Restaurant on back burner

Upper King Street location once housed popular Rabens Tavern

A restaurant planned for the former Rabens Tavern space in downtown Charleston has been put on the back burner as the developer pursues other ventures.

Dean Preston Johnson bought the aging two-story property at King and Line streets earlier this year and has been renovating it using environmentally friendly building techniques and materials. For decades, the spot housed Rabens Tavern, a popular peninsula watering hole that closed in the 1970s and has remained vacant ever since, save for a few upper-level apartments.

Johnson had planned to transform the building's first floor into a restaurant and bar called Renew, specializing in organic cuisine made with local ingredients.

The construction work is continuing and should wrap up in about four months, but the developer said Thursday that he has decided not to open the dining spot.

"I've got other business interests I'm wanting to pursue," said Johnson, owner of Eco Design Partners in Charleston and a proponent of "green" construction techniques.

To wit, his King Street project is aiming for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, now a widely accepted benchmark.

Johnson said he hopes another restaurateur is interested in the site at 630 King, though he's open to other ideas.

"I'm trying to get a restaurant client with a similar vision (to Renew)," he said.

The building's upper floor has four residential condominiums, which Johnson will start pre-selling in about 30 days. The 700- to 900-square-foot, one-bedroom units will list for about $200,000 to $300,000, he said.

The residences will include such touches as energy-efficient appliances, solar-powered water heaters and commodes that run on rainwater.

Johnson has said he hoped the renovation project would be a catalyst for more development along the Upper King corridor.

The area is poised for major changes in coming years, with a number of hotel and mixed-use projects in the works.

Going forward, Johnson said, he hopes to devote more time to the recently formed Charleston Green Committee.

Launched by Mayor Joe Riley, the panel aims to find ways for the city and state to address climate change issues. As a committee member, Johnson said he hopes to push the city toward more sustainable development in the future.

"That's what my passion is," he said.

Reach Caroline Fossi at cfossi@postandcourier.com or 937-5524.