After serving as a South Carolina state senator alongside Strom Thurmond and working as a trial lawyer, John Charles “J.C.” Long founded The Beach Company in 1945. It all began with the purchase of all the undeveloped land on the Isle of Palms. Following the development of the island into a popular beach destination was the construction of the Sergeant Jasper Apartments in 1950, still a prominent building in downtown Charleston.

Gulf Stream Construction Company was established in 1963 and later incorporated in 1966, a subsidiary of The Beach Company created as an in-house construction company to provide site construction services to the company’s expanding development portfolio. Today Gulf Stream Construction is an established premier site construction company in the Charleston region, exclusively focused on site construction and development.

In 1970 RPM, Rental Property Management was established to manage the company’s rapidly expanding affordable multi-family housing holdings. Currently, RPM manages apartment communities in Georgia and Alabama, all of which comply with modern programs including Section 8 and Section 236 programs.

Just two years after the creation of RPM, ownership of The Beach Company contributed to the development of The Isle of Palms Beach and Racquet Club, know today as Wild Dunes Resort.

In 1975, J.C. Long’s efforts were continued when his son-in-law, Charles S. Way, Jr. became president of The Beach Company. Since 1984, Way has served as Chairman of the Board with over 30 years dedicated to the company.

In 1988, The Beach Company led the team that purchased all of the undeveloped land and resort amenities on the world renowned Kiawah Island, making it the largest real estate transaction in the state’s history.

In the early 1990s Hobcaw Creek Plantation in North Charleston, Parkside Condominiums in Columbia and downtown Charleston’s Bank of America building were all developed. Brookgreen Town Center, in Mount Pleasant, Island Towne Center near Savannah and the Isle of Palms’ Ocean Park Plaza and Pavilion Shoppes were purchased.

The City Marina Company, a subsidiary of The Beach Company placed the marina complex under a long-term lease in 1994. Nine years later The City Marina opened a new MegaDock, extending 1,530 feet, becoming the Southeast’s longest free-standing floating fuel dock. The MegaDock is home to the Annual MegaDock Billfishing Tournament, the largest event of the renowned South Carolina Governor's Cup Billfish Series. In 2005 the company purchased The City Boatyard. Situated on eight acres on the Wando River, the boatyard offers boat maintenance and repairs for vessels up to 60 tons and is South Carolina's premier facility.

In 1995, The Beach Company developed the nationally acclaimed Majestic Square on the corner of King and Market Streets in downtown Charleston. This mixed-use development features prime office and retail space, a parking garage, Saks Fifth Avenue and The Beach Company's Corporate Headquarters.

A year later development began at Seaside Farms, a 505-acre master planned community in Mount Pleasant. Within Seaside Farms are Homewood Suites, Marais, Long Grove Condominiums, Franke Homes, Single Family Neighborhoods, The Shoppes at Seaside Farms, Target and Piggly Wiggly.

Towards the end of the decade Victoria Center, adjacent to Majestic Square in downtown Charleston, a mixed-use, class “A” office and retail building was completed. Just a couple of years later development began off Clements Ferry Road at Charleston Regional Business Center. The company built over 470,000 square feet in the premier industrial park.

In 1999, John C.L. Darby, the nephew of Charles S. Way Jr. and the grandson of J.C. Long, became President and COO of The Beach Company and was subsequently named CEO in 2003.

At the beginning of the new millennium, The Bristol and The Bristol Marina were constructed. Standing over the Ashley River, The Bristol offers 54 luxury condominiums and the marina provides impressive facilities to the holders of the 148 slips. The Quadrangle Shopping Center in West Ashley was purchased in 2001 and construction started on Cannon Place, one of downtown Charleston’s Class ‘A’ medical professional mid-rises. 

The year 2002 marked the start of Longborough, a 26-acre community on Charleston’s peninsula, encompassing 82 single-family homes and 42 townhomes near Hampton Park, along the banks of the Ashley River.  

The purchase of Seaside Grove Apartments in Myrtle Beach and Providence Park Apartments in Columbia expanded The Beach Company’s multi-family holdings, adding over 500 rental residences. Village Point Shopping Center in Mount Pleasant was purchased in 2004, anchored by Harris Teeter. 

It was a booming year in 2006 with the start of three major developments. Watermark, located in Mount Pleasant is a mixed-use traditional neighborhood that upon completion will feature single-family homes, townhomes, rental residences and complementary commercial space. Scotts Creek, just down the road from Watermark in Mount Pleasant offers 70 single-family homesites ranging from one-third to one-half an acre in size and features a six-acre landscaped park, kayaking dock and trail system. CanalSide is a 23-acre mixed-use development in Columbia’s Vista District on the Congaree River; upon completion it will include complementary retail and 750 residential units comprised of townhomes, condominiums and loft apartments, all in a pedestrian friendly neighborhood environment.

Perhaps the most exciting developments are those that lie ahead. GARCO Park, Cantey Bay Plantation, Kiawah River Plantation, and Parkside at the Highlands are all on the drawing board.

GARCO Park is a 350,000 square foot, mixed-use commercial center located in the trendy East Montague and Park Circle area of North Charleston. As an urban Brownfield redevelopment initiative, the 40-acre industrial plant site will be demolished and redeveloped with new public roads, utilities and streetscapes. Proposed land uses include a grocery store, convenience retail, commercial office, residential condominiums and other mixed-uses. On-site demolition activities and environmental work are underway.

Cantey Bay Plantation, a lakefront property encompassing over 3,980 acres in Clarendon County, features over two miles of frontage on Lake Marion and represents one of the largest undeveloped lakefront parcels in the region. The master plan for the development will be mixed-use in nature and Jack’s Creek Marina will be one of the main amenities.

Embracing over 2,000 acres, Kiawah River Plantation is handsomely situated on South Carolina’s legendary eastern seacoast with over 1.5 miles of Kiawah River frontage, including acres of marshes, lakes and estuaries. The property features some of the most beautiful coastal acreage remaining available for development anywhere in the country. The master plan for the development is also mixed-use, feature a variety of housing options and attractive amenities.

Located in Savannah, Georgia Parkside at the Highlands is a planned 317-unit apartment home community sitting on 22.7 acres of developable land at the intersection of Jimmy DeLoach Parkway and Benton Boulevard. In the heart of the booming Godley Station, the Class ‘A’ community will feature 1, 2 and 3-bedroom floorplans fronting a protected wetland park on the south side of the property and will offer an array of luxurious amenities.

 The company looks forward to what lies ahead and is proud of the developments that have been completed in its 64-year history.