Le James Charleston
35 Prioleau St, Charleston, SC
The Great Earthquake of 1886
A pivotal event that shaped Charleston’s enduring resilience.
The Colony House 1965
A timeless venue known for its Southern charm.
The Colony House 1975
Updated to blend history with modern elegance.
The Harbor Club 2008
A luxury waterfront venue for unforgettable events.
Charleston is a port city in South Carolina that was founded in 1670. Historically known as Charles Town. Charleston was the political, economic, and cultural center of the colony until the landscape shifted during the American Revolution. Throughout the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries Charleston thrived economically due to its port and role as a distribution center for the region.[1] Warehouses such as 35 Prioleau played a large part supporting the shipping and mercantile businesses in the area.
Prior to development and platting in 1816, the area was marshland that fronted on Prioleau’s Wharf, owned by wealthy Huguenot merchant Samuel Prioleau. The official date of construction for the line of four warehouses is unknown, but an 1820 edition of the City Gazette advertised for sale “four new stores… commanding a beautiful view of the Cooper River” and bounding Prioleau, Cordes and Gendron Streets. All four warehouses were sold to Thomas Napier, Scottish commission merchant and auctioneer through his mercantile firm Thomas Napier & Company.[2] When combined with his other waterfront properties it was referred to as “Napier’s Range.” He rented each of the spaces to various merchants. For the next 50 years the warehouses remained part of Napier’s Range with various mercantile tenants.
The building was significantly damaged during the Great Earthquake of 1886. A historic photograph from the Charleston Museum collection shows much of the masonry sheared off. In 1891, the warehouse was sold for $12,000 to Sheppard & Porcher whom dealt in the sale of rice and coffee.
In 1941, the warehouse was sold to Ida Sokol. Sokol was the wife of Morris Sokol, who owned a furniture store on King Street, Morris Sokol Furniture. Before using it to store his furniture, Sokol leased it as a grocery/sugar warehouse. By 1955, he was using it to store some of the world’s finest furniture.
In 1965, William Snipes and The Colony House bought the warehouse at 35 Prioleau Street (5 Prioleau Street) from Sokol. Through their renovation process all the outer walls were retained, and the interior was designed “with new décor that will place greater emphasis on the Old Charleston atmosphere. According to the News & Courier, the renovation was an “example of the Charleston style of preservation,” highlighting the preservation of the original tie-beams, arches and brick.
In 1993, 35 Prioleau Street was sold to Franz X Meier, who was part of the former restaurant ownership group. He opened the Harbor Club in 1994. In 2001, the north roof top was renovated to its current appearance.
Following the recent move of the Harbor Club to a new location the building was purchased by Browns Bridge Brothers who will restore the building into a five-Star event space & private club.