The business stories that defined Charleston in 2025 told of a region still attracting transformational investment while adjusting to a real estate market that finally cooled from pandemic extremes.

Google’s $9 billion commitment to its Berkeley County data center campus ranked among the largest economic development deals in state history. The tech giant’s expansion cements the Lowcountry’s position in the data center corridor emerging along the I-26 corridor.

Boeing matched that ambition in its own way. The $1 billion expansion of the North Charleston campus, requiring at least 1,000 new production employees, signaled renewed confidence in the 787 Dreamliner program after years of challenges. Orders for the widebody jet hit their second-highest annual total, validating the company’s commitment to its South Carolina operations.

The housing market’s normalization shaped decisions from household finances to development planning. Home values grew just 1%, the slowest annual gain in a decade. Inventory tripled from pandemic lows. The fever broke, creating opportunities for buyers who’d been locked out while forcing sellers to adjust expectations.

Retail told a mixed story. King Street saw continued evolution as longtime stores closed and new concepts arrived. The balance between national chains and local merchants continues shifting.

The restaurant industry weathered its own pressures. Closures of established spots like Charleston Grill and Fuel Cantina made headlines, but new openings continued and Michelin’s first Southern guide validated the city’s culinary stature.

Looking ahead, the region’s fundamentals remain strong. Job growth continues across multiple sectors. Migration from higher-cost metros persists. Major infrastructure investments are underway. The challenges are real—affordability, traffic, infrastructure strain—but the trajectory points toward continued growth in 2026.