options. Karrage, dumplings, and fried rice are still on the menu, but now there’s also a crab rangoon cheese ball, mapo tofu vol au vent, spicy Korean gnocchi, and Sichuan seafood wonton soup.

The couple behind Wagener Terrace hangout Berkeley’s recently opened their second restaurant, the Archer. They want it to have the same neighborhood vibes but raise the stakes with a full bar and fine dining-level comfort plates. Chef Paul Farmer (formerly of Three Sirens), puts out plates like duck frites, baked oysters, beef stroganoff, chicken liver mousse, and chilled crab dip.

Chubby Fish (most recently visited by Martha Stewart) has smartly expanded into the space next door with another cozy nautical space, but this time, the team is focused on world-class cocktails from Christian Favier (formerly of the Ordinary). Rum figures heavily on the list, but there’s also a delicious smoked dirty martini and plenty of fizzy drinks thanks to a fancy Japanese Suntory highball machine. Customers can order snacks from the ever-changing menu, including oysters, crudos, agnolotti, Iberico ham, and more.

Legami is a new Italian restaurant boasting a chef brought in from Rome by a family with roots in Turin, Italy. Washington Street Hospitality, which controls three Pasta Beach restaurants in New England, thought the King Street building would be another location for Pasta Beach, but decided to switch it up once they got into the historic building. Chef Andrea Congiusta cooks modern Italian fare with some influences from France. “We took inspiration from the classic fine dining, but we also want to have something fun, something that looks very fancy, and something you can crave,” says Congiusta. Dishes include king crab tagliolini, beef Wellington, and veal Milanese.

Modern steakhouse Marbled & Fin is giving all the other steakhouses a run for their money. The expansive dining room fills nightly with well-heeled customers ready to see and be seen. On the menu, chef Eucepe “Cepe” Puntriano includes all the steakhouse classics plus an emphasis on seafood dishes for non-meat eaters. Look for seafood towers, wedge salads, wagyu beef, bone marrow with oysters, creamed spinach, and more.

Superstar chef Sean Brock has brought his fast-casual burger/biscuit joint to the Lowcountry. Joyland is Brock’s fun nod to the fast-food joints of yesteryear. Breakfast includes all types of biscuit sandwiches and a breakfast burrito. The lunch and dinner menu includes the Joyburger Deluxe, fried chicken sandwiches, Chicago dogs, Crustburgers, and Joysticks. Most of the menu items can be made gluten-free.

Chef Micheal Toscano recently opened a taco shop next to his Italian restaurant Le Farfalle. Blanca Estrada is Toscano’s ode to his Mexican mother and grandmother, whose cooking was an early influence on his culinary journey. The kitchen offers a selection of tacos, from cochinita pibil to lengua, several specials, like a lamb neck burrito, and several tequila drinks and pineapple vinegar soda.

Ice-cold martinis with a side of caviar set the vibe at By the Way, a new upscale lounge and restaurant in Cannonborough/Elliotborough hoping to draw a slightly more mature clientele away from King Street. It’s from Uptown Hospitality Group, the folks behind hotspots like Uptown Social and Bodega, in partnership with Craig Conover and Austen Kroll, two stars of Bravo TV’s Southern Charm. Fairly intimate with the feel of an old-world tavern, By the Way serves a menu of trendy pub fare like ’nduja deviled eggs, poutine, fried oysters with caviar, and steak frites.

Charming new hotel the Dunlin offers sweeping views of the Kiawah River, abundant hospitality, and coastal Southern fare in its signature restaurant, Linnette’s. Chef Michael DeCicco puts out dishes like a pressed and pickled watermelon salad, wood-fired oysters, cornmeal-crusted flounder, and a sorghum-benne lacquered steak with charred okra.

Chinese American restaurant Jackrabbit Filly moved up the street to a bigger dining room and more prominent location. With the move comes a more extensive menu with exciting new options. Karrage, dumplings, and fried rice are still on the menu, but now there’s also a crab rangoon cheese ball, mapo tofu vol au vent, spicy Korean gnocchi, and Sichuan seafood wonton soup.

The couple behind Wagener Terrace hangout Berkeley’s recently opened their second restaurant, the Archer. They want it to have the same neighborhood vibes but raise the stakes with a full bar and fine dining-level comfort plates. Chef Paul Farmer (formerly of Three Sirens), puts out plates like duck frites, baked oysters, beef stroganoff, chicken liver mousse, and chilled crab dip.

Chubby Fish (most recently visited by Martha Stewart) has smartly expanded into the space next door with another cozy nautical space, but this time, the team is focused on world-class cocktails from Christian Favier (formerly of the Ordinary). Rum figures heavily on the list, but there’s also a delicious smoked dirty martini and plenty of fizzy drinks thanks to a fancy Japanese Suntory highball machine. Customers can order snacks from the ever-changing menu, including oysters, crudos, agnolotti, Iberico ham, and more.

Legami is a new Italian restaurant boasting a chef brought in from Rome by a family with roots in Turin, Italy. Washington Street Hospitality, which controls three Pasta Beach restaurants in New England, thought the King Street building would be another location for Pasta Beach, but decided to switch it up once they got into the historic building. Chef Andrea Congiusta cooks modern Italian fare with some influences from France. “We took inspiration from the classic fine dining, but we also want to have something fun, something that looks very fancy, and something you can crave,” says Congiusta. Dishes include king crab tagliolini, beef Wellington, and veal Milanese.

Modern steakhouse Marbled & Fin is giving all the other steakhouses a run for their money. The expansive dining room fills nightly with well-heeled customers ready to see and be seen. On the menu, chef Eucepe “Cepe” Puntriano includes all the steakhouse classics plus an emphasis on seafood dishes for non-meat eaters. Look for seafood towers, wedge salads, wagyu beef, bone marrow with oysters, creamed spinach, and more.

Superstar chef Sean Brock has brought his fast-casual burger/biscuit joint to the Lowcountry. Joyland is Brock’s fun nod to the fast-food joints of yesteryear. Breakfast includes all types of biscuit sandwiches and a breakfast burrito. The lunch and dinner menu includes the Joyburger Deluxe, fried chicken sandwiches, Chicago dogs, Crustburgers, and Joysticks. Most of the menu items can be made gluten-free.

Chef Micheal Toscano recently opened a taco shop next to his Italian restaurant Le Farfalle. Blanca Estrada is Toscano’s ode to his Mexican mother and grandmother, whose cooking was an early influence on his culinary journey. The kitchen offers a selection of tacos, from cochinita pibil to lengua, several specials, like a lamb neck burrito, and several tequila drinks and pineapple vinegar soda.

Ice-cold martinis with a side of caviar set the vibe at By the Way, a new upscale lounge and restaurant in Cannonborough/Elliotborough hoping to draw a slightly more mature clientele away from King Street. It’s from Uptown Hospitality Group, the folks behind hotspots like Uptown Social and Bodega, in partnership with Craig Conover and Austen Kroll, two stars of Bravo TV’s Southern Charm. Fairly intimate with the feel of an old-world tavern, By the Way serves a menu of trendy pub fare like ’nduja deviled eggs, poutine, fried oysters with caviar, and steak frites.

Charming new hotel the Dunlin offers sweeping views of the Kiawah River, abundant hospitality, and coastal Southern fare in its signature restaurant, Linnette’s. Chef Michael DeCicco puts out dishes like a pressed and pickled watermelon salad, wood-fired oysters, cornmeal-crusted flounder, and a sorghum-benne lacquered steak with charred okra.

Bermuda's pink-sand beaches are just a nonstop flight away for Lowcountry residents, now that BermudAir has launched its newests nonstop route.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the first Bermuda flight to Charleston has just landed. We will be boarding shortly," an airline gate agent said over the airport's intercom as the direct flight from Bermuda touched down on the CHS runway April 19.

It was followed by applause of passengers waiting to board.

The excitement drew onlookers from nearby gates to the window to watch the plane marked with a colorful bright tail pull into gate A1. The pilots, still in the cockpit, waved at the crowd.

Fran Tucker Griffiths was among the group, waiting with her ticket and passport in hand to board. She lived in Bermuda for 38 years and raised her children on the island. To her, it's still home even though she spends most of her time in South Carolina now.

"The day they announced this flight, I booked it," Tucker Griffiths said. "I'm so excited. I've been waiting since 1982 for a nonstop route. We've had to fly Delta through Atlanta and make a whole day of it, but this two-hour flight saves us a day of travel."

She already has tickets booked for May and June trips.

"Bermuda has amazing golf and the most beautiful beaches and people. It's just a special place," Tucker Griffiths said.

The resort island's carrier will serve Charleston year-round with a once-weekly Saturday flight to and from L.F. Wade International Airport in the historic town of St. George.

The weekly flight departs CHS at 5:30 p.m. every Saturday and arrives in St. George's about two hours and 10 minutes later. The return leg will land around 4:45 p.m. every Saturday.

BermudAir took to the skies slightly over a year ago, with two Embraer ER-170 jets to serve three U.S. cities. Before the carrier hit its first anniversary, it had entered seven markets in North America. BermudAir now flies to 10 destinations in the U.S. and three in Canada.

BermudAir is the first carrier to be headquartered on the island, which is about 900 miles nearly due east of the South Carolina coastline.

CEO Adam D. Scott said year-round service is key to its goal of making Bermuda a destination for business and leisure travelers beyond being a summer destination.

"We're really pleased with the interest from both directions," Scott said.

Scott was on the inaugural CHS flight, which was more than 60 percent full. He said it's sometimes hard to anticipate how balanced the outbound and inbound traffic will be. He said seeing the balance from day one is "indicative of the demand in both markets."

"Charleston a great historic city with a lot of unique character, and so is Bermuda," Scott said.

More than 40 passengers deplaned at CHS, and another 30 boarded shortly after.

Among those landing in Charleston was a Daniel Island family returning from a spring break trip. Frank Pete and wife Katy and two children chose Bermuda as their vacation destination because they could take the BermudAir flight home.

"It was nice clearing customs in Bermuda, because it made flying back a breeze as if we were flying domestic," he said. "The experience was great. We enjoyed the stalagmite caves, beaches and cliff jumping on the trip."

While the once-weekly route is not ideal for those staying longer or less than a week, Scott, the CEO, said the goal is to move to a twice-weekly flight in the future if interest remains strong. He doesn't see it as a weakness in the meantime, since passengers can fly back to the U.S. with the carrier and get back to Charleston via a domestic connection. Alternatively, they can fly through another carrier, which also requires a connecting flight.

Bermuda is known as a vibrant, tropical and cosmopolitan getaway with blush-colored sand, coral reefs, historic sites and an international finance sector.

Travelers from Bermuda shared their favorite sights to see beyond the pink sand beaches it's most known for — like crystal caves, the historic town of St. George, Royal Naval Dockyard and other spots.

Charleston International CEO Elliott Summey said the schedule between the Lowcountry and Bermuda "marks a significant milestone for both regions" and promotes business and leisure travel between the two areas.

“This new route enhances our international connectivity and strengthens economic and cultural ties between the Lowcountry and the island," Summey said.

Debi Ray-Rivers is an example of that business demand. She's a Bermudian who just recently moved to Hilton Head Island full-time. She was on her way to Bermuda to manage her nonprofit and she has a return ticket booked for next week.

"I will be flying back and forth regularly, so I am very excited to have this convenient option," Ray-Rivers said.

Before BermudAir, she'd fly out from Savannah-Hilton Head International to a connecting flight in Atlanta.

"I hope people come visit Bermuda because of this route. We have the most beautiful island and it's an absolute gem in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean," Ray-Rivers added.

Beverly Connell, a Bermudian that lives in the Beaufort area, said the route saves her from the usual long layover in Atlanta or Charlotte airports.

"I couldn't believe there would ever be a direct flight to Bermuda from Charleston. The less airports you have to go through the better," Connell said.

Connell said the two pairings share much in common, with historic sites, beaches and big tourism industries.

"Bermuda is very unique in terms of its beauty, its people and culture rooted in English and Bermudian traditions," she said.

Reach Megan Fernandes at mfernandes@postandcourier.com.

Bishop Jacques Fabre-Jeune of the Diocese of Charleston expressed "deep sorrow" in response to Pope Francis' death.

Francis, the first Latin American pontiff who strongly advocated for the poor, died Monday. He was 88.

"His leadership, compassion and unwavering commitment to peace and justice have inspired millions worldwide, and in a special way the young," Fabre-Jeune wrote in statement.

Fabre-Jeune, who was appointed by Francis as the Bishop of Charleston in 2022, wrote that the Pope reminded parishioners of the "importance of mercy, forgiveness and love," especially to those who are suffering, impoverished and struggling with addiction or illness.

"As we mourn his passing and grieve, we also rejoice in the hope of the Resurrection," he wrote. "Let us turn to prayer, asking for his intercession and entrusting his soul to God’s mercy as we carry his legacy of love, humility and service to others."

Francis, who suffered from lung disease and had part of one lung removed when he was young, developed double pneumonia after he was admitted to Gemelli hospital for a respiratory crisis on Feb. 14.

Francis' final public appearance was on Easter Sunday, a day before his death, as he blessed thousands of people at St. Peter's Square. Francis performed the blessing from the same spot he was introduced as pope on March 13, 2013.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.