A major retail chain is closing its store at Charleston’s Citadel Mall after 34 years. After two decades of advocacy, conservation groups have permanently protected a 229-acre tract of land in Awendaw adjacent to Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge from development. A raccoon in West Ashley tested positive for rabies, exposing one person to the virus.
We’re going to catch you up on these and other top stories from The Post and Courier for Friday, Nov. 6.
Major retail chain is closing its store at Charleston’s Citadel Mall
Dillard’s posted closure notices on Nov. 5 for its West Ashley location after a 34-year run, directing customers to its Northwoods Mall outlet in North Charleston. The closure coincides with MUSC Health’s transformation of Citadel Mall into a major medical hub following its $83.5 million purchase of 330,000 square feet of the shopping center last year. Dillard’s is one of the final surviving retail tenants at the mall, with JC Penney and Sears having departed in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
‘This is a huge day’: Conservation groups seal deal to permanently conserve Awendaw’s White Tract
Conservation groups have finalized a deal to permanently protect the White Tract, a 229-acre property in Awendaw that was slated for septic tank-dependent development. The $17.2 million purchase, funded by the S.C. Office of Resilience and facilitated by the Open Space Institute, will eventually fold the land into Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge. Developer Pulte Homes played an active role in the negotiations, and the settlement ends years of legal challenges by Friends of Coastal South Carolina, Charleston Waterkeeper and the Coastal Conservation League.
Raccoon tests positive for rabies in West Ashley; 1 person exposed
A raccoon found near Wespanee Drive and Ponce de Leon Avenue tested positive for rabies on Nov. 4; one person was exposed to the animal. The S.C. Department of Public Health advised residents to keep pets vaccinated against rabies and to avoid contact with wild animals, instead calling local animal control or wildlife officials. This marks the 13th rabies case in a raccoon in Charleston County and the 99th case of rabid animals statewide in 2026.
Woman killed crossing Sam Rittenberg Boulevard in West Ashley
A woman was struck and killed by a vehicle at approximately 6:05 p.m. Nov. 5 while crossing Sam Rittenberg Boulevard near Orleans Road outside of a marked crosswalk. Sam Rittenberg Boulevard was closed in both directions at Orleans Road for more than two hours before reopening at 8:30 p.m. The incident remains under investigation with no charges filed.
Remley’s Point Boat Landing in Mount Pleasant to close this month for improvements
Remley’s Point Boat Landing will close mid-November through early summer 2027 for construction improvements, including a new four-ramp concrete boat launch, 210-foot fixed wave break and floating docks. The project will add 11 trailer and eight car parking spots along with ADA-compliant features, such as accessible gangways and dedicated accessible parking. Shem Creek Boat Landing in Mount Pleasant will remain open during the closure to provide boaters with an alternative.
This news briefing was created with the assistance of AI to summarize stories. The briefing was edited by a Post and Courier journalist before it was published.
