Small businesses and community groups in Charleston’s Citadel Mall face displacement after MUSC bought part of the property, giving tenants just 90 days to relocate despite recent two-year leases.
Affected Tenants
The Charleston Area Model Railroad Club, a 16-year nonprofit fixture, the artist space Arc Take 2, and the Charleston Planetarium are among those impacted, scrambling for affordable new spots by mid-April. Owners like Sarah Dioanna of Arc Take 2 plan to adapt by forming nonprofits like Garden of the Arts, while others merge operations.
MUSC’s Rationale
MUSC aims to repurpose spaces for healthcare expansion, including cancer services, clinical trials, and screenings to address South Carolina’s projected 20% cancer rise by 2028, prioritizing long-term community health benefits.
Challenges Ahead
Tenants express shock at the short timeline, valuing the mall as a family-like creative hub, and seek public tips for suitable North Charleston or Summerville spaces.
