Local Data

Location & Expansion Log

Diverse companies – from startups to multinational corporations – continue to relocate and expand existing operations in the Charleston region.

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New, Expanding, and Mergers & Acquisitions

2009

Gildan Activewear

December 16, 2009

Jobs: 250
Investment: $25 Million

Quality branded basic apparel

This Canadian-based company is consolidating its Eastern U.S. retail distribution operations into a 580,000-square-foot facility in Berkeley County.

Mankiewicz Coatings LLC

December 4, 2009

Jobs: 25
Investment: $2 Million

Specialized coatings and coating systems for a variety of industries

The German-based company plans to locate its new operations in Berkeley County to strengthen its North American market presence. The facility will be used primarily as a distribution center for products coming in through the Port of Charleston.

Clemson Univ Restoration Institute (CURI) Wind Energy R&D Center

November 24, 2009

Jobs: 21
Investment: $98 Million

Wind turbine drivetrain development and testing facility

A new wind turbine drivetrain testing facility will be constructed at CURI's research campus on the former Navy base. The new facility will be capable of full-scale highly accelerated testing of advanced drivetrain systems for wind turbines in the 5-megawatt to 15-megawatt range, with a 30% overload capacity.

Boeing

October 28, 2009

Jobs: 3,800
Investment: $750 Million

Second assembly line for 787 Dreamliner aircraft

Boeing will locate its second 787 Dreamliner final assembly line in the Charleston region to accommodate a growing market demand for the aircraft. The new facility will be adjacent to two established 787-related operations, Boeing Charleston and Global Aeronautica.

Scientific Research Corporation

October 13, 2009

Jobs: 300
Investment: $4 Million

Communications and electronic systems and equipment design, integration and support services

This Atlanta-based advanced engineering company serves both the U.S. government as well as private industry in both domestic and international markets. The firm chose to expand its Charleston area location citing an excellent business environment that is well-matched to fit the needs of our growing company and access to a talented workforce as key factors.

TBC Corporation

October 12, 2009

Jobs: 120
Investment: $52 Million

One of the largest marketers of automotive replacement tires

TBC will serve as anchor tenant in a new 400-acre industrial park being developed by The Rockefeller Group and MeadWestvaco along I-26 near Jedburg, an area slated to become a major distribution corridor. The 1.1 million sq. ft. distribution center will not only provide a significant boost to the Port of Charleston, but also bring much needed jobs to the upper parts of our region.

Butterfly Women's Consignment Boutique

September 23, 2009

Consignment store for women's upscale clothing and accessories

Butterfly Women’s Consignment Boutique has opened a second location on Upper King Street in downtown Charleston at 482 King St. Its flagship store is located in Mount Pleasant. The stores offer "high-end couture" for women.

Acadia Human Capital Soultions

September 17, 2009

Jobs: 50

Human Resources software developer

Columbia-based Acadia is relocating to Charleston and expanding from its current 21 employees to about 50 over the next year. One of the company's excutives explains why Charleston was chosen, explaining they "...feel like Charleston is becoming a vibrant technology center."

Dorchester County Quick Jobs Development Center

September 2, 2009


Investment: $2.6 Million

Job training center

This "quick jobs" center will train workers for jobs available within 90 days with classes offered by Trident Technical College in a variety of fields including warehousing and distribution specialists, manufacturing, paralegals, industrial maintenance mechanics and heavy equipment operators.

Vapor Apparel

August 20, 2009

Jobs: 2

Manufactures on-demand performance apparel using a digital printing process that binds ink at a molecular level

An apparel manufacturing company with a core business process called sublimation, by which molecules of the fabric are opened with heat, infused with ink and then closed to encapsulate the color and pattern. Because Vapor Apparel can customize short runs, it has gained customers including New Balance, Boy Scouts of America, MTV, VH1, Four Seasons and TV show Army Wives.

No Limits

July 27, 2009

Jobs: 3

Children's indoor play center and recreation facility

A new children's indoor play center and recreation facility opened in Mount Pleasant offering seven-day-a-week climate-controlled environment for kids.

BAE Systems

July 23, 2009

Jobs: 175
Investment: $4.5 Million

Defense contracting, technology professional services, engineering

Company plans to consolidate three local facilities into larger space to accommodate company growth to meet advanced security industry needs. Its leading customers include nearby Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center Atlantic (SPAWAR).

Global Recovery LLC

July 14, 2009

Jobs: 15

Plastic, wood, metal and other scrap industrial materials recycler

Reprocessing of plastic, wood, metal and other scrap industrial materials into raw materials for re-use in various manufacturing processes. Approximately 100 industrial firms across the Southeast U.S. supply the recycling firm with their waste materials which Global turns into new raw material.

Five Guys Burgers & Fries

July 13, 2009

Limited service restaurant

Five Guys now has 19 restaurants in South Carolina including five in the Charleston area.

Aeonian Bricks

July 10, 2009

Jobs: 9

Specialty brick manufacturer

Aeonian, with 9 employees, is a new brick manufacturing operation boasting a product that is fireproof and waterproof.

Metalworx Inc.

July 8, 2009

Jobs: 25
Investment: $2.3 Million

Industrial machining and metal fabricating services to the medical, steel, military, automotive and other related industries

Metalworx is adding 25 new jobs and expanding its existing space by 16,000 sq. ft. in Eastport Commerce Park in Summerville.

Welded Tube-Berkeley

June 26, 2009

Jobs: 31
Investment: $1.4 Million

Fire protection sprinkler pipe, mechanical and structural tubing for OEM applications such as crates and racks

The company will expand its current product line in the fire protection market with a new product to be used in the transmission of air, water, and gas utilities, and for well-water removal.

American LaFrance

April 29, 2009

Jobs: 216
Investment: $1.69 Million

Fire trucks, garbage trucks, rescue units

The company plans to consolidate all of its operations to its Berkeley County headquarters and production facility, allowing the company to streamline production of three distinct product categories thus gaining manufacturing efficiency.

Sunland Distribution Inc.

April 27, 2009

Jobs: 15

Warehousing, transportation management, contract labor services, packaging and full supply chain consulting services

Acquiring a 211,000-square-foot warehouse facility on Piggly Wiggly Drive in North Charleston. According to company CEO Arch Thomason, "Charleston is one of the busiest ports in the United States, so it’s a natural place for us to expand."

Chic-fil-A

April 14, 2009

Jobs: 60

Fast food restaurant

This is the chicken chain's first "standalone" restaurant in Goose Creek. Chick-fil-A plans to add 65 new standalone locations nationwide this year, creating more than 4,200 jobs. The company has more than 1,430 locations in 38 states and Washington, D.C.

TRUMPF Medical Systems Inc.

April 2, 2009

Jobs: 29
Investment: $5.58 Million

Medical equipment, operating room products, surgical suites

A manufacturer and marketer of state-of-the-art medical equipment for health care facilities throughout North America, TRUMPF will be moving into a new build-to-suit facility located on a 2.5-acre site in Berkeley County’s Cainhoy Park.

Shoe Dept. Encore

March 30, 2009

Jobs: 24

Shoe retailer

This Kannapolis N.C.-based shoe retailer will open its new store in Citadel Mall in a 15,000 square foot space recently vacated by Old Navy.

Navy Federal Credit Union

March 18, 2009

Jobs: 10

Federal credit union

Navy Federal Credit Union serves the financial and banking needs of U.S. Department of Defense military and civilian personnel and their families. This Summerville site is the Virginia-based institution's fourth branch in South Carolina and 173rd overall.

Terrace Hippodrome

March 17, 2009

Jobs:

Movie theater

Hippodrome's single screen will span up to 70 feet in length and reach up to 40 feet high, as it was the former IMAX theater in downtown Charleston. The owner plans to bring in a "fresh first-run blockbuster" every month and serve beer and wine. Other surrounding businesses are reportedly glad to welcome the increased foot traffic they hope their newest neighbor will bring.

SieMatic

March 13, 2009

Jobs:

Luxury kitchen elements showroom

SieMatic, a German-headquartered luxury kitchen elements maker with stores in 60 countries, announces a 2,500 square-foot showroom coming to Upper King Street (444 King Street) this month. A New York City showroom manager with the company will relocate to the Charleston region to manage the local site.

Charleston Sound

March 10, 2009

Jobs: 5

Audio production studio

This multi-million dollar new audio production studio in the Charleston region plans to rival those in New York, Los Angeles and "Music City" Nashville, Tennessee. Since launching a couple of months ago, the studio has already recorded Hootie & the Blowfish's Mark Bryan, violinist Anna Schaad, and contemporary Christian artist Martin Chalk.

Lenny's Sub Shop

March 2, 2009

Philadelphia-style sub sandwich shop

Recent Memphis transplants to Charleston are opening the region's first Lenny's Sub Shop on Savannah Highway and plan to open nine more shops in the area over the next seven years. Lenny's is a franchise and has 160 restaurants across the nation.

Burke's Outlet

March 2, 2009

Jobs: 12

Discount apparel and home goods retailer

This retailer is opening a 22,000-square-foot shop in North Rivers Marketplace at 7800 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston. This is the second site in the Charleston regoin, as the company has a store in Summerville at 975 Bacon's Bridge Rd. Its key merchandise focus is off-price branded apparel for families.

Advancen MOD Corp.

February 16, 2009

Jobs:

Headquarters for equipment manufacturing operation

Relocating from Florida, this firm is establishing its headquarters at the campus of the South Carolina Research Authority in North Charleston and is hiring nearby Orangeburg plastics manufacturer, Zeus Inc., to assemble its patented "medication-on-demand" devices.

Palmetto Custom Compounding

February 16, 2009

Jobs: 2

Custom compounding of pharmaceuticals

The owner of a former downtown pharmacy is starting this new venture: the practice of mixing medicines by hand which is known as compounding. Many large drug manufacturers find the process not profitable, but this pharmacist/owner sees a niche to fill.

American Synthetics

February 12, 2009

Jobs: 250
Investment: $25 Million

Polywoven packaging

The newly formed venture will begin manufacturing durable, fully recyclable packaging for the pet food industry. American Synthetics is currently hiring its initial 50-person workforce and expects to invest $25 million and add another 200 employees within five years.

Citadel Mall IMAX Stadium 16

February 7, 2009

Jobs:
Investment: $11 Million

16-screen movie theater

Southeast Cinemas Entertainment has an $11 million, 16-screen theater complex under construction where the former "Citadel Mall 6" once was and has announced that a panoramic IMAX theater is part of its project. This will mark a return by IMAX to the Charleston market after the Charleston IMAX Theater closed in downtown Charleston in 2007. The 16-screen megaplex is expected to open fall 2009.

Lavish Nail Boutique

February 5, 2009

Jobs:

Manicures and Pedicures

A new nail salon at 938 Savannah Hwy. in Charleston recently opened, specializing in "no-rush" nail services using non-toxic and organic products.

Magellan Jets

February 1, 2009

Jobs:

Private charter passenger jet service

Based in Massachusettes, the company established a new office in the Charleston region because as the local operations manager says, "We project that once this recession corrects itself, we're actually going to see a growth in private aviation." The firm plans to attract business from all over the Southeast.

Monkee's

February 1, 2009

Women's clothing retailer

Monkee's is an upscale women's clothing and accessories retail shop on Daniel Island in the Charleston region.

South Carolina Electric & Gas

January 29, 2009


Investment: $12 Million

Utility (new corporate office)

SCE&G plans to invest between $11 million and $12 million in a new 51,000-square-foot building on Aviation Avenue in North Charleston to house its administrative offices, call center, claims department and security officers. The building is expected to be completed by mid-2010, at which time the electric and gas utility will consolidate the majority of its operations into the structure. Its customer service locations in downtown Charleston, Mount Pleasant and Summerville, along with its gas operation on Leeds Avenue, will remain open. Maintenance operations will be housed in an existing adjacent building. According to company officials, the consolidation of offices will not result in job cuts and is expected to save the utility money in the long run. The construction is expected to temporarily employ 75-100 workers.

Blue Cross Blue Shield

January 23, 2009

Insurance

Blue Cross Blue Shield opens its first "store" in the Charleston region, where individuals can simply walk in to purchase individual insurance policies, ask questions about coverage and attend seminars on insurance issues. The insurer has opened similar locations in other states, and the Mount Pleasant site will serve what the company says is a growing uninsured and underinsured population in today's economic environment.

Fuschia Tea Emporium

January 15, 2009

Restaurant

This new restaurant in downtown Charleston will serve breakfast and lunch with a focus on an afternoon "tea package" which will include scones and sweets alongside freshly brewed tea.

Mac & Murphy

January 15, 2009

Jobs: 2

Stationery and related products retailer

A new stationery store will open in downtown Charleston February 2009 in a former residence now converted into commercial space. The store will also feature a courtyard, Zen garden and fish pond to enhance its relaxed atmosphere.

Charleston Restaurant Runners

January 13, 2009

Jobs: 2

Restaurant delivery service

Charleston Restaurant Runners (www.charlestondelivers.com) is partnering with 20 downtown Charleston area restaurants to bring their cuisine to local homes and businesses with their specially equipped scooters. They plan to expand their partnerships to 35 restaurants by year-end.

Ali Baba Mediterranean Restaurant & Deli

January 5, 2009

Jobs: 10

Restaurant and delicatessen

Ali Baba opened on Daniel Island in early 2009 and features foods from many countries in the Mediterranean region and Middle East.

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