Best Window Repair in Beaufort, SC

With construction started last fall, we’re getting much closer to the new ALDI opening at the new Beaufort Station Shopping Center.

The 21,000 square foot store is expected to open before September. This ALDI will join other retailers that opened in 2024 at the shopping center which include, including Hobby Lobby, Old Navy, Ulta Beauty, and Ross Dress for Less.

In February 2025, ALDI also announced its plan to open more than 225 new store locations in 2025 as part of the next phase of its five-year national growth strategy. This is the most stores ALDI will open in one year in its nearly 50-year U.S. history.

The new stores will open through a combination of organic growth and converting select Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarket stores to the ALDI format. In total, ALDI will convert approximately 220 Southeastern Grocers locations to the ALDI format through 2027.

ALDI has become a go-to destination for budget-conscious shoppers, known for its low prices and private-label offerings. ALDI was recently ranked as the most affordable grocery chain in the U.S., with shoppers saving an estimated $8.3 billion annually. It’s said that households that switch from name brands to ALDI-branded items can save up to $4,000 annually.

With nearly 3,200 locations across the country, ALDI has surged in popularity recently, particularly as grocery costs rise.

The German-founded retailer is now the third-largest grocery chain in the U.S. by store count. In 2024 alone, ALDI attracted 19 million new customers, underscoring its growing appeal.

The new store will provide affordable groceries and create job opportunities for the local community. ALDI’s expansion continues to support our local economy while providing convenient access to budget-friendly essentials for residents.

ALDI joins several other grocers in the Beaufort area including four Food Lion locations, two Publix locations, Harris Teeter, and Piggly Wiggly.

Visit ALDI’s website here. Learn more about ALDI here. Sign up for the ALDI Newsletter for its weekly ads and more.

A foodie’s delight is returning to downtown’s Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park with the annual two-day Taste of Beaufort festival on May 2nd & 3rd. Local restaurants will gather in the grass at the park to cook up some of their best Lowcountry cuisine and show everyone what it tastes like to be in Beaufort, SC.

The event will take over the waterfront park on Friday, May 2nd from 5 to 10pm and on Saturday, May 3rd from 11am to 4pm.

Admission to the event at Waterfront Park is free and festival goers can purchase tickets to use at food and beverage vendor booths.

If you’re looking forward to the food, you’ll always find plenty of it including local seafood everywhere. Festival-goers enjoy the smell of fresh grilled shrimp in the air while savoring local favorites.

This year’s food vendors include Belly Full by Tyger, Mother Smokin’ Good, Sea Eagle Market, and more, and you can grab some dessert from the Island Fudge Shoppe, and Meg’s Sweet Treats while you’re there.

Lots of fun will be found for kids of all ages as this year’s event features a huge kid’s corner or the little ones and the big kids can have some fun enjoying the many wares found at the Craft Market.

The music line up this year is a good one, too.

Friday night brings local singer/songwriter extraordinaire, Campfire Tyler, followed by High 5 Band, and then closing out Friday night with Hotter Than July.

On Saturday, the day full of live music starts with Weekly Special, followed by Broke Locals at 1:15pm. Then it’s The Brewer Band hitting the stage at 3pm.

Make sure you make plans to join the community at the park for the festival and get a taste of some of the best that Beaufort has to offer.

Oh….and make sure you come hungry.

BEAUFORT — Just a few days before he was relieved of duty as the commanding officer of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, Col. Mark Bortnem stood on the air station's flight line during a media event in advance of the upcoming air show.

An experienced F/A-18 pilot with more than 3,000 flight hours and 500 hours of combat time, Bortnem wore his flight suit as he chatted amiably with reporters, officers and enlisted Marines on hand to witness the arrival of the Navy's Blue Angels flight demonstration team. Clouds of no-see-ums engulfed everyone waiting on hand. If the biting, blood-thirsty insects endemic to the Lowcountry bothered Bortnem, he didn't let on.

Instead, he answered questions casually, spoke about his various assignments as a Marine and said he was looking forward to giving neighbors a good look at what "their Marines" are up to behind the fences of the sprawling air station off U.S. Highway 21.

Bortnem's ability to put people at ease may have been a factor that made him well liked in Beaufort and the surrounding area. In March 2024, Bortnem, for example, labored in the mud and pouring rain alongside volunteers and enlisted personnel trying to get the final phase of an artificial oyster reef constructed off the shoreline near Laurel Bay, a housing community for those stationed at the air station. Drenched to the skin and covered in mud, Bortnem wanted to talk about the progress the project had already made.

Kate Schaefer, director of land protection at the Beaufort-based Open Land Trust, worked with Bortnem regularly on land conservation initiatives for properties surrounding the air station. Over the last two years, land protection around the air station doubled, she said, calling called Bortnem "incredibly genuine."

"You would have thought that land conservation was the most important thing to him. It's clear that everyone who worked with him thought their issue was the most important thing to him. That's a rare thing," Schaefer said.

Bortnem particularly endeared himself to the conservation community during another March 2024 event commemorating the conservation of about 4,400 acres in Jasper County known as Gregorie Neck. The Department of Defense contribute $6 million to the conservation effort, stating that the initiative supported the military's goal of preserving mission readiness.

Speaking during the event, Bortnem improvised a line during his speech as the sounds of military jets flying overhead faded. The line has been oft repeated since that muggy, gray morning a year ago.

"That noise you hear is the sound of freedom, and the silence you hear is the sound of conservation," Bortnem said.

During the April 12 air show performance, Bortnem enthusiastically told The Post and Courier that as many as 70,000 people had attended each day of the two-day event. It appeared that he couldn't have been more pleased with the show's success.

Then came an abrupt change.

On April 14, Brig. Gen. Ralph J. Rizzo, Jr., commanding general at Marine Corps Installations East-Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, released a statement saying Bortnem had been relieved of his duties, effective immediately.

"This decision was made due to a loss of trust and confidence in Bortnem's ability to command," Rizzo said in the statement.

While no further information has been forthcoming from the Marine Corps, there have been reactions from across the community that interacted with Bortnem over the course of his two-year tenure as the base's commanding officer.

Bortnem has been reassigned to duties at nearby Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

A change.org petition started by Marine veteran Joan Petrucci brings attention to the impact that Bortnem had in both the military and civilian realms. The petition, which has garnered nearly 300 signatures so far, is not intended to influence the actions of the Marine Corps, said Petrucci. Rather, it's intended to express support for Bortnem, calling his firing a significant loss for those on and off the base.

"While it may not alter the formal outcome for Colonel Bortnem, it can influence the perception of the leader's effectiveness and character within the Marine Corps community, highlighting the loyalty and admiration they garnered from their team," wrote Petrucci.

David Bartholomew, who sits on Beaufort County Council, said Bortnem worked positively with local governments and looked for out-of-the-box solutions to improving interactions between the base and the community. News of Bortnem's firing came as a shock, Bartholomew said.

"From what I could see in the interactions that we had, he was trying to do a lot of good things," he added.

Reach Tony Kukulich at 843-709-8929.

Tony Kukulich

Tony Kukulich is an editor/reporter working in the Beaufort County bureau. Turning to journalism as a second career, he started as a photojournalist in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2015. After moving to Bluffton in 2021, he wrote for several area publications before starting with The Post and Courier the following year. His work has been recognized by the National Newspaper Association, the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the South Carolina Press Association. Tony covers local government, environmental issues and development in addition to authoring the Hurricane Wire newsletter.

On May 1, 2025, Tri Pointe Homes announced it is under contract for two land parcels in Coastal Carolina. The company plans to expand its premium lifestyle services by developing single-family homes and townhomes in Bluffton and Beaufort. The company is expecting significant growth as there has been an increased demand for homes in these areas.

Highlights

Tri Pointe Homes Plans to Grow in South Carolina

Tri Pointe Homes is one of the biggest real estate developers in the country, with their services available in 12 states. The company already has its divisions in the Central part and the East and West Coasts. The company is now expanding its Coastal Carolina division by announcing land transactions in Beaufort and Bluffton.

These new plans of land acquisition were announced officially on May 1, 2025. Doug Bauer, the CEO of the company, believes in the reputation, beauty, and location of Beaufort and South Carolina as a whole. After expanding to the Coastal Carolina division, these projects will contribute to the company’s continued growth.

Beaufort and Bluffton Project Plans by Tri Pointe Homes

Tri Pointe Homes is a premium brand that not only creates homes but also a community that complements luxury living. The expansion in Lowcountry will build on the area’s natural appeal. Single-family homes and townhomes will be constructed once the plan is approved. Below are more details on both projects.

The Beaufort project will be just six miles from downtown. Residents will have convenient access to the necessary amenities. 50 townhomes will be constructed with Lowcountry-inspired designs.

The project will be along the Highway 170 corridor. There will be connectivity to the Broad River waterfront and walkable stretches. Near this strategic project are prestigious schools like Preparatory Charter School. Also close are Cross Creek shopping mall, Savannah ports, Gulfstream, and USC Beaufort.

For Bluffton’s vibrant location, 26 single-family homes are planned. The homes are designed to offer a blend of traditional and modern elements. The community will be near the Promenade, famous for its restaurants and recreational spaces. Living here will also offer easy access to Bluffton High School, Red Cedar Elementary School, and Hilton Head Island beaches. This will make for an enriching experience.

Gray Shell, head of the Coastal Carolina division, said that demand for homes and market growth will strengthen Tri Pointe Homes’ position in the regional market. Once the approval comes and these transactions become successful, deliveries are expected from 2027. These projects will be a testimony to the combination of innovation and expertise.

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Beaufort, SC was just named the Most Charming Small City in South Carolina, and it’s not the first time. Yes, Beaufort is getting more accolades. We couldn’t be happier, and they couldn’t be more correct.

South Carolina is home to some noteworthy small towns, destinations that offer a quiet beauty thanks to the natural scenery, friendly atmosphere and one-of-a-kind attractions that shine bright enough to draw visitors in to experience something they may not find in a bigger city.

Popular travel website, LoveExploring, compiled a list of the “most charming small city” in every state, ranking the destinations that “offer the culture, charm, and character” of big cities but with a more “laid-back” vibe.

According to the site, the top choice for South Carolina is Beaufort.

LoveExploring said this spot has charm in spades — beautiful snapshots of nature, unique attractions, and rich history.

“South Carolina’s second-oldest city after Charleston, Beaufort is known for its classic Southern charm, with beautiful antebellum architecture and moss-draped oak trees,” the website said. “Walking tours and horse-drawn carriages are a popular way to explore, and the Beaufort History Museum offers a fascinating look into the area’s past.”

There’s just something so special about our part of the Lowcountry that it keeps being raved about all over the internet and in nationally published magazines. And yes, Beaufort is definitely the most charming city.

Also of note, Beaufort was ranked number 14 on the entire list. That means there are 36 small city winners in other states that still aren’t as good as Beaufort, SC.

The accolades have been pouring in for Beaufort recently.

We’ve also recently been named one of the Most Laid Back Towns in South Carolina, the Most Charming Small Town in South Carolina; one of the Best Beach Towns, and One of the Most Beautiful Coastal Towns in the South.

Our downtown district has been named one of the Ten Best Downtown’s in the U.S., and Beaufort County has been named the Best County to Live in South Carolina.

In addition to those, Southern Living magazine has named the Old Sheldon Church ruins one of the South’s Most Beautiful Chapels; named Hunting Island State Park one of the Best State Parks in the South; and named downtown Beaufort’s Craven Street one of the South’s Most Beautiful Streets. Also, we’re both the Healthiest County in South Carolina and frequently the Most Patriotic Town, too.

See the full list at LoveExploring.com to read up on more of the most charming small cities around the country.