The Independent Edition

Doscher's IGA Owner:  Johnny Doscher III Opened:  1974-2022 Cooperative:  IGA Location:  1133 Savannah Hwy, West Ashley, Charleston, SC Photographed:  June 2022 Contributor:  Carlton Swift We are returning to Charleston, South Carolina for an update at Doscher's IGA, which we saw in a tour not too long ago. I haven't been back to Charleston since my initial visit in January 2022, but our contributor Carlton Swift who lives in the area was able to capture Doscher's during its store closure on its final days. The store is set to be demolished for a residential development. Carlton gives us some information on the store itself too: A&P opened in 1963 as a Centennial and closed in 1974. Doscher's opened the same year. The store was expanded to its current size and shape in 2003. We'll see where the building originally ended. Interestingly enough, that means the facade we see here was actually constructed in 2003 and is not an original Centennial facade. Th...

HUM Grocery Owner: Natalie & Andrew Humphrey Opened:  2021 Cooperative:  none Location:  6998 Maybank Hwy, Wadmalaw Island, SC Photographed:  January 2022 As we leave Charleston on Maybank Highway, we'll first hit the Harris Teeter at Maybank and Folly on James Island, then enter Johns Island to see the Food Lion and KJ's . At KJ's, we can turn left (south) to head towards Kiawah Island, or continue straight to cross over to Wadmalaw Island. All the way at the far southern tip of Wadmalaw Island is this building, which for decades was home to P. M. King's grocery, which closed not long ago but has been revitalized recently as HUM Grocery. Just a note on geography before we get into this amazing store. We're only about two and a half miles as the crow flies west of Freshfields Village , but to drive it you have to take a full trip of 22 miles, via Johns Island (where KJ's is). So this store is out at the far end of the island, and in a pretty remote area. ...

The Market Owner: Kiawah Island Opened:  unknown Cooperative:  none Location:  5480 Sea Forest Dr, Kiawah Island, SC Photographed:  January 2022 Kiawah Island is an upscale, private resort island and the main attraction is a large golf resort . The only grocery store of any kind within the gates of the island is The Market at Town Center, which is an interesting combination of convenience store and cafeteria. It seems to work quite well for what vacationers and residents are looking for. Plus, for large orders, I'm sure many stop at the Village Market by Harris Teeter just outside Kiawah Island. This store appears to be owned by the resort, as are all the restaurants (and all the businesses...?) on Kiawah Island. It's also considered to be the most, um, affordable dining option on the island. Other options include The Ocean Room, where a 12oz New York Strip steak will cost you $75 . In the front of the store is some Kiawah Island merchandise, with a few tables of g...

The Market at Storey Farms Owner: Jeremy Storey Opened:  2014 Cooperative:  none Location:  3388 Trumpet Rd, Johns Island, SC Photographed:  January 2022 Okay, I admit: this is not exactly a grocery store. So if you're not interested, feel free to skip today's post and head over to The Market Report for a boring ol' supermarket tour tomorrow. But I had a good time here, and I thought I should share that. The Market at Storey Farms, pictured above, is a farmstand and small food stand at Storey Farms, which is a functional farm (that you can read all about here ). They produce eggs, chicken, and pork, and also sell other local products and prepared foods. The Market is under a large tent, meaning it's all outdoors -- something we of course could not have up in the northeast for climate reasons. But we also got to say hello to some of the animals who live here... ...including a few baby goats, who were having a grand old time in their enclosure out by the road, Betsy ...

Blackbird Market Owner:  Billy & Delana Hayes Opened:  ca. 2013 Cooperative:  none Location:  1808 Bohicket Rd, Johns Island, SC Photographed:  January 2022 Just across the street from yesterday's KJ's Market , we find ourselves in the tiny Blackbird Market. This high-end, farmstand-like market has a little bit of a lot of things: produce, meat, seafood, baked goods, and prepared foods. I must say that the bakery items I sampled were quite delicious. The store opened around 2013 in what used to be a tire shop. And if you're interested in the farmstand/local gourmet items type of store, we have another one tomorrow to check out about eight miles south on Johns Island. Come back tomorrow to check that one out!