Craig Conover, co-owner of Sewing Down South and cast member on Bravo TV’s “Southern Charm,” greets customers at the flagship store on King Street in downtown Charleston on May 15, 2026, its five-year anniversary.
Sewing Down South, co-owned by “Southern Charm” cast member Craig Conover, closed its doors for several days this week for renovations, re-opening in time to celebrate the flagship store’s five-year anniversary.
Just after 10 a.m., Conover peeled off the paper as he smiled and waved at the shoppers waiting in line through the glass windows. The local entrepreneur, who also co-owns restaurant By The Way, said he is grateful the home goods and apparel shop is a memorable part of people’s Charleston experience.
“So many people come to the store, and we want them to feel like it’s a new experience when they walk in,” Conover told The Post and Courier.
The new store layout includes a prominent pillow wall, displaying Sewing Down South’s signature product in a variety of patterns and colors. On the other side of the store is their apparel, including hats, sweatshirts and T-shirts with phrases like “What’s wrong with my sewing?” and other familiar store logos.
A wall with colorful, large spools of thread and a neon sign that says “Sew What” offers a photo backdrop for customers who visit the store.
One corner will be dedicated to entrepreneurs, highlighting local makers and their products, Conover said. The rotating monthly spotlight will start with Trista Kutcher, known as Trista the Barista, who owns a sewing business.
Conover said his favorite items in the store right now are the candles, specifically the tomato and thyme fragrance.
“I try to make them smell like my parents’ house,” he said.
The renovations started after the store closed at 4 p.m. on May 11 and were completed by 1 a.m. the day of the re-opening, said business partner Jerry Casselano. All of the custom shelving was done by local business TB&T Woodworking, he added.
Conover said they would not have been able to pull off the renovations without their “incredible” team.
As the first group of customers started filing into the store, the line outside still stretched down the block. Nicoletta Dellaratta, who stood in line with her suitcase, just arrived in Charleston for her friend’s bachelorette trip. As the maid of honor, she rushed to the store to get a photo with Conover and ask him to make a video for the bride.
Reagan Thornley said she arrived just before 8 a.m. and was the first person in line. She wore her law school graduation hood as she was set to graduate from Charleston Law School — where Conover attended — the following day.
“I admire his entrepreneurial spirit,” Thornley said. She hoped to take a photo with him in her graduation garb to display in her office when she gets her first job out of school.
Conover co-founded Sewing Down South with business partners Casselano and Amanda Latifi in 2018. The flagship store on King Street opened in May 2021. Last summer, Conover announced a partnership between Sewing Down South and Belk’s premier private label Crown & Ivy.
