Business Briefs - November 2, 2017
DANIEL ISLAND REAL ESTATE EXPANDS SERVICES
Daniel Island Real Estate (DIRE) has expanded its services and is now representing property throughout the Charleston region. Established in 1995 to represent residential property on Daniel Island, the company and its sales associates have historically focused exclusively on Daniel Island property. But now the company is leveraging its knowledge of the entire Charleston market and its experience marketing Charleston as a real estate destination to a national audience by opening up its services to include all Charleston real estate. According to a press release, DIRE has been the leader in residential real estate sales on Daniel Island for more than two decades,
“Our team has been actively marketing Charleston as a destination for real estate and relocation to a national audience for over 20 years,” said Rick Vale, broker-in-charge at Daniel Island Real Estate. “With Charleston’s market continuing to experience record activity and growth, this is an opportune time to open up our services to a broader audience. We now represent buyers and sellers of property in all of Charleston’s submarkets.”
As part of the change, the company’s affiliate, Charleston Preferred Properties, has merged with and is now operating as Daniel Island Real Estate. The combined sales team of 18 sales associates will include Daniel Island specialists, as well as sales associates who have extensive knowledge of many of Charleston’s other most sought-after submarkets, including historic downtown Charleston, Mount Pleasant and the area’s beach communities.
“Representing property throughout Charleston allows us to more comprehensively serve our new and existing clients,” said Vale. “We recognize that relocation buyers are often interested in exploring all of their options throughout the region before narrowing their search to a particular area or submarket. And our Daniel Island clients looking to relocate or purchase additional property in Charleston will now have the opportunity to work with their Daniel Island Real Estate sales associate, no matter where they are purchasing.”
Daniel Island Real Estate will continue to serve as the exclusive source for information about new homesites and newly built homes on Daniel Island. Its website, www.danielisland.com, includes comprehensive information about Daniel Island’s neighborhoods and amenities. The site’s Homefinder search tool has been expanded to allow users to search for all residential property in the Charleston area MLS. The comprehensive site also includes background information about Charleston’s major submarkets.
DI RESIDENT OPENS NEW LAW FIRM NEAR PARK CIRCLE
Attorney Brett M. Ehman of Daniel Island has opened a new law firm near Park Circle. The office is located at 2971 W. Montague Avenue, Suite 203, in North Charleston.
According to a press release, Ehman has over 15 years of civil litigation experience in a wide variety of areas, and now focuses his practice on representing clients in employment matters, personal injury and domestic law. His firm’s services include wage disputes, unpaid or underpaid overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act, misclassification, claims of discrimination and/or harassment, retaliation and leave laws. Areas of personal injury Ehman handles include auto accidents and slips and falls. Additionally, he is experienced in all phases of civil litigation including pleadings, law and motion, discovery, depositions, mediation, trial and appeals, stated the release. Ehman noted that he has also “tried numerous cases to verdict and has successfully resolved hundreds of lawsuits filed in state and federal courts.”
Ehman has practiced law across the country and remains licensed in South Carolina, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and California, but makes his home in Charleston with his wife and three children. Prior to practicing law, he graduated with honors from Clemson University and earned his JD, cum laude, from the University of Baltimore School of Law.
For more information, call (843) 225-3607, email Ehman at brett@ehmanlaw.com, or visit the firm’s website at ehmanlaw.com.
MEREDITH CORP’S CHARLESTON TENNIS LLC SELLS MAJORITY STAKE TO INVESTMENT GROUP
The company that operates Daniel Island’s Family Circle Tennis Center and manages the Volvo Car Open (VCO) through an entity known as Charleston Tennis LLC has sold a majority stake in the business to a small investment group, stated Bob Moran, president of Charleston Tennis LLC and VCO tournament director.
Media conglomerate Meredith Corporation closed the sale in July, moving 70 percent of the company’s Charleston Tennis LLC ownership to Moorad Sports Partners (MSP). The deal was reportedly worth more than $9 million.
“We consider this more a partnership than a sale,” stated Moran, who added that Meredith retains 30 percent of the business and will operate as they always have by bringing clients and guests to events on site.
“MSP will be bringing wide ranging relationships within the sports and entertainment industry,” he continued. “From a day to day point of view we are business as usual with no change. My full team is operating the facility and stadium as we always have under Charleston Tennis LLC.”
MSP is a sports and media focused investment firm that was founded and is led by renowned sports executive Jeff Moorad, a former owner of both the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks, added Moran. The group’s investment thesis is to “invest in great companies with great management teams to help them grow,” he said.
Current investments include PrimeSport (a leading hospitality experience business serving both sports and music events); US Sports Camps (the country’s largest network of youth sports camps); and Red Frog Events.
“We are pleased to partner with the great city of Charleston, the Women’s Tennis Association, our sponsor partners, and Meredith to continue to create and host events that spectators, performers, and athletes can enjoy and share,” said MSP Managing Director Greg Byrnes, who led the transaction. “Daniel Island is a special destination; the Volvo Car Open is the longest tenured WTA event and one of the favorite player stops on tour; and the tennis center is a unique and intimate environment for musicians and fans to bond.”
The Family Circle Tennis Center is owned by the City of Charleston.
FORMER DI RESIDENTS LAUNCH ISLAND COASTAL LAGER
Inspired by the coastal lifestyle, Island Coastal Lager (ICL), a new Sullivan’s Island based company, brings its eponymous beer to market in South Carolina with Breakthru Beverage Group in a statewide launch. An American Craft Lager, ICL is the vision of Sullivan’s Island locals and co-founders Scott Hansen and Brandon Perry, both former Daniel Island residents. The brand reflects the approach both Hansen and Perry bring to life — a love of travel and the outdoors, an entrepreneurial drive and an appreciation for quality beer. Anchored by the forthcoming Island Taproom on Shem Creek, ICL offers an easy drinking beer brewed with “the freshest, high quality ingredients and a craft recipe,” stated a press release.
“Following a trip to Cuba in early 2016, where we had a chance to try some of the local brews, we realized that there was a missing component in the spectrum of beers available in the U.S. market,” says Perry. “There was no easy drinking, craft beer. We wanted to fill that gap so we developed a beer that we want to drink and a brand that fits our lifestyle, and we believe the lifestyle of many who live along the coast and enjoy all it has to offer.”
Hansen adds, “We believe in creating the life you want to live, and if we see a void, we’re going to create something to fill it. The brand goes beyond just the beer, and we want to continue growing that.”
ICL combines Vienna malt and Perle hops for a lower ABV (4.5%) brew, with a smooth, crisp finish and low to mild hop aroma. Breakthru Beverage Group will distribute in South Carolina while ICL evaluates wholesale partners to expand its availability throughout the Southeast. ICL will be available on draft through Breakthru’s bar and restaurant partners throughout the state, and sold in 6-packs, 12-packs and 24-packs of 12 oz. cans at grocery stores and other beer retail locations.
To learn more, visit the website at www.islandcoastallager.com, Facebook at www.facebook.com/islandcoastallager, and follow ICL on Instagram with the handle @island_lager.