It’s where locals shop for groceries at Harris Teeter and other establishments onsite which include eateries, a liquor store, wealth management services and even a veterinary clinic. But there’s a lot more to the complex than just running daily chores.
For decades, long before the Harris Teeter and the other businesses existed, the only building on the site was the Red and White supermarket. In fact, many former and longtime island residents still refer to the grocery store using that moniker. It was a small stand-alone structure with a vacant lot on either side and plenty of parking in front.
One former resident who grew up on the island in the 1960s remembers there would be an annual nickel carnival on the lot to the right of the building. “You’d purchase a ticket for a nickel and then use it for various carnival activities – a tractor hayride, a rope ladder, etc. I believe the Exchange Club put it on for the island kids.”
For the younger ones, there was the stationary mechanical horse ride in front of the store, a standard feature that, in those days, most groceries had near the entrance. Put a coin in the slot and instantly the rider was off and running – well, in place. The location of the popular attraction at the entrance was important since it caught the attention of small children who accompanied their mothers entering the store. Mom would always remind the little ones that the ride awaited them afterward if they behaved while shopping inside.
Older kids enjoyed the Red and White, too, especially boys. It had a good comic book rack and teen boys could look forward to the day when they would be hired for the coveted job of bag boy.
Former island resident Greg Butler once worked as a bag boy. One of his tasks was to bag ice that was produced in an ice machine in the back stock room. He would then put the bags into freezers in the front of the store for purchase. “I worked there for quite some time,” he recalled. “Had a guy give me an $85 tip one time for helping him with bags of ice for his boat. We had at least two grocery carts full and loaded them into the man’s truck. He was going to the marina to head offshore. That was probably 1977 or ‘78.”
Every youngster on the island knew that the Red and White held the distinction of being the redemption center for discarded soft drink bottles. That knowledge was significant, since collecting the glass bottles and turning them in meant earning a bit of change – 5 cents per bottle – which was spent immediately to buy a candy bar.
One former island resident described her routine of walking on the beach with her dog from their home on 31st Avenue and then stopping into the Red and White to buy each of them an ice cream sandwich. The dog sat patiently outside while waiting for her to bring his frozen treat out to him.
Gerald Hart, who lived on the island decades ago, remembered the store’s amiable atmosphere. “A 5-minute stop would likely take 45 minutes because the employees were so friendly,” he explained. Hart said he stops by the store whenever he’s in town because it still displays “old-time friendly.” Another former resident recounted the time he got to the checkout counter and realized he’d forgotten his wallet. The store manager told him to just sign the receipt and pay later.
Before the Red and White was built around 1960, island residents had to venture over to Ogletree’s at Station 22 on Sullivan’s Island for their grocery shopping. So the store on Palm Boulevard was a welcome addition to both young and old. And it was air conditioned! That was a real plus for kids who had been riding their bikes and had stopped in for a Coke. Not to mention that the coolness of the red and white checkerboard tile floor provided welcome relief for their bare feet.
Eventually, a hardware store was built next to the Red and White. Later, a beauty salon. Little by little, the property transformed into its current identity. Regardless of what you call it now, Island Center is still the place that residents rely on for their creature comforts.
By Mary Coy
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