WISE COLUMN: Firestone to take over former Palmetto Ford store in Mount Pleasant

Three years after Palmetto Ford pulled its auto lineup out of a leased building at 701 Johnnie Dodds Blvd. in Mount Pleasant, the vacant building will once again be occupied.

The Firestone auto store on the corner of Johnnie Dodds and Shelmore Avenue will move into the site across the frontage road by January, a store employee said Wednesday.

Bridgestone Retail Operations LLC bought the site for $2.2 million, according to Dexter Rumsey, a broker with NAI Avant. No word on what will happen to the existing store. Bridgestone owns Firestone.

Write it up
Middle King Street is gaining a new store. Larry and Shannon Gillespie will open Campo Marzio Design at 318 King St. on Monday. It’s an Italian company that designs and produces personal and professional leather accessories, writing instruments and paper goods. It’s the company’s first dedicated U.S. store.

Clink and cut
Salon Tabula Rasa at 125 Cannon St. on the peninsula will introduce a new concept Friday and offer its signature cocktail called “the Flirtini” to customers and guests. Salon manager Casey Bramhall said the style bar and cocktails is a first for the Charleston area.

The style bar will feature unique styles, makeup applications, hair extensions and more. The grand opening event will introduce the style-bar concept and include giveaways from Bumble & Bumble and Tigi Cosmetics, a raffle to benefit the Children’s Hospital at the Medical University of South Carolina, live models and the salon’s signature cocktail. The 5-9 p.m. event Friday is open to the public.

Going dark
Sprout Maternity & Infant Boutique at 916 Savannah Highway in West Ashley is closing at the end of September after six years. All remaining merchandise is up to 60 percent off. Fixtures and displays can also be bought.

Old things, new store
Summerville Antique Gallery will hold a ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m. Friday for its grand opening at 901 N. Main St. in Summerville.

Also, the new Knightsville Job Link Center will cut a ribbon at 10 a.m. Friday at 825 Orangeburg Road in the Goodwill store in Summerville.

Might neighborly
REV Foods’ “Neighbor to Neighbor” campaign to benefit non-profits that benefit the health and wellness of children runs through Wednesday.

Five percent of the proceeds from Monza, Closed for Business, Poe’s Tavern and both Taco Boy locations will go to WINGS, an after-school program for children that develops relationship skills, self-management, responsible decision-making and social awareness.

Diversifying
Gino Pappaterra, owner of Meineke Car Care Center at 1648 Savannah Highway in West Ashley, now offers U-Haul truck and trailer rentals.

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