Construction is expected to be completed next month on Beaufort’s newest boutique hotel, and the first self service spot of its kind here in the area.
The Emerald will be opening up next month on Carteret Street in the old Boombears building. The toy store opened in the early 1990s, and after it closed, the location was the home office of the local company, Envirnoments Inc, until it also closed permanently in 2018.
The Emerald’s owner, Richard Callari, told us in an email that the new 12 suite hotel will start to take reservations the week of November 1st, and plans are for it to be fully operational starting December 1st.
Located on the Point side of Carteret Street, the original 4,555 square ft Boombears Building had received notoriety as the recipient of award-winning architectural design.
The original award winning building was designed by James G. Thomas, Jr, a popular Charleston architect who has also won awards for the design of the Observation Tower at The Sands in Port Royal, the pavilion at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, the Firehouse building on downtown’s Craven & Scott Streets, the Bray’s Island Gun Club, the Spring Island Golf Club, and also the Robert A. Kennedy Memorial Library at Drayton Hall in Charleston, among dozens of others. Thomas also won the Best Design Rehabilitation award from the South Carolina Downtown Development Association in 1990 for the restoration of the Beaufort Bank Building on Bay Street, which now houses Panini’s on the Waterfront.
By definition, boutique hotels offer a more luxurious experience to guests compared to regular hotels. They’re typically more unique, stylish, and they focus on giving comfort and quiet.
Also, self service hotels are gaining popularity all over the travel world. Front desk lines, manual check-in and concierge wait times are becoming a thing of the past as guests often crave more control and convenience within their stay. The self-service trend is leading the way to a future which prioritizes convenience at every turn.
The Emerald promises to bring the best of both to Beaufort SC.
Find more information and book your stay at The Emerald here. The new website should be live and taking reservations this week. You can also learn more about the hotel here.
Contributed article written by Gene Brancho
