Park Circle neighborhood welcomes new retail store

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The City of North Charleston held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for Neighborly, a new retail store in Park Circle.

Jamee Haley opened the store on Small Business Saturday, which was back in November. She and Reggie Burgess, mayor of North Charleston, cut the ribbon outside her new small business. Neighborly adds to the few retail stores that exist on East Montague Avenue.

“I’ve lived in Park Circle for a while now and I’ve seen the changes. Then to actually be a part of owning a business here really means a lot to me,” Haley said. “I think it helps me to be further invested in this community and I’m meeting so many new people that I didn’t realize lived here. So, that’s been really fun.”

Burgess said he welcomes this new business as he believes being able to shop local is important to his community.

“It’s great, we need to have a mix. You know we have a lot of eateries in this area, but we need to get more retail,” the mayor said. “It’s great that they invested to come down here and the things that you see inside, it’s amazing. I mean you can get anything you’d like to get in there.”

Since being opening, Haley has seen locals and visitors come in. She said it’s been a positive experience.

“Good, it’s been great. People are curious and they want to see what’s been going on and people have been very supportive,” Haley said. “I mean it’s sort of given me a new hope for humanity because everyone has so thoughtful and kind when they come in. So, it’s been lovely.”

Additionally, J. Stark has relocated inside Neighborly. This comes as the popular King Street shop was looking to expand somewhere for their retail and workshop business, as well as making a cost-effective decision.

“Oh my gosh, as soon as we got up here when we were moving in, you could immediately feel more of a community vibe. I didn’t have neighbors when we were on King Street, there weren’t people we said hi to and ran into everyday, and smiled and waved at.” Jess Nicoles, owner of J. Stark, said. “I feel like we will be able to become friends with the people around us, and I’m so excited about that because it’s so cool to lean on people around you.” 

Nicoles added she hopes she J. Stark will get its own place within Park Circle.