Beaufort businesses are hurting. Special incentives offered to ease the pain
The Beaufort City Council approved three incentives on Tuesday to encourage residents to shop downtown this holiday season in the midst of a major construction project.
The incentives aim to encourage vehicle and pedestrian traffic, which is currently disrupted by a $9.7 million storm drainage project that closed the intersection at Charles and Bay streets. On Tuesday, council members reminded the public that Bay Street, the city’s retail hub, remains open for business.
Once again, council members faced criticism for the sudden closure of the intersection, which had originally been scheduled for after the holidays. Businesses owners have said previously that the timing of the announcement was problematic since it came after they had already ordered their holiday inventories.
To counter the impacts of the construction, council members voted 5-0 to give City Manager Scott Marshall the power to:
- Waive downtown marina parking lot fees throughout the holiday season. The lot is within walking distance of downtown businesses.
- Issue temporary licenses for advertising and selling merchandise on public property to retailers hurt by construction. This move will especially benefit businesses closest to the construction, who can now move advertising and merchandise to public areas that are more accessible, Marshall said.
- Create temporary entertainment or social districts downtown to allow people to carry beer and wine on public sidewalks, encouraging foot traffic. Details will be left up to Marshall.
More incentives in the works
Other incentives are in the works, Marshall said.
They include “downtown dollars” that shoppers will be able to purchase for 60 cents on the dollar and redeem at full value at downtown businesses. The city is also offering 100% reimbursement to businesses for holiday storefront decorations, and it has stepped up public service announcements and advertising, like its online “Shop Small Challenge.”
The city has spent $60,000 to $70,000 on those efforts so far, Marshall said.
Councilman Neil Lipsitz called those efforts a good “action plan” and urged residents to shop local.
“We need you now more than ever,” Lipsitz said. “This is really going to be a make-or-break time.”
Criticism of the city
Two business owners, Mandy McNew, the owner of Sunshine and Sass Clothing Boutique, and Cherimie Weatherford, the owner of SugarBelle, also criticized the city for poor communication about the storm drainage work and being unresponsive to the needs of businesses during the intersection closure.
McNew said the closure of the Bay Street-Charles Street intersection is “greatly affecting” business owners, with business down 20% to 50%. “That’s a huge loss for all of us,” she said.
The closure, she noted, was particularly difficult because, it follows the June 30 closure of the Beaufort River promenade at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. The promenade was closed because of urgent structural safety concerns just before the annual Beaufort Water Festival.
“It just seems like there is one hit after another,” McNew said.
Business owners, she added, feel as if they are not being supported by city staff with responsibilities for downtown operations. She asked city council members to look at the qualifications of staff members with responsibilities for the downtown community.
Mayor: ‘We have to improve communication’
Later in the meeting, council members closed the doors to the public for an executive session to discuss three matters: the sale of property, litigation and personnel.
Mayor Phil Cromer later declined to say whether the discussion of the personnel in closed session pertained to the unrest over the handling of the closure of Bay and Charles streets. “I think it’s pretty apparent we have to improve communication,” Cromer said.
When the council members reconvened in public, they took no action on the items discussed in closed session.
Mistletoe Market planned
SugarBelle’s Weatherford said she rented out The Beaufort Inn’s Tabby Place for a Mistletoe Market Dec. 11-13. About two dozen downtown businesses, artists and restaurants will transform the inn into a one-stop holiday shop complete with drinks, music and gift wrapping. “The whole point of this event is to get people downtown,” she said.
Weatherford asked the city for financial support but said she had yet to hear back from city staff. Regardless, she said, she would pay for it.
Marshall said the request was not being ignored.
Time for gratitude and pain
Businesses won’t be subject to as much flooding when the drainage work is complete, said Councilman Josh Scallate, who proposed the entertainment district to encourage shoppers to spend more time downtown and businesses to stay open later.
The city, he added, should be grateful for the federal funds that are making the critical work possible, and the expertise of the state of the South Carolina Office of Resilience, which is overseeing the project.
“On the other hand,” Scallate, “it is very painful.”
This story was originally published November 20, 2025 at 9:10 AM.
