Betting on Rebirth

More than just pastors, parishioners, and politicians were present Sunday for the groundbreaking ceremony at Grace United Methodist Church on Sam Rittenberg Boulevard.
Also present was the sense that the church was a part of their street’s rebirth — resurrection being too charged a word for that setting.
When asked if the church was paralleling City Hall’s ongoing efforts to revitalize the Sam Rittenberg corridor, the Rev. Dick Broomall showed his excitement on Friday.
“Absolutely,” said Broomall, pastor at the church for the past five years. He said the expansion plan had been germinated more than 10 years before but had been “put on the shelf” until recently.
Broomall said his church wanted to reach out to the community, and saw the city’s efforts in “upgrading” the corridor and Citadel Mall as the perfect opportunity for the church.
“It’s a timely marriage,” he said.
The first phase of the church’s plans is relatively humble compared to its second. First up will be an enhanced and remodeled front entrance, which will also include a new covered drop off spot, as well as an expanded fellowship hall.
The second phase would be the construction of a new education building that would allow the church to expand on its 50-year tradition of providing daycare to locals and parishioners.
Broomall said that the first phase had to be approved by the larger church and then Mayor Joseph P. Riley Jr.’s administration. “In that order,” he said, laughing.
Riley’s administration has been busy in its attempts to bolster West Ashley, hosting public forums, hiring planning and consulting firms, and launching efforts to spruce up the area. City Councilmen representing West Ashley, like Aubry Alexander, have been meeting separately with local developers to augment City Hall’s efforts.
Alexander believes that private investment will follow public effort and investment in West Ashley, much like it did when Mt. Pleasant upgraded its infrastructure in response to the Ravenel Bridge’s construction.
And all the work is starting to pay off, with major changes already afoot. Last year, Charlotte-based developer Faison purchased Ashley Landing down Sam Rittenberg, and has begun to transform that shopping center.
Faison recently purchased the three-piece corner spit where the Piggly Wiggly used to be open between Sumar Street, Sam Rittenberg Boulevard and Old Towne Road. Outparcels of the shopping center are beginning to be leased out, with a Starbucks headed for the former Bojangles’ spot.
The entire strip mall has been repainted and awaits a major landscaping overhaul, according to Alexander.
Back down near the other end of Sam Rittenberg, Andolini’s pizza restaurant is waiting for city approval to begin gutting and landscaping a former Tenichi Chinese buffet restaurant building, according to Andolini’s president and owner David Odle.
“I truly think West Ashley is going to be the next hot spot,” said Odle, who’s putting his wallet where his beliefs are. He said he expects City Hall to transform Citadel Mall and the Sam Rittenberg corridor. “We’re in a good position.”
The new Andolini’s site will include a separate meeting room capable of serving fewer than 100 sit-down diners via caterers or the Andolini’s pizza kitchen. The former Andolini’s West Ashley site on Savannah Highway will also become a Starbucks.
So far, Starbucks has been accommodating the slow move, set to take place this summer, said Odle.
Prevalent rumors that the other Chinese buffet spot further down Sam Rittenberg across from Red Lobster is set to become a Chipotle Mexican Grill may be a bit premature. According to one of its public relations professionals, the hot national chain is “opening a new restaurant on King Street next Friday but I am not showing anything else in Charleston.”
Rumors have spread around the corner and down St. Andrews Boulevard that the former and now shuttered Food Lion spot next to Ryan’s Steak House is set to welcome a new tenant.
But Michael Harper, a commercial developer with the downtown firm Gramling Brothers that purchased the mall and its outbuildings last year, had no comment, adding that even though the store is closed, Food Lion still has four more years on its lease.
Regardless of what ends up going where in West Ashley, it will certainly be a different landscape when Grace United’s upgrades are finally completed.
“What’s being done in combination of public investment, private industry, and commercial efforts along Sam Rittenberg and the rest of West Ashley parallels with what we want to do and work positively with,” said Pastor Broomall.