Fourth-generation jewelers at one of King Street’s oldest family-owned businesses have branched out with a nearby shop offering similar goods at an affordable price.
Mariana Hay "Mini" Avant and sister Kathleen Hay Hagood grew up in the business as the great granddaughters of Croghan’s Jewel Box founder, William Croghan.
Last week, they soft-launched their first brick-and-mortar location at 44-A Spring St. showcasing their jewelry line, The Goldbug Collection.
Avant designs the line and will run the shop alongside manager Aimee McShane, with business support from Hagood.
“We always had a pipe dream to open a store and it just felt like time,” Avant said of The Goldbug Collection hitting the 10-year mark.
Aside from an e-commerce site, Avant has primarily sold her collection in-store at Croghan’s at 308 King and at pop-up markets throughout the Carolinas.
Gold cockroaches, also known as Palmetto bugs, are the inspiration behind The Goldbug collection's first line of jewelry.
As an art major, Avant said her mother, Croghan's co-owner Mariana Hay, challenged her to create something unique to the region. The result is necklaces, earrings and rings at costume prices that feature Lowcountry-inspired icons like okra, peanuts, lanterns and palm fronds. Avant further puts an an emphasis on engravable items with her own hand-drawn fonts and silhouettes.
“We’re excited at the store to be able to offer those engravings on the spot,” Avant said.
The most recognizable pieces in the collection, of course, are the goldbugs — Avant's original line featuring gold cockroaches.
The Palmetto bugs have a strong connection between writer Edgar Allan Poe and Charleston, which Avant loved. The American writer and poet, who was stationed at Fort Moultrie on Sullivan's Island in the 1820s, famously wrote a short story in 1843 about a gold-colored bug the protagonist had discovered.
Avant said she has plenty ideas for the future, including new chains, building upon the palm frond collection and more engravable pieces.
Deli delight
Experience a taste of Poland without leaving the country.
Kowalski Deli in West Ashley offers a takeout menu of traditional soups, salads and sandwiches, as well as catering options.
While the restaurant is now open at 630 Skylark Drive in the Piggly Wiggly shopping center, a grand opening will be held May 19.
Margaritas on the menu
A Mexican restaurant undergoing renovations in West Ashley is almost ready to open its doors, though not in time for Cinco de Mayo.
A representative for Villa Cantina, which took over the former Andolini's space at 1940 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., said the establishment is expected to welcome diners by summer.
Andolini's closed its doors on New Year's Eve in 2022 after nearly 30 years of serving up pizzas.
This is the second location for Villa Cantina. The other is at 1580 Trolley Road in Summerville.
Warm workouts
If you're looking to break a sweat with your gym routine, East Cooper's newest fitness spot could be the solution.
Hotworx, which offers virtually instructed workouts in an infrared sauna environment, opened its newest location April 23 at 1113 Market Center Blvd. in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre.
This is the second Lowcountry workout site. Another is in Summerville. They're among 600 sister locations nationwide.
The former Community Pizza House near Tanger Outlets in North Charleston has been transformed into Charlotte-based Peerless Surgical Office's new Lowcountry location.
Peerless project
A former North Charleston restaurant easily spotted from Interstate 26 has been converted into a medical device training and sales center.
The Peerless Surgical Office at 2400 Gap Road has redeveloped the Community Pizza House site near Tanger Outlets.
Based out of Charlotte, the new occupant is an orthopedic device distributor that sells Arthrex products for shoulders, hands, wrists, knees and hips. The company acquired the building in late 2022 for $2 million through Triple B Capital LLC.
After installation of new mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems as well as new flooring and ceilings, the new floorplan includes an operating room, training room, labs and offices.
For the dogs
Pup owners in downtown Charleston can now board their pets on the peninsula. Playful Pack, a dog day care and boarding business, has opened across from The Refinery at 1667 Meeting St.
