Defense Contractor Attorney Near Nexton, SC

BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCSC) - The Medical University of South Carolina is about to start construction on a 40-acre site in Berkeley County for a new hospital and cancer research center.

The MUSC Health Nexton Medical Center will be a five-story, 192,000-square-foot facility featuring a full-service emergency department, radiology services and 70 inpatient beds.

While smaller than MUSC’s flagship Charleston campus, which has 900 beds, hospital leaders describe the new location as a community-focused hospital that is designed to meet the needs of the region’s growing population.

“That population growth deserves the highest quality of care,” Chief Executive Officer of MUSC Health’s Charleston Division, Dr. Saj Joy, said. “We’re also getting a lot of transplants from other parts of the country that expect quality level care and MUSC Health delivers that in a special way. This hospital is a little different because it’s more of a community hospital, but with direct link and connection to our downtown peninsula quaternary hospital.”

Connected to the hospital will be a three-story, 30,000-square-foot Hollings Cancer Center. The center will provide infusion services and include a specialty pharmacy, giving patients in Berkeley County access to the same care available in downtown Charleston.

“The intent is to provide local care for those things that can be handled in a community setting up at Nexton,” Joy said. “But when it’s really tertiary and quaternary care, we want those patients brought down here with the level of expertise that we will retain downtown.”

Hospital officials say the project will help reduce strain on MUSC’s peninsula location, which has faced challenges with overbooking, while also eliminating the need for patients to travel downtown for many services.

The Hollings Cancer Center in Nexton is expected to open in summer 2027, with the hospital following in summer 2028. It will be the second major hospital in Berkeley County, alongside Roper St. Francis Berkeley Hospital, which is also expanding services.

Officials will be holding a groundbreaking event at 11 a.m. Thursday.

Downtown Nexton is expanding its lineup of dining and retail destinations with three new tenants scheduled to open later this year or in early 2026.

Neat & Noble Bourbon Bar and Discount Liquors are currently under construction, while an adjacent pad site anchored by FU-O BBQ nears completion. The additions continue the growth at the urban-inspired mixed-use development by Sharbell Nexton LLC.

Neat & Noble Bourbon Bar will occupy 3,595 square feet of retail space inside Lofts Downtown Nexton. The venue will feature an extensive bourbon selection, cocktails, bar snacks and light bites in what developers describe as a "refined yet approachable atmosphere." It will join iNails, Revive Health Studio, Clean Your Dirty Face, Wakey Bakey Bagels and Rita’s Italian Ice.

Discount Liquors will open in a 1,570-square-foot storefront on Metropolitan Avenue, offering a range of beer, wine and spirits.

The adjacent FU-O BBQ restaurant will introduce an interactive Korean barbecue dining experience, where guests can cook dishes at their tables. The 4,500-square-foot full-service restaurant will also serve sushi and Pan-Asian cuisine, with a curated menu of Korean appetizers, house-made sauces and specialty beverages. An additional 1,500 square feet of retail space will be included in the new building.

“The two new tenants, together with the FU-O restaurant, are a reflection of the diverse and dynamic experiences we’re cultivating here in Downtown Nexton,” said Tom Troy, president of Sharbell. “Downtown Nexton was designed to be a vibrant destination where dining, shopping, and entertainment come together. With the addition of Neat & Noble, Discount Liquors, and FU-O BBQ, we are continuing to deliver on that vision and provide residents and visitors with exciting new options.”

Downtown Nexton spans nearly 100 acres between Sigma Drive and Brighton Park Boulevard in the heart of the Nexton master-planned community. The development combines residential, commercial and recreational spaces, continuing to attract regional visitors while providing convenience to residents.