SHOP ’TIL YOU DROP

Royal Retail

Upper King Street is quickly becoming Charleston’s newest shopping destination.

BY PATRA TAYLOR

THE AIR IS ELECTRIC on Saturday mornings in historic Marion Square. By 8am, Low Country farmers are busy selling fresh-from-the-fields plants, herbs and produce to people strolling through the lush park while enjoying music, sampling cuisine from area eateries and browsing an amazing assortment of wares from Charleston’s talented artisans.

For the last two decades, from mid-April to year’s end, Marion Square has hosted the Charleston Farmers Market, a weekly celebration of the city’s food and arts culture.

Located on Calhoun Street between King and Meeting streets, this 250-year-old park was long considered the northernmost edge of Charleston’s King Street, a shopping district referred to by Southern Living as “the Rodeo Drive of the Southeast.”

But since the recent completion of a $13 million street improvement project that included rebuilding sidewalks, replacing streetlights and planting hundreds of palm trees, the Saturday festivities in Marion Square seem to be migrating up King Street, as people wander beyond the traditional retail district to discover the newest face of Charleston shopping.

Dubbed Charleston’s “Design District,” Upper King Street is attracting a lot of new customers. In addition to an amazing number of design shops—lighting, furniture, home décor—Upper King has recently seen an influx of other specialty boutiques, one-of-a-kind restaurants and a fresh brand of nightlife.

This recent reincarnation of Upper King hasn’t escaped the interest of developers. In fact, with more than $400 million in private investment already on the table, city planners are currently reviewing proposals for condominiums, retail space and no fewer than three new hotels.

Upper King Street may trendy and youthfully vibrant, but somehow it also feels like a natural extension of the South’s most historic retail district. It’s a shopper’s paradise, with a feel and flavor that is uniquely Charleston.

Fit for a King (or Queen)

These shops on Upper King Street reign supreme.

Antiques
Palmer Davis Antiques
The source of fine furniture and decorative arts. www.palmerdavisantiques.com

Bakery
Three Dog Bakery
All natural, oven-baked treats and food for dogs.
www.threedog.charleston.com

Books
Blue Bicycle Books
Features 50,000 used, rare and locally written books.
www.bluebicyclebooks.com

Children’s
Wonderland
A boutique for the little ones.
www.wonderlandlove.com

Jewelry
Felice Designs
Filled with locally made hand-blown glass bead jewelry. www.felicedesigns.com

Women’s
Putumayo
Cool clothing inspired by the most exotic locales.
www.putumayoclothing.com