WISE COLUMN: Patterson Music to close after 59 years

For nearly 60 years, Patterson Music provided the Charleston area with pianos, organs and music books. On Sept. 1, the long-time store at 932 Savannah Highway in West Ashley will close.

Ray Patterson, who co-owns the 5,200-square-foot store with his brother, Rusty, said the business is good, but they are ready to retire and have no one in the family to take over the shop that their late father, Raymond Patterson, started in North Charleston in 1953. Ray is 68; Rusty, 65.

“We decided we are getting old, and we have aches and pains,” Ray Patterson said with a chuckle.

The building is up for sale or lease, and the store's contents are on sale. Pianos are up to 40 percent off. Music books and other items are up to 70 percent off.

On the table

Shelter Kitchen + Bar is coming to what once was Wild Wing Cafe at 202 Coleman Blvd. in Mount Pleasant. The new 3,400-square-foot dining spot plans a soft opening Sept. 2, with its full opening on Labor Day.

It's the product of brother and sister Thomas and Ashley Berry and father and son Dave and Ryan Kaufmann. Thomas Berry and the Kaufmanns are contractors who said they wanted a better hangout for a cold beer, good food, friendly service and reasonable prices.

Mixing drinks

After 16 years in business, Brabham's Liquors at 426 Coleman Blvd. in Mount Pleasant closed Wednesday and merged with Bottles Beverage Superstore at 610 Coleman Blvd. Owner David Brabham moved his inventory to Bottles and will have a dedicated “Brabham's Bottles” section in the 15,000-square-foot alcoholic beverage superstore.

Snip, snip

Summerville Gift Shop will snip the ribbon on its new store inside Summerville Medical Center at 295 Midland Parkway at 4:30 p.m. today.

Towne Centre update

Grimaldi's Pizzeria is now open in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre. It took over the former Benito's Pizza Kitchen.

Also setting up shop in the center for about a year are two temporary stores. Chucktown Chicks will move from Citadel Mall into the former Calico Closet space near the movie theater, and KikiSol Resort, a beach-flavored resort wear, home goods and jewelry shop, moved into the former Baby Bloomers site.

Spirit Halloween will move into the former Guy Harvey restaurant site in September and October, and Complete Nutrition will open at Towne Centre on Oct. 1.

Holiday head start

Walmart is bringing back layaway for the holidays and doing it a month earlier this year to give people more time to pay. The world's largest retailer will begin offering the interest-free program Sept. 16. It ends Dec. 14.

Walmart still requires the layaway purchase to be at least $50, and items must cost at least $15. The list of items this year goes beyond toys and electronics to include small appliances and select sporting goods.

The downpayment of 10 percent or $10, whichever is greater, is required and will be applied to the purchase. There's a $15 fee to open an account. It's refunded via a Walmart gift card when the final payment is made. If the order is canceled or not paid in full, the $15 is not refunded.

Last year, shoppers had to pay an open fee of $5 and a cancellation fee of $10.

Walmart brought back the popular program last year after shelving it in 2006, saying then people used credit cards mainly for holiday purchases. That was a year before the recession began and credit tightened across the country.

Do you know of a business that is opening, closing or expanding? Reach Warren L. Wise at 937-5524 or twitter.com/warrenlancewise.