Making History at The Pinch

The past is everywhere in Charleston. It’s a city that is steeped in history, particularly when it comes to its architecture. In fact, Charleston created the nation’s first historic district in 1931 in order to preserve a group of structures— churches, private homes and municipal buildings in every style including Georgian, neo-Classical, Victorian, Gothic, from modern development. “It is known as the birthplace of the American historic preservation movement,”  says Brian Turner, the President & CEO of the Preservation Society. The city takes preservation seriously— there’s even a Low Country palette by landscape (marsh, island, village) set by the Charleston Historic Foundation. 

So when Method Co. purchased a series of adjoining lots on the corner of King and George Streets in downtown Charleston in 2020, the team faced challenges far more complex than paint colors. Method Co, with the help of Morris Adjimi, the New York based architecture firm, made every effort to adhere to the city’s exacting guidelines. “For us, Charleston’s preservation regulations aren’t a constraint—they’re a guide, “ says Adjimi. “ At The Pinch, every detail was carefully considered to honor the city’s rich design heritage while introducing a modern hospitality experience. Inside and out, our goal was to blur the line between new and old, so the transition feels seamless.”

This labor of love was also a challenge in logistics. The lots held two original Victorian-style structures so Method Co. set about preserving, restoring and rebuilding the structures into what is today Pinch Hotel, a boutique luxury hotel. The property's rich history—from its origins as "The Quinte" billiards hall serving WWI servicemen to the beloved Bob Ellis shoe shop to the historic Lequex Williams (dating back to 1843), which now houses the award-winning Southern-inspired tavern Lowland, lives on through soulful and authentic design.    

It was a great honor for The Pinch hotel to earn the Pro Merito award from the Preservation Society of Charleston in 2023. The award was announced at the 70th annual Carolopolis Awards Gala—the organization’s annual recognition of exemplary preservation projects in Charleston and the Lowcountry.