Copyright Charleston Post and Courier
CHARLESTON — Fire officials are investigating a partial building collapse on King Street that occurred next door to a famous barbecue joint on Oct. 31. In a post on X just before 4 p.m. on Halloween, the Charleston Fire Department said first responders were on the scene at 1001 King Street for a reported roof collapse. Crews found damage on the outer walls of the vacant building and isolated the area around the building. This included a small apartment building just south of 1001 King and the outdoor patio of Rodney Scott’s BBQ, which sits on the north side of the building. "We are open, business as usual, but our drive through is blocked off," Rodney Scott told The Post and Courier on Nov. 1. He added that he was asked to keep the drive through closed until the building is secured. No injuries were reported in the incident, the fire department’s X post said. Police blocked off King Street between Cleveland and Grove streets to assist the fire department, according to a police department post on X. Traffic is being rerouted to Rutledge Avenue. The street was still blocked off the morning of Nov. 1, and crime scene tape roped off the sidewalk along both sides of King Street. Yellow spray paint adorned the front of the vacant building, spelling out “STAY OUT,” “DO NOT ENTER,” and “UNSAFE” on the painted white brick. A couple windows on the upper floor had panes broken out. The building is owned by St. Johns Masonic Temple Lodge, who purchased it in 1981 for $78,500, according to county deeds. The Post and Courier reached out to the fire department for more information about the collapse and how long King Street will remain closed.
