Can you believe there are only five days left of 2018? This year has been filled with groundbreaking news– with everything from the opening of Bill Murray’s food truck hub, Container Bar, to the announcement of direct flights to London out of Charleston International Airport. (And, of course, there was the launch of a little daily newsletter called CHStoday). It’s been a wild ride, but we won’t be sad to see it go as there’s so much to look forward to in 2019.

While our crystal ball isn’t always accurate– there are some things we already know about next year. Charleston is getting some new businesses and we’re beyond excited. Here are 14 openings we're looking forward to.

Baker and Brewer opens in early 2019 | Photo by @bakerandbrewer

🍕 Baker and Brewer | Early 2019 | This collab between Holy City Brewing + Evo Pizzeria will feature a sit-down restaurant with an adjoining bakery, a full bar, live music space, + a five-barrel brewing system (with 20+ beers on tap). It’s located on Stuart St. in Charleston’s Eastside neighborhood, in the building that once housed Desano Pizza Bakery.

Openings are expected at Indigo Square throughout 2019 | Image provided by Indigo Square

🛍 Indigo Square | January-Spring 2019 | The doors at AT&T are already open at the new shopping center on Hwy. 17 in Mount Pleasant, with more openings coming next month through the spring. Future tenants include Publix GreenWise (an organic supermarket opening in the spring), Boxcar Betty's (opening in Feb.), Blaze Pizza (opening in Jan.), Club Pilates (opening in January), Palmetto 80 Liquors (spring opening), Indigo Nail Spa (spring opening), + Motion Stretch Studio (spring opening).

Rooms are available at Hotel Bennett beginning Jan. 2019 | Photo by @msbjpeart

🛎️ Hotel Bennett | January 2019 | Reservations for this eight-story luxury hotel at 404 King St., overlooking Marion Square, are available beginning mid-January. Creating an estimated 350 jobs, the hotel will contain a spa, rooftop eatery, a French Patisserie, + even a so-called ‘ladies’ bar’ named Camellia’s (the opening on that is still TBA).

🏢 Garco Mill | Spring-Summer 2019 | The historic old factory building and surrounding 40 acres of land is being redeveloped into office + retail space, along with the addition of a 20,000 square foot food hall. Read more about the area’s history– and the plans for its future– here.

🛍 Nexton Square | Spring 2019 | 22 restaurants + retailers are committed to set up shop at the future Nexton Square, with grand openings beginning this spring. Among the future tenants: Hall’s Chophouse, Poogan’s Southern Kitchen, The Bicycle Shoppe, + Charlotte-based Bad Daddy’s Burgers.

Portside at Ferry Wharf | Photo by @Natasha.Chs

🏗 Portside at Ferry Wharf | Spring 2019 | Located at the foot of the Arthur Ravenel Bridge, this office building is part of a luxury, mixed-use development that will also include a retail, hospitality, + residential dwellings. Already, the space is set to house New York-based Serendipity Labs Coworking + Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.

The Market at Mill Creek | Image: Adams Property Group

🛒 The Market at Mill Creek | Spring 2019 | The $20+ million shopping center will include a Lowes Foods supermarket, gas station, + retailers like Marco’s Pizza, Agaves Cantina, and Sea Island Urgent Care.

The Ax Hole will open in Park Circle in 2019 | Image: The Ax Hole

🎯 The Ax Hole | Mar. 2, 2019 | Are you familiar with the rising trend of ax-throwing bars? The ax-ccentric new concept has been popping up all over the country, including in Greenville + Columbia. And now, Charleston is getting its own: The Ax Hole is set to open at 1077 East Montague Ave. in Park Circle. We’re sure the new biz will be quite a hit.

Construction of the Wando Mount Pleasant Library is expected to be complete in 2019 | Image: LS3P

📚 Wando Mount Pleasant Library | May 2019 | CCPL’s newest location in north Mount Pleasant will be 40,000 sq. ft., and will include an auditorium, a digital media studio with a green screen wall, study areas, + more. Check out a live webcam of the construction site here.

Phase I of Stono River County Park is projected to open in the spring/summer of 2019 | Image: Charleston County Parks and Recreation/Stantec

🏞 Stono River County Park | Spring-Summer 2019 | The public, waterfront park will be the first to provide direct access to the Stono River. The property was donated by a group of residents who acquired it, after plans to develop it into commercial + residential space fell through.

View of the construction on the Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital as seen from Calhoun Street/James Island Expressway | Image provided by MUSC Health

🏥 MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital | Fall 2019 | The new MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital will open as one of the most innovative hospitals in the state. It will be home to the only pediatric burn unit, the only Level I trauma center for children, + the only solid-organ and bone marrow transplant programs in South Carolina. The facility will also include “couplet” rooms– which will allow mothers + babies to receive care together– rather than in separate sections of the hospital. In total, the hospital will boast ~250 patient beds. You can view a timelapse of the current building construction here, as well as a live cam here.

22 West Edge will open late 2019 | Image: West Edge Foundation

🏗 22 West Edge | Nov. 2019 | The eight-story structure will be the tallest multi-tenant office building on the peninsula– and in the Charleston metro area. It will include 155,000 sq. ft. of office space + research space, with retail + restaurants on the ground floor.

A premium lounge called The Club CHS will open at the Charleston International Airport in 2019 | Image: Charleston International Airport

🛩 The Club CHS | TBA | A premium lounge called “The Club CHS” will open inside the Charleston International Airport sometime next year. The exclusive space will be located past security, overlooking the central hall + marketplace on the airport’s third level. Passengers will be able to purchase a day pass for $40.

🏊‍ North Charleston and Dorchester District 2 Aquatic Center | TBA | Located at 8500 Patriot Blvd., the aquatic center will include a 50 meter, ten-lane pool; a 25 yard therapeutic pool; a warm-up pool; locker rooms; and a pro shop + concessions stand.

Charleston is changing rapidly– and though the increased construction may not always feel like a good thing, it certainly has its perks. (Hello, downtown pizza brewpub).

Here’s to rooting for positive change in 2019– while also preserving the good things we’ve already got.

As always, let us know what you're most looking forward to next year in the comments below.

– Jen