Restaurant, entertainment venue opens in downtown Charleston

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When Michelle Van Jura moved from New York to Charleston a decade ago, she was shocked by the lack of entertainment options.

“I was so used to having the opportunity to visit a variety of nightlife venues, like comedy clubs and so forth, that it took me by surprise,” said Habit owner and partner, who, with two others, set out to change that with The Habit, located at 213 East Bay St. in the French Quarter neighborhood.

Van Jura, along with business partners Zach Dennis and Chef Matthew Greene, opened the 13,000 square foot entertainment complex in mid-August.

The venue, which is comprised of three floors and a rooftop lounge overlooking the Charleston Harbor, offers dining and entertainment for locals and tourists alike, with live music and theme nights.

"The one thing we really wanted to bring to our city was a greater variety of entertainment and unique experiences, so we found the perfect location, curated fantastic art, glamorous decor, and hired some of the best talent to bring it all to life,” said Van Jura, who admits that the project was a heavy lift made lighter by the confidence she had in her partners.

“The longest part of the process was finding the building,” said Van Jura, remarking on her partners’ bona fides. “Zach Dennis is an operational genius and Matthew Greene, who hails from Halls Chophouse in Greenville, helped the restaurant start their popular signature events,” she said.

And it doesn’t hurt that Van Jura herself has a background in public relations. “We’re like the perfect partnership, each with core competencies that complement each other,” she adds.

Those who visit the complex will find dining and an extensive bar on floor one. The space on floor two known as “V’s @ the Habit,” serves as a speakeasy and entertainment space, with live music on Fridays and Saturdays.

“We’ll be expanding our programming later to include comics,” said Van Jura, adding that they’re filling a niche with their music choices. “So many of the places cater to the college students, but there’s a demographic that wants to get out and dance to Motown, jazz, yacht rock, disco and 80-90s music. We wanted to provide that option,” Van Jura said.

The Habit is also taking reservations for private events like corporate meetings, Christmas parties, wedding rehearsals and more.

Van Jura describes the decor as a throwback to the 1920s’ art deco charm and elegance, with colors like indigo blue and emerald green, enhanced by warm lighting.

“It’s a decadent atmosphere with rich leather, sumptuous velvet and object d’art, making the space an exquisite blend of Americana, European and Asian aesthetics,” she said.

As for the food, Van Jura describes it as American cuisine with international flair and flavors. Guests will be able to tuck into items like hash browns with caviar, poutine and shakshuka. Lunch and dinner options will include burgers, sandwiches, a tomahawk ribeye, pan- seared chef’s fish, a charcuterie and cheese board and a robust salad selection, which will vary according to the season.

Wines are offered by the glass and bottle and cocktails harken back to a simpler era. “We’re bringing back some of the old drinks, like The Harvey Wallbanger and the Vesper,” said Van Jura.

“We are hoping the word spreads about everything we offer and more customers … will make our venue a habit,” said Van Jura.  

Stephanie Kalina-Metzger is a contributing writer for SC Biz News.