Editor’s Note: Then vs. Now is a new ongoing history series featuring today’s landmarks on Isle of Palms and their past developments from yesteryear.
In the 1930s, few residents lived on the island full-time. Karl Klump and his wife, Ruth, were some of the earliest neighbors to reside here year-round.
As owner of Hardaway Construction and the manager of the Isle of Palms, Karl was instrumental in getting the bridge to Sullivan’s Island built, according to his granddaughter Sue Klump Meagher. Meagher, who was born in 1957, said that some of her earliest childhood memories took place in her grandparents’ Front Beach building.
Meagher said Klump also owned the original post office building, which he leased to the government. Before leaving to fight in both World Wars, Karl served as postmaster. In his absence, Ruth took over as postmistress, an unusual role for a woman during those times, and went on to serve in the position for 23 years.
In March 1957, Wallace and Elizabeth Burgis moved their family from Bradenton, Florida, to the Isle of Palms. In 1962, the Burgis’ took out a 99-year lease on the Klump’s property and used the building as storage space for their full-service cafe called the Palms Seafood Restaurant. Located next to the Seaside Condos, the popular beach joint was originally equipped with just six barstools and two tables and served fried creek shrimp and the coleslaw for which Elizabeth had become renowned. Over the years they expanded the restaurant to include 12 barstools and seating for more than 250 patrons.
When Ruth passed away in the mid-1980s, Meagher’s father took ownership of the property. In 1989, Hurricane Hugo swept through the island and destroyed the Palms. One of the Burgis’ sons, Malcolm, former mayor and an owner of the adjacent Windjammer since 1972, took over the lease of the Klump’s property. He then rented the building to Bo Stallings, who opened the Island Times Beach Shop there in March 2007. Stallings said he sold necessities for a perfect day at the beach such as towels, T-shirts, beach chairs, sunglasses, boiled peanuts and seaside souvenirs, along with local works of art. In 2013, his lease ran out and he said the time had come to follow another path. Stallings now runs a local property management company.
As restaurateur of the neighbor-ing Windjammer, Malcom saw an opportunity to turn the then vacant building into a beach shack with great food, drinks and live music. Together with his friend and 10-year employee Bret Jones, he transformed the space into a Key West-inspired bar called The Dinghy. That was in 2014. Eleven years later, the venue is still a local favorite, thanks in part to Jones and his crew, which includes Shannon Lindsay, Rachael Antognioni and Liz Mulkeen, who have been part of the team at The Dinghy since the very beginning.
In addition to the friendly and experienced staff, The Dinghy offers a spacious side porch where guests can enjoy listening to bands such as Billy and the Goats from 7-10 p.m. As a sidebar, Billy Meagher, the musician, is also the husband of the building’s current owner, Sue Meagher.
Known for their local brews on tap and the regulars’ favorite Jagerbombs, The Dinghy serves one brand of wine, called Porch Pounder. Options include rosé, chardonnay, pinot grigio, sparkling, pinot noir or cabernet. “It’s wine in a can so it’s not fancy,” Lindsay said. “But it’s good. And the brand matches our concept to keep it easy and simple, yet surprisingly good.” Drink specials are available during happy hour every weekday from 4-7 p.m.
Folks from near and far return to The Dinghy time and again for appetizer options such as jumbo wings with an array of rubs and sauces from buffalo and teriyaki to mango habanero and honey sriracha, served with ranch or blue cheese. Other crowd pleasers include mozzarella sticks with marinara or the “Dirty Elvis Fries,” sweet potato fries topped with warm peanut butter, crispy bacon and fried plantains. Lindsay said that The Dinghy cheeseburger is a classic, as is the French dip, the club, the fried bologna, buffalo chicken wrap, Philly cheesesteak, panini-pressed Cuban or fish and chip basket. On the lighter side, The Dinghy also offers an Asian salad with sesame dressing, The Dinghy salad with blue cheese crumbles or a Caesar salad. Children enjoy choices from the kid’s menu such as a grilled cheese, chicken fingers or a PB&J.
Next time the beach calls for lunch, happy hour or a low-key dinner, enjoy a cold one with the long-standing team at The Dinghy and feel the love. Thanks to the history of the iconic building, the Klump, Meagher and Burgis families, as well as locals and visitors, have become inexorably intertwined.
By Sarah Rose
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