Personal Injury Attorneyin West Ashley, SC.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)- Two new dining options are moving into the West Ashley area, including a brunch spot and a New York pizzeria.

‘Breakfast is a meal, brunch is a lifestyle.’

That is the motto for Ruby Sunshine, a New Orleans-based brunch eatery that opened the doors of its second Charleston-area location on Friday.

Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group has taken over a space in The Victory at 835 Savannah Highway in West Ashley, joining the other location at 171 E Bay Street in downtown Charleston.

The spot will offer a Big Easy-inspired take on traditional Southern brunch fare including eggs benedict, shrimp and grits, omelets, and award-winning cocktails.

“We love the city and we fell in love with it the first time we came to see it,” Founder Jennifer Weishaupt said. “There’s such a great connection between Charleston and New Orleans and it has so many similar, parallel vibes in terms of the people, the architecture, and the history so that part of it is really fun.”

Ruby Sunshine in Avondale will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on weekdays and 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends.

You might have seen this food truck roaming the streets from Moncks Corner to Mount Pleasant serving up New York-style slices, but now it’s putting down roots at a permanent location in West Ashley.

Pizza A Modo Mio is moving into the old Ladles location at 3125 Bees Ferry Road in January.

The spot will offer fifteen different styles of 18-inch pizza pies served by the slice, garlic knots, chicken rolls, subs, and other selections you would expect to find at a traditional Long Island pizzeria.

Owner Michael Pitera ships all the dough in from New York and each week makes the homemade sauce and fresh mozzarella that tops the pies.

“Being from West Ashley and having the store in West Ashley, I can really bring that New York flavor to Charleston,” Pitera said. “I wanted to bring that style to my own neighborhood.”

As a bonus, Pizza A Modo Mio will double as an Italian ice shop, offering 16 different flavors of the popular dessert.

A grand opening is planned for Jan. 10, 2023, according to Pitera. Hours will be Tuesday-Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

VIDEO: New BBQ.burger shop opens in West Ashley A Nashville-born restaurant made a new home in Charleston with what it calls “simple, delicious food and warm Southern hospitality.”

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - A Nashville-born restaurant made a new home in Charleston with what it calls “simple, delicious food and warm Southern hospitality.”

Hugh-Baby’s BBQ & Burger Shop has opened its first Lowcountry location on St. Andrews Boulevard. Restaurateur and founder Pat Martin says Hugh-Baby’s is a loving tribute to the small-town eateries he frequented in his childhood.

“We’re thrilled to share our plans to bring Hugh-Baby’s to Charleston,” Martin says. “It’s been an absolute pleasure to serve the Charleston community for the past four years at our Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint on James Island. The city’s incredible natural beauty and rich culinary landscape makes it a natural next home for Hugh-Baby’s, and, most importantly, Charleston is a place where our team wants to live, work, and grow.”

Nearly everything on the Hugh-Baby’s menu is made from scratch and cooked to order. Martin’s menu speaks to his mid-South roots with burgers, Memphis-style barbecue, hot dogs, fries, and hand-spun shakes. The restaurant’s counter-service experience draws inspiration from the old-school barbecue and burger spots of days gone by.

Hugh-Baby’s celebrated burgers feature a proprietary blend of premium beef that is ground fresh daily. The barbecue sandwiches follow time-honored traditions of Memphis-style barbecue, with the restaurant slow-smoking pork, turkey, and bologna onsite, every single day. Menu highlights include Hugh-Baby’s signature Burgers (Classic Single or Double, BBQ Burger, Shroom & Swiss Burger), BBQ Sandwiches (Pulled Pork, Smoked Bologna, Smoked Turkey Club), and Hot Dogs that throw back to the quintessential gas station dogs of Martin’s youth (Ball Park Dog, Slaw Dog, Chili Cheese Dog, and Pickwick Dog). Other standouts include a Fried Chicken Sandwich, a Veggie Burger with a loyal following, crispy golden French Fries, and hand-spun, scratch-made Milkshakes featuring chocolate, strawberry, and seasonal fruit flavors.

The new restaurant will mark Martin’s second Lowcountry restaurant, following the 2019 opening of Martin’s Bar-B-Que Joint on James Island.

Hugh-Baby’s, located at 1028 St. Andrews Blvd., is open every day from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. for dine-in, drive-thru, take-home, and delivery.

The restaurant is currently accepting applications for good-hearted people who love to serve to join the team at its new West Ashley location. Visit www.hughbabys.com/careers.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

The city of Charleston and the National Trust for Historic Preservation have argued that North Charleston’s “leap frog” annexation inside the rural Ashley River Historic District will destroy the area’s continuity and damage its archeological significance.

And now, almost five years since the legal fight began, the courts still aren’t convinced.

In the latest decision involving the annexation dispute between two of the state’s largest cities, the S.C. Court of Appeals did not block North Charleston’s annexation of a 1-acre parcel along S.C. Highway 61 which could eventually pave the way for North Charleston’s expansion throughout West Ashley.

The appeals court’s unanimous ruling affirmed the 2019 ruling by Circuit Judge Eugene Griffith Jr. The lower court ruled in 2019 that neither Charleston nor the National Trust have the legal right to challenge North Charleston’s 2017 annexation.

“We find respondents lack standing to challenge the annexation of the acre by North Charleston,” wrote Chief Judge Bruce Williams in the Feb. 1 decision. “Therefore, further consideration of the matter by this court is foreclosed.”

In 2017, North Charleston properly annexed the 113 acre-tract known as Runnymede Plantation off S.C. Highway 61 owned by the Whitfield Construction Co. The company then gave North Charleston an acre of land on the opposite side of S.C. 61 which North Charleston attorneys have said is adjacent to the larger, 2,200-acre tract also owned by Whitfield.

The city of Charleston argues the annexation of the acre was not proper because it jumps over a strip of land — a 100-foot wide buffer running along the highway — that was already owned by the National Trust and annexed into the Charleston.

Charleston plans to appeal the court’s latest decision to the state Supreme Court because state law “clearly forbids this kind of land jumping, and allowing it to stand would set a terrible precedent,” city spokesman Jack O’Toole said.

In late 2017, around the same time North Charleston hopped over Charleston’s boundary to claim the 1-acre parcel, the city of Charleston annexed a total of about 6,000 acres in the surrounding area. That annexation included the 2,200-acre Whitfield tract and a 30-acre property called Millbrook Plantation LLC.

Because the city used the 75 percent rule, it was able to take both properties without the owners’ consent because 75 percent of surrounding property owners with 75 percent of the total land value had asked to join the city.

Property owners who joined included those who wanted to preserve the area’s rural character. North Charleston responded two days later with its own attempt to annex the Millbrook and Whitfield properties. Though North Charleston started its annexation last, it finished its annexation before Charleston.

Charleston argued that under the “prior jurisdiction doctrine,” it was allowed to finish the process without interference. The appeals court affirmed that the Supreme Court has refused to adopt that doctrine.

Charleston says it also has environmental concerns.

The city alleges that North Charleston’s “scheme” to use the 1-acre lot to gain continuity with the abutting 2,200-acre parcel would eventually bring unwanted development. Charleston and the National Trust emphasize that development on that tract would not be controlled by the Charleston Urban Growth Boundary, designed to limit construction along the rural corridor.

Overdevelopment would lead to the destruction of the archeological significance of the district, the city and National Trust said.

“This massive tract sits at the top of the Church Creek drainage basin,” O’Toole said. “We have a duty to protect it from overdevelopment in order to prevent flooding throughout the entire area.”

North Charleston is pleased with the ruling.

“The city of North Charleston appreciates the thoughtful consideration provided by the Court of Appeals and is pleased to see the trial court’s ruling in favor of North Charleston affirmed,” said City Attorney Derk Van Raalte.

The case was expected to help clarify state annexation law, which says land to be annexed must be contiguous to land already in a city’s limits. North Charleston has argued in the past that its annexation of the 1 acre was legal due to a lesser-known statute that allows for cities to annex property “adjacent” to city limits.

But the appeals court acknowledged that their decision has not “yet addressed whether the term ‘adjacent’ within section 5-3-100 requires contiguity.”

Justices appear to want to be done with the matter.

“Respondents have failed to demonstrate that North Charleston’s annexation of the acre incites anything more than a boundary dispute between two municipalities,” Williams said. “Further, the absence of a challenge to the annexation by the State is illustrative of the State’s position on whether the matter rises to a level of public concern.”

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Days after a large three-story apartment fire in West Ashley left at least 50 residents displaced, the cause of the fire still remains unknown.

The fire at Colonial Grand at Cypress Cove, located near the 3500 block of Mary Ader Avenue, damaged 24 units. It was reported at approximately 3:45 p.m. on Sunday.

The Charleston Fire Department said no one was injured in the fire and were still searching for a few missing cats on Sunday before firefighters with engine 116 located the last cat hiding inside a box spring of a bed in a fire-damaged apartment.

Lynn Walsh, who has lived in the complex since August, first heard about the fire when her Ring doorbell continued to go off with firefighters in front of the video camera.

“I was just kind of along with everyone else in the building. Whether you were home or not, it was kind of a waiting game to see what happened,” Walsh says. “All the first responders and everyone who worked at the apartment complex were super nice, super gracious with their time. They made us feel settled and were a good calming presence to have around.”

Charleston Fire Department Chief Fire Marshal Mike Julazadeh said the crews arrived on the scene six minutes after the fire was called in. He said the fire was very difficult to control after it was extended into the attic.

“There are things that I still have, and there are people whose structure and belongings were burned,” Walsh says. “A lot of my damage is water damage and the roof is gone. All of my things were still there, but are they usable? No.”

A fire happened at the same complex in 2020 leaving 24 units damaged as well, but it is still unknown if the cause of the fire is the same in both cases.

Despite losing her apartment and the majority of her belongings, Walsh continues to look on the bright side.

“The biggest thing that I’ve learned is that people are really good; there’s a lot of good people left in the world, and think other people that lived in the unit are experiencing this as well,” she says. “The love, support and generosity that has been coming my way has been incredible.”

Julazadeh said Red Cross responded to the scene to help residents.

The fire department said the investigation is ongoing and has asked for the public’s help. Anyone who took photos or videos of the fire that may help as fire investigators reconstruct the timeline of the fire is asked to email them to CFDmedia@charleston-sc.gov.

Copyright 2023 WCSC. All rights reserved.

While downtown Charleston is known for its fine dining restaurants, fast casual spots, late night dive bars and craft cocktail joints, it isn’t the only area in Charleston with standout menu items. Just over the Ashley River in West Ashley, you’ll discover many locally-owned restaurants that serve quality food for a fraction of the downtown price.

Plus, when you’re hanging at these 13 restaurants, you can escape the hustle and bustle of downtown.

Avondale Wine and Cheese813 Savannah Hwy.(843) 769-5444Avondalechs.comOpen Mon.-Wed. 3-9 p.m., Thurs.-Sat. 12-9 p.m.

Voted Best Wine Bar by City Paper readers this year, Avondale Wine & Cheese currently offers a variety of charcuterie and cheese board options, tapas and, of course, wine. Choose your own combination of meats, cheeses and tapas items for your board, so you can try a little bit of everything. It’s a lot to choose from, and can be daunting for those less educated in all things meat, cheese and wine, but the staff at Avondale is there to help pick the right flavors for you.

Boxcar Betty’s1922 Savannah Hwy.(843) 225-7470Boxcarbettys.comOpen daily 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Boxcar Betty’s is the perfect place to fulfill a chicken sandwich craving. The fried-to-order chicken sandwiches here can be customized to your desires, with a range of toppings and sauces to choose from. Or, opt for a classic sandwich like the Boxcar with pimiento cheese, house-made peach slaw, pickles and spicy mayo. Even vegetarians can indulge in Boxcar Betty’s offerings with pimiento-stuffed portobello mushrooms as a protein choice.

Early Bird Diner 1644 Savannah Hwy.(843) 277-2353Earlybirddiner.comOpen daily 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Though Early Bird made a name for itself as a spot for late night adventures and a hangover-fueled morning haunt, its hours have shifted to a traditional cafe, but it hasn’t lost its charm. The famous pecan-fried chicken and waffles taste as good as ever. The sweet, crispy exterior of the chicken pairs perfectly with the fluffy Belgian waffles. Pro-tip: Pour the syrup over everything on the plate, get a biteful of chicken and waffle and dip the syrup-coated pair into the honey mustard. It’s a flavor combo unlike any other.

Gene’s Haufbrau817 Savannah Hwy.(843) 225-4363Open daily 11:30-2 a.m.

Gene’s Haufbrau is a West Ashley staple. This year, it celebrated 70 years of serving Charlestonians one of the largest selections of beer. And, the food is stellar too. Gene’s knocks pub fare out of the park with classics like chicken wings and burgers, but ask about the daily blue plate specials, ranging from pork chops and pot roast to fried flounder.

The Glass Onion1219 Savannah Hwy.(843) 225-1717Ilovetheglassonion.comOpen Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

The Glass Onion has been a neighborhood favorite since 2008, serving fine dining quality meals in a casual atmosphere. Chef/owner Chris Stewart combines his native Alabama roots with cooking styles he learned in New Orleans and Charleston, giving the menu a creative Southern flair. Menu items like gumbo brimming with okra and sausage, pan-roasted flounder served over tender braised beans and thick mashed potatoes, shrimp and grits and fried catfish with red rice are part of the reason City Paper readers voted The Glass Onion as the Best West Ashley Restaurant in 2022.

Home Team BBQ1205 Ashley River Road(843) 225-7427Hometeambbq.comOpen daily 11-12 a.m.

Chefs Aaron Siegel and Taylor Garrigan started their acclaimed barbecue empire, Home Team BBQ, in West Ashley. The meats here, like pulled pork, smoked chicken, ribs and a superb salt-and-pepper brisket, are all cooked over wood on offset metal pits. Siegel and Garrigan’s fine dining roots show up in an array of creative snacks and tacos, like chopped brisket sliders on brioche buns and smoked shrimp tacos with white bean puree. And, don’t miss out on Home Team’s smoked chicken wings with tangy white Alabama-style sauce.

Old Li’s1662 Savannah Hwy. Unit 105(843) 640-3994Oldlisrestaurant.comOpen Thurs.-Tues. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Old Li’s is a hidden gem in West Ashley tucked in the Indigo Village shopping center on Savannah Highway. It first opened in 2021, serving Chinese cuisine, but not the standard Chinese American takeout dishes like General Tso’s. Instead, Old Li’s offers more adventurous meals like squirrel fish and griddled pork intestines. Of course, you can also stick to some favorites like pork fried rice, Yuxiang (or shredded) pork and Kung Pao Chicken.

Red Orchid’s China Bistro1401 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. (843) 573-8787redorchids.com

City Paper readers have voted Red Orchids Best Chinese for many years — and for good reason. Not only are the dishes affordable but also delicious. Tucked away in the back of the Ashley Landing Mall parking lot, Red Orchids is the perfect place for a quiet lunch or dinner out. Pro-tip: As the temperatures in the Lowcountry drop, stop by Red Orchids for a bowl of wonton soup. It’s savory, warm and served with delicious pork dumplings. It also comes with crispy wonton strips that add extra crunch.

R Kitchen1337 Ashley River Road(843) 789-4342Rutledgekitchen.comOpen Wed.-Sat. Reservation Only.

R Kitchen is a different dining experience than the traditional sit down, order and eat. R, is reservation only and the menu changes every night, offering a five-course menu based on seasonal ingredients and the chefs’ creativity. Reservations can be made by texting (843) 789-0725.

Swig & Swine1217 Savannah Hwy.(843) 225-3805Swigandswinebbq.comOpen daily 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Swig & Swine specializes in fresh-smoked meats with ice-cold drinks. Its extensive drink menu includes local draft beers as well as signature cocktails. Try the St. Louis ribs or the pork rind nachos for a messy good time.

Three Little Birds65 Windermere Blvd.(843) 225-3065Threelittlebirdscafe.comOpen Mon.-Fri. 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

Located near the Earth Fare in the South Windermere Center, Three Little Birds is a quaint dining space wrapped in lush greenery. big breakfast and lunch meals. Serving big breakfast and lunch meals, some classics standout like Tom’s Plate offer two eggs any style, toast, a side and the choice of bacon, ham or sausage. Or, you can try the lox bagel, topped with smoked salmon, cream cheese and capers or the Carolina Scramble with eggs, andouille sausage, shrimp, peppers and onion.

Triangle Char & Bar828 Savannah Hwy.(843) 377-1300Trianglecharandbar.comOpen Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-11 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11-12 a.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-11 p.m.

Triangle Char + Bar is a family-friendly neighborhood restaurant with a cozy vibe and delicious food. Highlights of the menu include a selection of grass-fed burgers like the Hot Sh*t, a blackened burger with jalapeno-bacon jam, an over easy egg and pepper jack cheese. Or if you don’t feel like getting your hands a little messy, Triangle has “fork and knife” options like the retro bowl made with quinoa, sweet corn, spinach, bacon and white onion, all tossed in a parmesan cream sauce.

Zen Asian Fusion2037 Sam Rittenberg Blvd.(843) 766-6331Zenasianrestaurant.comHours vary

Zen is the perfect spot to relax after a long day or hang out with a group of friends. The dim lighting and calm ambiance adds to the delicious sushi rolls and entrees offered at this Asian fusion restaurant. Traditional Chinese dishes like Mongolian beef share the menu with chef specials like crispy roasted Mandarin duck or noodle dishes like pad thai and mei fun. But Zen shines in its abundance of delicious and well-crafted sushi rolls. Take, for example, the Holy Moly Roll, made with King crab, tuna, avocado and spring mix, then deep fried and topped with a creamy sauce.