Pirates sang and danced at the opening of this Hilton Head mall. Now, it’s Shelter Cove

Editor’s note: This story was first published in the Island Packet on April 14, 1988. In honor of The Island Packet’s 50th anniversary, we are republishing stories from our archive.

Doors spring open at new enclosed mall

Although the breeze was chilly, the skies gray, Wednesday’s weather suited David Hocker just fine.

“This is a great day — a great day for us. And we sort of like the weather. They tell us when the weather’s like this, people go in to shop,” said Hocker, president of the company responsible for The Mall at Shelter Cove Harbour.

Shortly before 10 a.m., Mayor Martha K. Baumberger used a sword to break the golden chains and officially open the 235,000-square-foot mall, developed by David Hocker & Associates of Owensboro, Ky.

Gov. Carroll A. Campbell told the crowd this isn’t just a place to shop.

“This is economic development in the State of South Carolina. This is jobs being created right in front of you,” Campbell said. “It will shock you — the number of people working here.”

At full occupancy, the mall is expected to employ 500 to 600 people.

This year, 68,000 more South Carolinians are working than were working last year, said Campbell, who has made economic development a major goal for his administration.

He also cited a study that gave South Carolina high marks on economic development. A Corporation for Economic Development study released Tuesday shows South Carolina in a three-way tie with Virginia and Florida for first place among state in the Southeast in economic development.

South Carolina earned an “A” in policy that supports development, which in this state include a reduction in corporate income taxes, expansion of job tax credits and creation of a $10-million fund for highway construction. Including areas of performance in expansion, business vitality and capacity for expansion, the state earned a 2.5 grade point average, with 4 being a perfect score.

Campbell — also here to play in Wednesday’s MCI Heritage Classic Pro-Am tournament — apparently spent much of the day without his wife, Iris. He thought she was coming to the tournament, but learned differently when she didn’t dress for the golf course.

“She said, ‘I’m going to the mall.’ That was it. End of discussion,” Campbell said.

Pirates sang and danced during the opening ceremonies. At Belk department store, wedged between cosmetic counters, a mime troupe and pianist performed skits to welcome shoppers. More than $40,000 in prizes are scheduled to be given away during the first 10 days of business.

Approximately 35 stores opened Wednesday, while a few more appeared nearly ready to open. At some stores, like Banana Republic, workers were still pounding nails into the wall as the mall opened. The mall has room for 65 stores.

About 2,000 people got a preview of the mall Tuesday night when Hocker hosted a cocktail party with heavy hors d’oeuvres in conjunction of the MCI Heritage Pro-Am pairings party.

Belk and Jordan-Marsh, the two anchor tenants at the mall, gave all comers gifts and there was musical entertainment to add to the festive atmosphere. Despite all the finery, workers painted, hammered and sawed in some shops rushing to get ready to the opening day.