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Volume 22 • Issue 5
FREE
March 6, 2026
Where Wine Meets Island Time: Sullivan’s Wine Shop Fine wine, small plates, and a relaxed take on luxury By: Hanalei Potempa Locally owned Sullivan’s Wine Shop offers a niche, elevated experience while maintaining the relaxed, coastal vibe of Sullivan’s Island. Laine Rosmarin, owner of both the Wine Shop in Old Village and the Sullivan’s Island location, said she always felt Sullivan’s Island would be the perfect setting for a specialty wine shop — and something she could uniquely bring to the community. “When I had my eyes on the Old Village location, my dream was to open the Sullivan’s location,” Rosmarin said. “I just thought it was such a charming concept to have a community space
where you could enter into some of that luxury, but still be as casual as it is.” Rosmarin explained that Sullivan’s Wine Shop serves as a welcoming escape — a place to enjoy a quality glass of wine without the formality or pressure of a traditional restaurant. She recalled that when she and her husband spent time on the island each week, they often wished for a cozy spot where they could simply relax with a good drink. “We just always felt like there was a little bit of a niche: good-quality wine, good expertise in what’s being served and just small plates and snacks,” she said. While the shop welcomes its share of visitors, Rosmarin (Continued on page 8)
Legal Updates for Sullivan’s Island By Lynn Pierotti The South Carolina Court of Appeals has handed down two separate decisions that have the potential to affect both quality of life and property ownership on Sullivan’s Island. In a 2-1 ruling on Feb. 18, the Court of Appeals overturned a Circuit Court decision that SC Lighthouse, doing business as Pacaso, a California-based company that sells fractional ownerships in luxury homes, was operating as a shortterm rental on the island, which banned short-term vacation rentals around 25 years ago. According to the Appeals Court decision, selling shares of the vacation home “does not constitute commercial use of the property.” A week later, on Feb. 25, the Appeals Court upheld a Circuit Court ruling that the town’s Oct. 7, 2020, settlement agreement in Bluestein vs. Sullivans’s Island concerning property abutting the Maritime Forest is invalid. As part of the agreement, the town opted to settle the lawsuit by implementing a “selective thinning” plan for the Forest that would
consist of the removal and trimming of vegetation on the accreted land. The parties in the long-term lawsuit stipulated that the settlement agreement could not be “modified or amended, nor could any of its provisions be waived, except upon mutual agreement of all parties or their authorized agents in writing.” The agreement also provided that it would be “binding upon and inure to the benefit of all the parties, and their heirs, successors and assigns.” However, after a new City Council was elected in May 2021, the Town brought a declaratory judgment action against Property Owners in February 2022 seeking an order that the settlement agreement was invalid and unenforceable, arguing that it unfairly bound future councils to this agreement. The Court of Appeals sided with the town, finding, “Our courts have consistently invalidated contracts that bind future governing bodies because the contracts involved the bodies’ legislative functions or governmental powers.”
Sullivans Island Town Council Approves Palmetto Fort Replica on The Mound By Joshua Uys The Sullivan’s Island Town Council voted 6-1 on Tuesday, Feb. 17, to authorize the site at Battery Capron, commonly referred to as “The Mound,” to be used by SC250 to construct a partial replica of the 1776 Battle of Sullivan’s Island fort. The fort replica will be built, maintained and removed entirely at the expense of SC250 Charleston. The town estimates its own related costs at approximately $20,600, which will fund improvements that can continue serving the community after the fort is dismantled. Planned town expenditures include: • Two ADA spaces: $8,000 • Gravel walkways: $5,000 • Driveway gate: $2,000 • Security cameras: $600 • Electrical conduit: $5,000 Town Administrator Henderson said many of the upgrades will provide lasting benefits beyond the 15-month life of the exhibit. “Running the conduit to the top of the mound will allow events to take place there,” he said. “I think it’s money well spent.” Parking capacity was a central topic during discussions. The Public Facilities Committee identified approximately 250 to 275 parking spaces in the surrounding area, including on-street parking, Battery Gadsden, Battery Thomson, townowned property and seasonal use of the elementary school lot during the summer months. Mayor Patrick O’Neil emphasized that the exhibit will primarily attract daytime visitors. “This is going to be a daytime activity, not a nighttime one, so we shouldn’t be competing with dinner-time restaurant parking,” he said. “We’ll have to regulate visiting hours anyway due to darkness.” Safety concerns regarding the stability of The Mound were also considered. During the Public (Continued on page 3)