Iconic Charleston Waterfront Restaurant Fleet Landing Turns 15 | Eater Carolinas

"For years I’ve gone to Fleet Landing to enjoy the she-crab soup and fried seafood while taking in waterfront views of the Charleston Harbor. I spoke with husband-and-wife co-owners Tradd and Weesie Newton ahead of their 15th anniversary celebration, a run of “15 Days of Fleet” that starts this Friday and will feature 15 oysters on the half shell for the price of a dozen, a “birthday beer” brewed by Low Tide Brewing, and a new special each day. The restaurant is housed in a retired 1940s naval building that had been boarded up for about 25 years; city rules prevented exterior changes, so architect Reggie Gibson focused on mimicking the building’s former interior after the owners had to rebuild the entire foundation. The 100% concrete structure has largely avoided major flooding and hurricane damage over the last 15 years. Nine current employees have been there since the first year, and notable diners have included Alex Rodriguez, Matthew Stafford, and Trace Atkins. Inside, charming touches like the iconic wall of bright orange life jackets (which Weesie found in their garage) and a star sticker on the glass between two back tables (added after guests kept walking into it) have become photo-worthy features. Since opening on November 30, 2004, Fleet Landing has served an estimated four million guests; because many people come specifically for certain dishes, the core menu hasn’t changed much, though the specials list has expanded, and the “15 Days of Fleet” concludes on November 30 with birthday cake and a 5 p.m. champagne toast." - Parker Milner