Duct Cleaning in Johns Island, SC

JAMES ISLAND — Coffee, biscuits and bulgogi cheesesteak.

That’s the spread at Trading Post, the new James Island café from the team behind Folly Beach’s popular Jack of Cups Saloon.

They’re bringing their signature globally inspired menu to a café format and introducing something new for the team: breakfast all day.

The menu includes buttermilk biscuits with butter and jam, classic egg-and-cheese biscuits and a larger “All Day Breakfast Situation” menu item featuring two eggs, cheese, tomato, whipped potatoes and maple mayo all on a jumbo biscuit.

Fans of Jack of Cups Saloon’s rotating lunch and dinner menu will spot familiar soups, sandwiches and stews, such as the Thai ginger peanut soup, potato popcorn soup and the tamari-ginger cucumber salad.

First announced in 2023, Trading Post officially opened its doors at 8 a.m. on Dec. 5 in the Walgreens-anchored Shoppes of Folly shopping center, located on James Island at 915 Folly Rd.

Like the unique menu at its Folly Beach flagship, the James Island outpost will routinely roll out rotating “fun, unique bites” in a counter-service format, co-owner Lesley Carroll said.

Current lunch options include the vegetarian-friendly harissa garbanzo burger and heartier bulgogi cheesesteak made with sirloin and topped with spicy Korean BBQ sauce and queso blanco.

During the soft-opening phase, Trading Post will operate from 8 a.m.– 3 p.m. with a smaller menu while the owners await a beer and wine permit. Once approved, hours will extend to 8 p.m.

The current beverage menu includes coffee with house-made syrups, seltzers and lemonades.

Trading Post took over the former Odyssey Greek Restaurant, where it sat vacant for a decade and needed a full renovation, Carroll said.

Customers are now greeted by a blue-tiled pastry case and counter in front of deep blue walls with plenty of plants along the counter and shelves. There is bar seating with leather stools, tall community tables and high booths inside the eclectic, cozy interior.

“The name Trading Post came from thinking about places where people meet and gather — inspired by travel,” Carroll said. “Jack of Cups has been a destination at the beach and now we get to be part of the neighborhood here on James Island, where we live.”

The eatery isn’t the team’s first foray into quick-service breakfast on James Island. Carroll said Jack of Cups BeBop, a location inside a permanent food truck at The Pour House Charleston, has been serving breakfast on the weekends.

Jack of Cups Saloon also hosts occasional brunch events throughout the year.

Trading Post now gives the team a dedicated space for everyday morning fare.

The Shoppes of Folly shopping center has long been a food destination on James Island with global cuisine, despite being located behind a Sonic fast-food restaurant. Thai Elephants restaurant has operated in the center for 10 years.

In October, 27-year-old Italian restaurant Mondo’s opened an expanded dining room and announced it was adding pizza to the menu for the first time.

CHARLESTON — Bargain hunters on James Island will soon have a new spot to score deals as Dollar Tree adds a second location this week.

The store will open its doors on Dec. 4 at 856 Folly Road, according to manager Jim Ruquet.

It’s the latest tenant to join the shopping center near Camp and Folly roads, anchored by an Aldi grocery store that opened last October, and Planet Fitness which opened in 2022 in the space previously occupied by a Bi-Lo supermarket.

Already, aisles are stocked with home goods, kitchen essentials, party supplies, and a cooler along the back wall for refrigerated items. “Now Hiring” signs with QR codes for applicants are posted on the doors.

The Dollar Tree joins the company’s other location at 1291 Folly Road, in the Food Lion-anchored Island Plaza. It location will remain open, according to store manager Rich Granville.

The Chesapeake, Vi.-based retailer, which operates about 9,000 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada, including 195 in South Carolina, has been opening more stores in the Lowcountry.

In October, Dollar Tree opened its second West Ashley location in October, nine months after it opened on Orleans Road, across from Citadel Mall.

In March, the chain announced it was divesting its Family Dollar business, selling it to Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management for $1 billion.

The sale was finalized in July, with net proceeds from the sale estimated to total approximately $800 million, according to the the company.

Mike Creedon, Dollar Tree’s chief executive officer, told investors Oct. 15 that more than 1,100 new stores had opened nationwide since 2023, capturing a budget-conscious market as customers are “looking to recover from highest inflation in decades.”

According to the company, 85 percent of products at Dollar Tree cost $2 or less.

JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — One of Charleston County Parks' most anticipated events of the year is back for the holiday season.

The 36th annual Holiday Festival of Lights opened at James Island County Park on Friday, Nov. 14.

"It's one of the most popular holiday attractions here in the Lowcountry," said Sarah Reynolds, the public information coordinator for Charleston County Parks. "The Holiday Festival of Lights is a three-mile drive through over 750 light displays and an estimated 2 million lights."

Visitors can expect to see their favorite light displays, and new additions.

"We always have a little something new in the lights every year, so you'll have to come out and see what's new," said Reynolds.

New for this year? A New Year's Eve fireworks display on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m.

In addition to the drive of fantastical lights, visitors are also encouraged to park the car and head over to Santa's Village.

"We have gift shops. There's a sweet shop. Santa is here every night through December 23rd. We have special entertainment and live music on other nights. And so there's really so much more to do and see. There's a carousel, a festival train," said Reynolds. The village also features food vendors, s'mores, and a rock-climbing wall.

In addition to Santa Claus, the Grinch also stopped by for opening night to promote 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas the Musical' at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center.

Charleston County Parks encourages visitors to the Holiday Festival of Lights to buy tickets in advance, and to take advantage of discount-pricing days.

"We have over 200,000 people typically each year that come to the Holiday Festival of Lights. So that's a lot. And I think it's around 60,000 cars," said Reynolds.

The Holiday Festival of Lights is open every night at 871 Riverland Drive, from 5:30pm to 10pm through Dec. 31, 2025.