Babas Opened New Charleston Cafe on King Street

The local cafe has relocated its operations to a larger space formerly occupied by Rodney Scott's BBQ.

Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Openings & Closings

A historic brick cafe building in Charleston with an iron gate and a single bistro chair on the sidewalk. — Babas has opened its new cafe at 1011 King Street in Charleston, relocating to a 20 percent larger space that features a new production kitchen. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you prefer when local cafes offer expanded services like outdoor seating and beer?

Babas has opened a new cafe location at 1011 King Street in Charleston. The move transitions the business from its former site on Meeting Street to a space that is 20 percent larger.

Why it matters

The relocation allows Babas to scale its operations with a dedicated production kitchen for catering and events. The expanded footprint also provides increased customer seating and new amenities including outdoor areas and wine sales.

The new 1011 King Street cafe offers a 20 percent size increase compared to previous sites. The business operates Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The players

Babas

Babas is a Charleston-based cafe business that provides coffee, food, and catering services.

Rodney Scott's BBQ

Rodney Scott's BBQ is a well-known culinary entity that previously operated a restaurant at the 1011 King Street location.

The details

Babas has taken over the 1011 King Street storefront in Charleston following the departure of Rodney Scott's BBQ. The facility is equipped with a new production kitchen designed to support the brand's growing event and catering services.

Rodney Scott's BBQ closed its King Street location in May 2026.
Babas announced the transition to the new site in August 2026.
The new Babas location officially opened on October 2, 2026.

Market Landscape

This move highlights the competitive environment of the Charleston hospitality sector, where established brands aggressively compete for prime real estate on King Street. The transition follows the pattern of high-traffic commercial spaces cycling through well-known local operators.

Customers can now visit the expanded Babas location at 1011 King Street for daily service and catering inquiries. The new site offers enhanced amenities including outdoor seating and expanded wine offerings for local patrons.

The takeaway

Business owners looking to expand should prioritize sites with existing production infrastructure to streamline transitions. Relocating to higher-traffic corridors can also significantly enhance local brand visibility for daily cafe operations.