electrician in Moncks Corner, SC

Krystal Restaurants LLC has signed a deal with Lenard “Charlamagne Tha God” McKelvey and his wife and business partner, Jessica Gadsden-McKelvey, to franchise six quick-service locations in South Carolina, the company said Monday.

The Dunwoody, Ga.-based slider brand said the McKelveys plan to open the first of six contracted locations in the McKelveys’ hometown of Moncks Corner, S.C., a community north of Charleston.

Krystal said the McKelvey units would likely include branding from “Charlamagne Tha God,” similar to a deal with former football player Victor Cruz, and be a smaller, prototype unit. The brand has also named rapper 2 Chainz as its head of creative marketing, and he plans to develop stores in the Atlanta area.

Casey Terrell, Krystal’s chief marketing officer, said in an interview Monday, “We're working with the partners that we sign so they've got their own brand.

“They really want to grow and expand, especially Charlemagne and his wife being

in this together,” Terrell said. “I think our plan now on the development side is that we still have our core brand and store builds. But Vic Cruz is a great example: He'll have memorabilia in his store, and he'll have some of his signature things up as accents —things that really personalize it for them.”=

The McKelveys, in a statement said: “The Krystal restaurant brand is known for bringing quality ingredients and creativity to customers, and we are proud to be franchise owners.”

Terrell said he expects the first 2 Chainz unit to open by second quarter of 2023, and Cruz is looking for real estate in Paterson, N.J., his hometown.

He added that the 2 Chainz units may be different the McKelvey and Cruz restaurants.

“2 Chainz is a little bit different,” he said. “Because he's our creative officer, his are very Atlanta-based. They're designed to be a little bit more test-innovation centers.”

Traditional Krystal’s units are about 2,700 square feet, and prototype unit are about 30% smaller, a company spokesperson said, adding that one 1,200-square-foot prototype is drive-thru- and carryout-only, and another is 1,700 square feet and offers drive-thru, carryout and a small lobby for dine-in service.

The celebrity franchisees are part of Krystal’s brand repositioning, Terrell said, to be a little “edgier.”

“We are a brand that’s 90 years old,” he noted, “and so we’re just taking a brand a different direction that's a little bit edgier — more of that kind of maverick-outlaw persona or brand archetype. We are really looking for partners that fit that same persona.=

An added advantage is the celebrities existing base of followers on social media and in their areas of expertise, he said.

Jonathan Childs, Krystal’s managing partner, in a statement added: “Authenticity and sense of community are important characteristics that we look for in our partnerships. Both Charlamagne and Jessica embody these qualities and we’re ecstatic to bring Krystal to the greater Charleston area and expand our footprint nationally.”

Krystal, founded in 1932, has nearly 300 restaurants in 10 states.

In recent years, the franchise industry has attracted a number of high profile superstar franchisees looking to invest their celebrity earnings in proven business models and reap the rewards. Kanye West is believed to have bought ten Burger King outlets back in 2010 as an anniversary gift for his then-fiance Kim Kardashian. Former NBA star and actor Shaquille O'Neal has a huge portfolio of franchise investments, including over 150 Five Guys restaurants, 40 24-Hour Fitness franchises, 9 Papa Johns locations and more. Tennis star Venus Williams has 4 Jamba Juice franchise stores in Washington DC and the rapper and entrepreneur Rick Ross is said to own 25 Wingstop franchises.

Of course signing up a celebrity as a franchise partner brings with it not just the financial investment but the associated star quality and celebrity endorsement, which in turn attracts increased interest and new audiences to the brand. After Rick Ross joined forces with Wingstop he said that some of his locations saw sales jump by a huge 50%. And after his mention of the company in one of the rapper's songs, wing sales were reported to have increased across all Wingstop franchises.

Now Krystal, the oldest quick service service restaurant chain in the South of the US, has announced a brand new celebrity partnership with American radio host and television personality Charlamagne tha God, and his wife and business partner, Jessica Gadsden-McKelvey. The couple have signed on the dotted line to launch 6 franchise locations in 2023, with the first one being in Charlamagne’s hometown of Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

Krystal started life in 1932 in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is believed to be the seventh oldest burger chain in the whole of the US. It operates a mix of both company owned and franchised locations and is famed for its square hamburger patty "slider" with a steamed bun. The quick service brand has certainly not had the smoothest of rides over the past two decades, running into financial difficulties in late 2018 and 2019 and then filing for bankruptcy protection at the start of 2020. It was then acquired by Fortress Investment Group, a subsidiary of SoftBank, in May 2020 who brought on Golden Child Holdings, a large Pizza Hut franchisee, as its operating partner and installed Thomas Stager, a partner at Golden Child, as Krystal’s president.

Stager took over at what was clearly a very challenging time for the long established business. Krystal’s sales were reportedly slacking, its location count dropped from 363 in 2017 to 287 by mid 2022 and it was reported that many franchisees were looking to sell. A shake up of the executive board, the establishment of a single Krystal Council franchise committee and harnessing the involvement of the brand’s two largest franchisees, who operate 45 and 11 restaurants respectively, to drive the development of a new prototype and new menu items were some of the first major initiatives. Outdated restaurants were earmarked for remodel, new locations were redesigned with smaller footprints and drive-thru lanes, and a mobile app was launched in 2011.

But perhaps one of the most significant factors in the turning point of Krystal's fortunes has been the new creative marketing initiatives and celebrity endorsements which the brand has brought in, spearheaded by Chief Marketing Officer Alice Crowder who was appointed to the role in June 2021. The close of 2021 saw the chain announce that Superbowl champion Victor Cruz would be opening up to 5 franchise branches in New Jersey and in early 2022 the brand joined forces with rapper 2 Chainz, announcing him as their Head of Creative Marketing. The 2 Chainz deal has a partnership focus on two restaurants in Atlanta branded as "2 Chainz Krystal", decorated in his style and housing some of his memorabilia. This quickly saw results reflected in increased sales, with Crowder saying in March 2022 that "The restaurant we have started co-running with 2 Chainz, we're seeing results up in the double digits from the rest of the market, and we're seeing that the market, Atlanta, is doing better than the rest of the system."

Endorsements from other celebrities such as Brittany Renner, and Ray J have followed, with the brand dedicating part of their marketing budget to celebrity and influencer connections. The newest celebrity franchise partnership with Charlamagne tha God and his wife will see the couple personally design the interior of their stores and is part of Krystal's ambitious plans for rapid franchise growth as well as increased brand awareness. "We are ecstatic to partner with Charlamagne and expand our footprint nationwide. Charlamagne pushes the envelope nationally by spotlighting important topics in society," said Krystal's chairman Jonathan Childs.

Celebrity endorsements might not be a new thing for Krystal, previously claimed to have been a favourite restaurant of Elvis Presley and with Samuel L. Jackson appearing in a Krystal commercial way back in 1975, but the Southern quick service brand will be hoping that this most recent famous sign-up together with its other star franchise partnerships will set it firmly on track to achieve the expansion goal of reaching 500 restaurants within five years.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. – Berkeley County, Town of Moncks Corner leaders and public safety officials recently celebrated the unveiling of the new MUSC Children’s Health Pediatrics facility in Moncks Corner with Dr. Joseph West and Dr. Luke Emmanuel Edmondson.

Dr. West and his pediatric primary care practice of more than 40 years, Moncks Corner Pediatrics, officially joined MUSC as MUSC Children’s Health Pediatrics – Moncks Corner on August 1.

Mark Scheurer, M.D., Children’s and Women’s Services chief, says it’s an absolute pleasure to see his initial conversation with West come to fruition.

“Several years ago, when Dr. West and I walked through the new children’s hospital together, I learned about his decades-long dedication to the kids and families of Moncks Corner and beyond,” Scheurer said. “We discussed our hopes for the new children’s hospital and the need to connect it to folks where they live, to serve them where they are. It was just a conversation, but it was clear to both of us that there was an opportunity to make it more substantive to help directly connect this community to the children’s hospital and serve them better.”

MUSC Health leaders, the Berkeley Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Moncks Corner, and the Moncks Corner pediatric team gathered on Wednesday, October 12, for a ribbon-cutting event to honor the partnership and recognize West’s contributions to the community and the care he has provided over the years.

West has been in practice for 43 years and says he is excited to have the partner he never had but now does, Dr. Luke Edmondson.

“What a testimony to Dr. West in terms of so much time here in practice and wanting to do what’s right for the community and partnering with MUSC to continue his legacy in Moncks Corner,” said Terrence E. Steyer, M.D., College of Medicine interim dean.

The practice, located at 5000 Epson Plantation Drive, Suite B in Moncks Corner, is a recognized Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and provides convenient primary care for children from birth through 18 years of age.

Ranked as the #1 children’s hospital in South Carolina by U.S. News & World Report, patients and families have direct access to nationally-ranked, dedicated pediatric experts in multiple specialties – from yearly physicals to referrals to specialty clinics, plus children-only labs, imaging, and more.

For more information, visit MUSCkids.org/PrimaryCare. To schedule an appointment, call 843-876-0444.

MONCKS CORNER, S.C. (WCSC) - For the first time in seven years, homeowners and landowners in Moncks Corner will see a 15 percent property tax increase starting on October 1.

At the Moncks Corner Town Council meeting Thursday evening, the vote for a new budget was passed unanimously with only one member of the public providing input.

The economy, fuel prices and labor costs are all contributing factors according to Mayor Michael Lockliear, but the main reason for the increase is to afford and pay public employees.

“Retention has been very tough over the last year keeping employees,” Lockliear said. “Since other people are paying more around us, we had to step up and do the same thing.”

The tax hike means a homeowner with a property valued at $250,000 will have to pay $100 more per year on property taxes. Statistically, it is normal to increase taxes by about two-percent each year.

Berkeley County Sheriff’s Office Special Prosecutor Tyler Jenkins was the only one who asked a question during the public input portion of the meeting.

“My real question as far as the millage rate, 15 percent in one year seems like a pretty high number,” Jenkins said. “Was there any discussion about why that wasn’t incrementally put into place?”

In response, Lockliear said this is the first time in seven years that the city has had to increase property tax, which he is very proud of.

“We did it so we wouldn’t have to come back in two years and do it again,” Lockliear said. “As a resident of Moncks Corner, I’d much rather be taxed one time now and then another time in 10 years or so, but not every two years.”

Every year, the city government meets for a budget workshop where they go through the department by department and cut what is needed for a balanced budget. This year, Lockliear said they were short about $325,000 with the more expensive costs coming from health care and retirement benefits to public employees

“With that being done, it put a big dent in our budget,” Lockliear said. “That’s why the millage increase came and hopefully it will take us through the next six to seven-eight years.”

The new budget takes place from Oct. 1, 2022, until Sept. 30, 2023. Operating revenues will increase from $12,417,159 to $15,622,744 and operating expenditures will increase from $14,151,802 to $15,363,175.

Copyright 2022 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Two weeks of no-excuse-needed early voting kicks off Oct. 24 at more than 100 locations statewide, giving South Carolinians more options than ever for casting a ballot with hopefully little to no wait.

It’s South Carolina’s first general election under a Statehouse law signed by Gov. Henry McMaster in May which directed each county to open up to seven early voting sites for 12 days through the Saturday before Election Day.

All locations must open to voters from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in all 46 counties from the coast to the mountains.

The exception is Oct. 30, as the law forbids Sunday voting.

Early voters can choose whatever site is most convenient for them within the county where they’re registered, whether that’s close to home, work or shopping. They aren’t limited by their home address.

“Early voting is a big deal for South Carolina,” state Election Commission spokesman Chris Whitmire said. “It gives a lot more access, more options for busy people to go vote. That’s the biggest benefit.”

It also should reduce stress on poll workers and give them more time to fix problems as they arise, which in turn also benefits voters, he said.

“Whatever line you’ve had before will be better,” Whitmire said.

The 111 early voting sites statewide represent a 35 percent increase from the total that opened before the June primaries, when election officers had less than three weeks to put the new rules into practice.

Nineteen of South Carolina’s rural counties are still offering a single location, usually at their main election office.

Some of the most-populous counties are providing several additional options. For example, Lexington went from one to five. Charleston County, which also offered a single site in June, is among three counties opening the maximum seven.

Greenville and Horry counties are the other two with seven.

Voting sites for every county can be found on the S.C. Election Commission website at scvotes.gov/voters/early-voting. By law, each county election office must also post local locations on its own website.

Voting absentee by mail is also underway. Those who qualify include people who are 65 and older, have physical disabilities, or work a job that doesn’t allow them to vote in person during the two-week early voting window. Applications must be in by Oct. 28. People returning a mailed ballot in person must show identification.

Charleston County, which has opened satellite offices since 2016 under prior law that required an excuse for voting early, has planned since January to open seven once the legislation passed. But when the final version didn’t allow for mobile sites as intended, the county reverted to one, but only for the primaries, said Isaac Cramer, director of the Charleston County Board of Elections.

Local sites for this election include four libraries and two churches spread out from Hollywood to Mount Pleasant, with the largest site being the North Charleston Convention Center. That was a popular spot for voters in November 2020, Cramer said.

Amid the pandemic, legislators passed a temporary law allowing no-excuse-needed in-person absentee voting for that election only. One problem was that access varied widely across the state. Even so, it marked the first time that more South Carolinians voted early than on Election Day.

Two years later under the new law requiring options with standardized hours, Charleston County has added sites on James Island, Johns Island and Hollywood.

“We wanted to expand to areas with population growth and rural areas so people across the county would have shorter distances to travel,” Cramer said.

The more than 150 additional workers hired specifically for early voting began weeklong training sessions Oct. 17. They’re prepared for busy, 12-hour days. They’ll stay on through Election Day at $15 an hour, which becomes $22.50 hourly for required overtime, he said.

In the Upstate, Greenville and Spartanburg counties each hired dozens of additional poll workers for early voting.

Staffing concerns are partly why Spartanburg went with three offerings for its first election with multiple sites, said its elections director, Adam Hammons.

Since turnout is generally lower for midterm elections than in presidential contests, “starting with three early voting centers that are fully staffed and ready for voters was our decision,” he said.

It’s among 10 counties opening three locations.

Others include nearby Pickens County, Dorchester County in the Lowcountry, and York County south of Charlotte, as well as rural Barnwell and Hampton counties along the Georgia line.

Georgetown and Beaufort counties are each operating four sites.

Georgetown officials didn’t see a reason to open the max, said elections director Aphra McCrea.

There was an obvious need for a location in the Waccamaw Neck, a peninsula east of the Waccamaw River that is where most voters live. The county office made sense as it’s already equipped to handle early voting. The other two were put in locations convenient for rural residents, McCrea said.

Lexington and Richland are the only counties offering five locations.

Richland County has had more shakeups at its long-troubled election agency in the last few months, to include the resignation of its director. But interim director Terry Graham, who also submitted a resignation letter before agreeing to stay through the elections, insisted the county is prepared for the election and early voting.

County officials considered expanding to six but decided it lacked sufficient workers and money for an additional site, he said.

“Money always is a deciding factor. If we could do more, we would do more,” he said. “We didn’t want to spread ourselves too thin by adding more people and more locations.”

Spencer Donovan contributed from Greenville. Leah Hincks contributed from Columbia. Mike Woodel contributed from Georgetown. Nicole Ziege contributed from Myrtle Beach.