Roofer in Mount Pleasant, SC

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCSC) - Charleston County officials are considering an alternative plan to improve Highway 41, aiming to minimize environmental impacts while easing traffic congestion in Mount Pleasant neighborhoods.

The revised plan includes a new sidewalk stretching along Highway 41 from the Spinx gas station in Wando to the intersection at U.S. Highway 17.

Following concerns from those living in the historic Phillips Community, the update also proposes building a new road known as the “Southern Parkway,” which would link Highway 41 to Park West Boulevard. The road would provide residents in Park West and Dunes West an additional route in and out of their neighborhoods.

Officials say the road would cut through a wooded section of Laurel Hill County Park, but no trails would be affected. The area selected is currently unused, according to the County. Still, the Town of Mount Pleasant is pushing back.

The Town Council is expected to vote Tuesday on a resolution opposing the use of park land, citing concerns over tree loss, wildlife disruption and overall preservation.

“This is a compromise; no one is really happy with it,” Charleston County Councilman Herbert Sass, who represents District 1, said. “We went through about 13 different alternatives. This is the last alternative. It’s the only way this road works… building a two-lane road along the edge of Laurel Hill Park.”

Sass added that this portion of the project would force the County to clear approximately 10 acres of the 750 total acres of the park and an estimated two acres of wetlands.

The Highway 41 project originated from the 2016 Transportation Sales Tax referendum. Since 2017, Charleston County, Mount Pleasant and other stakeholders have struggled to reach an agreement.

The County says it is currently awaiting final right of way approval from the South Carolina Department of Transportation.

The Mount Pleasant Town Council meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Town of Mount Pleasant Municipal Complex located at 100 Ann Edwards Lane.

Copyright 2025 WCSC. All rights reserved.

MOUNT PLEASANT — Mount Pleasant shoppers won’t have to wait long for their latest grocery store option.

Aldi — touted as one of the nation’s fastest-growing grocery chains — will officially open its second East Cooper location at 3153 Highway 17 and KOA Campgrounds Road at 9 a.m. on July 17.

Known for its quarter-deposit shopping carts and bring-your-own-bag policy, the chain continues to grow its customer base through its no-frills model.

Plans for the second location was announced about two years ago.

"I am brimming with anticipation for their new store," said Daniel Brownstein, a Mount Pleasant Town Council member, who's been updating residents on the opening date through social media posts.

To mark the grand opening, the Illinois-based grocer will offer swag bags and gift cards to the first 100 customers. Shoppers can also enter a sweepstakes for a $500 gift card throughout opening weekend.

The store will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

This location is Aldi’s seventh in the Charleston region, with others in James Island, North Charleston, Goose Creek, Mount Pleasant and Summerville. Its first area store opened in 2015 off Dorchester Road in a former bowling alley.

Roughly 90 percent of Aldi’s inventory consists of exclusive brands at low prices, including organic meats, fresh produce, sustainable seafood, wine and cheese, frozen foods and home goods.

The chain eliminated single-use plastic bags at the end of 2023, offering customers paper bags for a fee at checkout. Customers’ quarter deposits are returned when grocery carts are returned to the corral.

Founded by the Albrecht family in Germany in 1961, Aldi now operates 2,356 stores across the U.S. The grocer has seen a dramatic increase in foot traffic in recent years — topping 900 million visits in 2024, a 51.2 percent increase from 2019, according to a Grocery Report 2025 by Chicago-based JLL commercial real estate investment firm.

Aldi remained the fastest-growing grocer in 2024, according to the report, adding over 2.3 million square feet of new space with 105 new openings, its second consecutive year in which it opened over 100 new locations.

The Mount Pleasant location supports Aldi’s goal to launch 225 new locations nationwide in 2025 and open 800 stores by the end of 2028.

It's the newest offering in the East Cooper's abundant supermarket lineup that includes Fresh Market, Whole Foods, Publix, Harris Teeter, Trader Joe's, Target and Walmart.

MOUNT PLEASANT — A longtime family-owned seafood market on Shem Creek named in a federal lawsuit this month reached an agreement with the South Carolina Shrimpers Association on July 10.

Owned and operated by the Fitch family, Mt. Pleasant Seafood has served the town for over 75 years. The retailer was one of 25 named defendants in a lawsuit filed by the S.C. Shrimpers Association on June 13 that alleges area restaurants are falsely advertising imported shrimp as local or wild-caught.

Gedney Howe, IV, attorney for the S.C. Shrimpers Association said the agreement ends the litigation between the S.C. Shrimpers Association and Mt. Pleasant Seafood, but the exact details of the settlement remain confidential.

The litigation arose following a private research firm's genetic testing study of 44 Charleston-area restaurants. The study, conducted by SeaD Consulting and funded by the Southern Shrimp Alliance, an industry trade organization, alleged the shrimp served at 40 restaurants were imported and likely farm-raised, not a wild-caught product.

Mt. Pleasant Seafood is the second defendant to reach an agreement with the Shrimpers Association.

"We're happy to have this resolution. We've been selling local shrimp since we started. I think we did about 2,500 pounds last month," said Sarah Fitch, vice president of Mount Pleasant Seafood. "Just hoping to keep getting them in and keep selling them, and just happy to keep rolling along."

The seafood market sells both local and imported shrimp. Signage at Mt. Pleasant Seafood previously did not denote whether the shrimp was local or imported, though staff are transparent about its origin if asked, Fitch recently told The Post and Courier.

Going forward, Fitch said the market will be increasing its signage and educating the public as they stop by. On July 11, there were four types of shrimp for sale at the small store on Shem Creek.

"We're just working on finding ways that we could be more clear and ... educating customers about what we've got," Fitch said.

A statement from the South Carolina Shrimpers Association applauded Mt. Pleasant Seafood's "willingness to engage in open dialogue" about labeling their products.

"We are grateful for their support and look forward to continuing to work side-by-side to preserve and promote the South Carolina shrimping industry," the statement from the S.C. Shrimpers Association read.

Mt. Pleasant Seafood's agreement came a week after the owners of a well-known seafood restaurant in Charleston reached a resolution in the lawsuit. Owners for Hyman's Seafood said the restaurant would be committed to transparency and accurately labeling the seafood they serve.

Hyman's Seafood will also be removed from the lawsuit.

Owners of Hyman's Seafood previously told The Post and Courier that an outside marketing team shared social media posts that implied Hyman's was serving local shrimp.

On July 3, the Shrimpers Association announced the update with Hyman’s, whose owners "reaffirmed their commitment to transparency."

"While we understand the concerns raised, we've also listened, learned, and made the decision to do more, because we believe in doing right by our customers, and by our community," owners Victor and Tobias Hyman said in a July 3 press release.

MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (WCIV) — The South Carolina Shrimpers Association and Mt. Pleasant Seafood announced Thursday a resolution of "all claims" related to the ongoing "shrimpgate" matter.

The involved parties have yet to release details surrounding the resolution to the matter. And this agreement only pertains to Mt. Pleasant Seafood. Other parties implicated and named in "shrimpgate," as businesses that allegedly misrepresented the shrimp they served to customers, are still part of the ongoing legal matters.

"We appreciate Mt. Pleasant Seafood's transparency, responsiveness, and the constructive conversations we've had throughout this process," the shrimp association said through its lawyers. "They have been longtime allies of the local shrimping industry and their willingness to engage in open dialogue and take proactive steps should be applauded."

Mt. Pleasant Seafood, locally owned and operated for 80 years across four generations, was highlighted when members of the state's Shrimpers Association in July named 25 Charleston-area restaurants that allegedly defrauded consumers by claiming they sold locally sourced shrimp.

The "Shrimpgate" saga began in May 2025 when an investigation by SeaD Consulting revealed genetic testing on shrimp dishes from 44 Charleston-area restaurants reportedly showed only 10% of them were selling their shrimp as advertised.

Not long after the list was released, Hyman's Seafood, a classic restaurant in the heart of downtown Charleston, reached a resolution with the South Carolina Shrimpers Association.

Now, Mt. Pleasant Seafood has joined in reaching a mutual agreement.

"We are proud to stand with the Shrimpers Association and our local fleet," the restaurant said in a statement. "We've sourced from these hardworking men and women for generations, and we remain committed to telling their story and selling their shrimp."