A national bank is continuing its expansion into the Charleston market, opening its fourth Lowcountry branch in the past two years.
A full-service Fifth Third Bank and financial center is under construction at 844 Savannah Highway, near Avondale, and expected to come online in late 2025.
The 1,900-square foot bank's "Next Gen" design features roaming tellers and technology rather than traditional teller windows. Employees will be able to move around the open lobby with tablets to serve customers. The branch will also have a drive-thru ATM.
The 160-year-old Cincinnati-based financial institution has locations in 11 states with 1,087 full-service branches.
The first Charleston-area Fifth Third Bank opened on James Island in the Island Plaza Shopping Center at 1301 Folly Rd. in August 2023, also with the Next Gen layout. Another opened later that year in November 2023 at 710 Coleman Blvd. in Mount Pleasant. A North Charleston branch opened at 8807 Dorchester Road in September 2024.
“This (new) location allows us to better serve our customers with additional connectivity in the Charleston market,” said Tommy Lloyd, Carolinas retail executive of Fifth Third Bank. “We recently opened a location in Beaufort and have plans to add financial centers in Savannah and Hilton Head, in addition to further expansion in the greater Charleston market.”
Fifth Third Bank first expanded in South Carolina in 2011 with a commercial team in Greenville and opened its first branch location in 2020 in that market.
Clutch move
A new drive-thru coffee shop will open in Mount Pleasant on May 31. Clutch Coffee Bar at 1173 SC Highway 41 offers hot, iced and frozen coffees, lattes and mochas, as well as energy-infused drinks, smoothies, iced teas and more. The Mooresville, North Carolina-based coffee company first opened in 2018 and now has 15 locations across the Carolinas.
The company’s website noted a North Charleston café is in the works at 8389 Dorchester Road with an anticipated opening later this year.
Island energy
Jamaican Grill Caribbean Cuisine held a grand opening of its brand-new restaurant at 4245 Rivers Ave. in North Charleston. Painted in the green, black and yellow colors of the Jamaican flag, the eatery offers authentic, bold Caribbean flavors, including a jerk chicken that received top honors at the Charleston Caribbean Jerk Festival. The menu also features colorful drinks like rum punch and frozen options — one named after Bob Marley.
Face the day
Face Foundrié, a facial bar specializing in facials, lashes, brows and skincare with monthly membership options, has opened at 320 W. Coleman Blvd. in Mount Pleasant. The Minnesota-based company was founded in 2019 by Michele Henry and has more than 50 locations nationwide.
A blank canvas
A national company that provides tattoo removal services has opened a Charleston studio. Removery, at 22 Westedge, uses innovative laser technology to remove body ink of all kinds. There are 150 studios across the United States, Canada and Australia, with combined total of more than 1.4 million tattoos removed, according to the company. This is the Removery's first South Carolina spot.
Luxury medical spa to open in Mount Pleasant
OVME, an aesthetics studio offering minimally-invasive procedures, is expanding to Mount Pleasant. The Atlanta-based company will open its first South Carolina location at 917 Houston Northcutt Blvd. The studio will offer aesthetic treatments, including Botox and Dysport, neurotoxins, dermal fillers, skin rejuvenation and laser therapies in a luxury environment along with advanced skincare solutions and products.
iCode, you code
A new STEM education camp for kids is open at 3475 Park Ave. in Mount Pleasant with gaming computers, 3-D printers, robotics and even drones. iCode offers hands-on lessons, after-school programs and seasonal camps. A ribbon-cutting was held with Mount Pleasant Economic Development manager Matt Brady, Mount Pleasant Chamber of Commerce president Karina Garrison and iCode owner Annie Cox in attendance.