HANAHAN, S.C. (WCBD) – The owner of a fitness training company in Hanahan that has been working with kids and adults for a few years is calling on the community to help keep his business open.

Kendrick Robinson opened The Factory Sports and Fitness Training in Hanahan a year before the coronavirus pandemic hit the United States to help train people in basketball, football, and other athletics.

“It was something that God brought to me. He gave me a vision,” said Robinson. “I wanted to have a facility where the youth in our community could (better) selves and have a safe place where they can come and train.”

“He always helps out. He helps out with kids like schoolwork and stuff like that before training,” said Christian Gray, who has been coming to the program for four years.

Robinson said working with the youth is his passion. But things have been tough financially, he said.

“Our rates are really not expensive, but if they’re not able to do training, we try to do charitable giving would give out free sessions,” explained Robinson.

He went on to say, “We kind of gotten [sic] to a rough patch since Covid. We had a business plan, and it kind of altered all of that, and we’ve been playing catch-up ever since.”

Robinson decided Sunday to let the public know they might have to close next month and started a GoFundMe in hopes of finding some assistance.

“Not something I wanted to go public with, but closed mouths don’t get fed. God revealed that to me, he told me to make sure I keep this place open and get the help that we needed from the community. The response has been, man amazing.”

More than $2,500 has already come in from the community, of the $10,000 they need.

“It’s been amazing to get all the feedback and support from the supporters we’ve had over the years and knowing that we’re doing the right thing just by being transparent with the community and letting them know that it hasn’t always been easy.”

If you would like to help, please click here.

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCIV) — Some Hanahan residents are unhappy about potential plans for a new apartment complex.

The plot is 17 acres of land near Tanner Hall. Right now the land is zoned for single-family use, but the developer wants to change it to multi-family use to build about 300 apartments.

"It's zoned single-family dwellings and it would hold about 70 additional homes. It's up for rezoning now," said Sean Kennedy, a Tanner Hall resident of 16 years. "I want to point out- this is for the second time in less than six months."

Kennedy says he wants the acres to be homes since that is what the land is zoned for. There are signs all throughout the neighborhood saying, "Say no to re-zoning."

"We have more apartments than what is needed," Kennedy said. "You can go half a mile, a 5-minute walk, and there are hundreds and hundreds of apartments."

"They are going to negatively affect my home, my community, my neighborhood, and my quality of life," said Brittany Wood, a Tanner Hall resident of two years.

The developer, Panther Resident Management, feels differently than the residents. They are requesting the City of Hanahan to re-zone the property.

"We think this project is a huge win-win for the City of Hanahan," said Eric Wardrop, principal at Panther Residential Management. "There are housing shortages all over Charleston. Hanahan is no different."

The planning commission meeting was supposed to happen Tuesday night but now is pushed to February. Wardrop said they have been meeting with city officials and residents to build the best plan for the community.

"[The current plans] included shifting buildings, enhancing landscaping buffers, enhancing security and procedures throughout the complex, fence around the gated community," said Wardrop. "A project like this is not detrimental to Hanahan where housing is expensive; not a lot of affordable options."

Still, Tanner Hall residents are concerned.

"No one wants to see Hanahan become a sea of apartment complexes like you can see in other parts of Charleston," said Wood.

The next planning commission meeting for the City of Hanahan is on February 2.

HANAHAN — The couple who brought you Nigel’s Good Food and Nigel’s Good Food II, as well as Slaughter House BBQ & Brew, has added another restaurant to their growing portfolio.

Nigel’s Good Food Hanahan is now open in Bowen Village at 7000 Bowen Pier Drive.

The new restaurant is an extension of the original Nigel’s Good Food that owners Nigel and Louise Drayton opened in 2011 at 3760 Ashley Phosphate Road, where Nigel continues to serve items like fried pork chops and whiting, okra soup and Nigel’s famous fried “Geechie Wings” that are tossed in a house-made sauce you can now purchase in a bottle.

In 2016, the Draytons added a second Nigel’s Good Food in Ladson to meet rising demand. Slaughter House BBQ & Brew opened three years later at 9616 U.S. Highway 78 in a former uniform shop next to Nigel’s Good Food II.

The couple managed all this while raising five children.

The Draytons opted to add a third Nigel’s Good Food location in November 2022 to reach an audience that prefers to stay close to home, Nigel said.

“The area is just beautiful,” he said. “We wanted to kind of venture out from our norm, and I think Hanahan was the best place to do it.”

The restaurant, which seats about 50 people, serves many of the staples from the other two Nigel’s locations with a few new additions, such as chicken with biscuits and fried pickled okra.

Nigel’s Good Food Hanahan is open 4-10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Those hours will eventually expand to include lunch, the Draytons said.

For more information, visit nigelsgoodfood.com.

Pizza boxes filled with tacos have become a signature item at El Molino Supermarket, a Mexican restaurant and grocery that opened at 1610 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. in 2020.

Visit the unassuming West Ashley spot during lunch and you’ll quickly realize there’s a growing appetite for thoughtfully prepared, ingredient driven Mexican cuisine in Charleston.

North Charleston residents will soon be able to get in on the action a little closer to home.

El Molino, owned by Jaime Tinoco and Pamela Sierra, will add a second location at 5900 Rivers Ave., in the space previously occupied by Old Time Pottery. Set to open in February, the new supermarket and taqueria is about three times the size of the West Ashley original, said Tinoco, who hails from Guadalajara, Mexico.

“When I first opened that one, I was thinking that location would be enough for me,” said Tinoco, who also owns La Tapatia and Guadalajara Supermarket. “Now we don’t have (any) space.”

In addition to its scratch kitchen, El Molino offers a selection of Mexican pantry items, produce and beverages. And since the end of 2021, when Tinoco and Sierra ordered machines from Mexico and added a tortilleria, El Molino has become one of just a handful of places in Charleston selling house-made tortillas in bulk.

Local restaurants like Azul Mexicano, Taco Boy and Santi’s, among many others, now place weekly orders for fresh corn tortillas from El Molino, which translates to “the mill” in English. (A nod to the mill that’s used to process corn and make tortillas.)

The forthcoming North Charleston location will also be equipped with an in-house tortilleria, though this one will churn out both corn and flour tortillas. Desserts like house-made avocado ice cream and spicy mango popsicles made with fresh fruit will also be served at El Molino Supermarket North Charleston when it opens next month.

HANAHAN, S.C. (WCIV) — The only thing more silky smooth than Willie Brown’s swing is the smile he cracks while taking his cracks several times a week at the Hanahan Athletic Fields.

“I can run the bases. I can throw. I can hit, both sides. I can hit both sides.” says the affable 77-year-old North Charleston resident.

He’s a switch-hitting phenom. He still models his game after the greats of it.

“As a boy coming up, my two favorite players were Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. Both played CF and because of Mickey, I became a switch hitter. Those guys were my two idols coming up.”

Being out here, wonderful. His journey to get here after graduating from the old Bonds-Wilson HS, impactful.

“Hoped one day I’d have an opportunity to play, got out of the Army, Vietnam veteran, 64-67."

He found a tryout in Fernandina Beach, Florida, and what do you know? The unknown kid from South Carolina signed with the Montreal Expos.

“In 1969 and '70, I played with the West Palm Beach Expos Single A club. I was promoted to Quebec City, Expos AA. I led the league in hitting for half the season.”

Then, a crossroads. Playing seven days a week didn’t work for this 7th Day Adventist.

“I had to choose between God and baseball. Wanted to do this all my life, but the good lord brought me this far all my life- I’ll stick with God and beliefs. Nothing to do with ability. It hurt, but it was my choice.”

He chose a life of normalcy. He married and worked, he always loved baseball. Then, in 1995, at 50 years old, he found the Lowcountry Senior Softball Association.

He was just old enough to play.

“Treat me like I am one of their family members, joined in 1995 as the only African American on the team- treated me that time if I was a member and haven’t stopped yet. I enjoy the guys, comradery, friendship more than anything else. God first, my wife second, all these guys together in third place.”

He walked away from the game once. He doesn’t have to now.

“I’m going to die, maybe on the field, but I’ll be with these fellas as long as I can, as long as I live.”

For more information on the softball league, click here.

Since 1999, all sources remain confidential. [email protected] or 225.229.3429

Fleming Island (FL): Chad Parker has accepted the head coaching job.

Loyola Academy (Wilmette, IL): Loyola Academy is looking to hire a new head coach. The Head Football Coach is responsible for staffing at all aspects of the Football Program (Freshman A/B, Sophomore and Varsity), scheduling opponents (in conjunction with the Athletic Director), strength & conditioning (off season & in season program), and coaching team members. Interested parties can apply via this link.

Western (Las Vegas, NV): Western HS is completing its new staff and has openings for coaches at multiple positions. Coordinator positions will be considered for qualified candidates. There are several teaching and non faculty positions on campus. Candidates with college experience or HS coordinator experience will be given preference. Candidates seeking teaching positions must have or be able to obtain a Nevada Teachers License. Interested applicants should contact Athletic Director John Norton at [email protected].

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Loyola Academy (Wilmette, IL): After 17 years, and three state titles head coach John Holecek is retiring from coaching high school football.

Glazier Clinics: You don’t want to miss out on these cutting-edge football talks. Gain an edge next year over your opponent → https://www.glazierclinics.com/coaching-clinics-2023

Wellington Community (FL): Wellington Community HS is seeking applicants for the position of Varsity Head Football Coach. The selected candidate will oversee, and be responsible, for the all operations related to the football program. This will include all three teams - Freshmen, JV and Varsity. If you are interested in applying, please forward your résumé, letter of interest, and the contact information for at least three references to Athletic Director, Robert Callovi, via email at [email protected].

Hanahan (SC): Hanahan HS has an opening for a Head Football Coach/teaching position (position TBD). We are a 3A school, located just outside of Charleston, SC in the Berkeley County School District. All interested applicants should apply at www.bcsdschools.net and email a letter of interest and resume to our Athletic Director Kim Joseph at [email protected]. The position will close on December 29.