Inn is 'breaking down the barrier'

SUMMERVILLE -- Woodlands Inn is trying to shed its cloak of exclusivity.

The state's only Forbes Five Star- and AAA Five Diamond-rated dining and lodging facility announced two initiatives Wednesday to appeal to the broader community by getting them involved in a less-stuffy atmosphere.

First, the 18-room, ornate hotel no longer requires men to wear coats for dinner. Instead, it is donating its supply of loaner jackets to the Summerville Workforce Center, where they will be given to military veterans looking for a job.

In addition, the inn is asking citizens to hand over their gently worn sport coats and other business attire throughout the month of May. Those who make a donation will receive a complimentary appetizer and be entered into a drawing for a two-night stay at the immaculately restored, century-old mansion nestled in a 42-acre thicket of trees on the outskirts of this Dorchester County town.

Second, the facility aims to get a little closer to the community it calls home by hosting an arts-based Fourth of July festival on its grounds.

The Woodlands-supplied, picnic-style event, capped by a performance from the Summerville Community Orchestra, will begin at 4 p.m. and end in time for guests to attend the town's recently approved $10,000 fireworks display at Gahagan Park. Part of the proceeds from the $5 to $10 festival admission charge will go to charities.

"The biggest message from us is that we are breaking down the barrier," said Casey Lavin, the inn's new general manager.

The modified dress code, for instance, is designed to make the inn more approachable.

"Requiring coats at Five Star facilities is almost extinct," Lavin said. "We will lose the younger generation of Five Star diners if we don't dress with the times."

The donated work attire is perfect for Dorchester County's 2,000 or so out-of-work veterans as they hunt for jobs, said Lisa Gowans, area director of Summerville Workforce Center.

"We see many unemployed veterans whom we try to help find work," Gowans said. "Unfortunately, many have disabilities resulting from their service to our country, so we seek desk or non-physical work for them. This involves them dressing professionally, not only for the interview but for the job, as well. Some of the veterans don't have proper dress clothes. Anything we can do to give back to them is a plus."

As for the July 4th festivities, Lavin said the Woodlands' event will complement the Red, White and Blue on the Green celebration July 3 and the town's fireworks display on Independence Day.

Summerville Mayor Berlin G. Myers called it "a great opportunity to showcase this place," where he guided tour in the 1930s.

Woodlands Inn, one of only six properties in the United States to hold the AAA and Forbes ratings for lodging and dinning, is owned by Sheila C. Johnson and managed by her Salamander Hospitality LLC. Johnson, co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, bought Woodlands, built in 1906, in 2006.

Reach Warren Wise at 937-5524 or wwise@postandcourier.com.