This organization has been the driving force in Southeastern real estate for more than half a century.

The Beach Company, based in Charleston, SC, is ranked as one of the largest privately held companies in South Carolina, according to the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce. J.C. Long founded the company in 1945 when he purchased the city of Isle of Palms and began developing its raw land. This operation would eventually become a driving force in Southeastern real estate.

Long’s vision included a standard of performance in every aspect of his organization, which has been showcased over the years through his landmark realizations—from the Isle of Palms to Kiawah Island, Seaside Farms, The Bristol, Majestic Square, and the Charleston Regional Business Center.

The Beach Company has four integrated divisions: development, property management, and residential and commercial brokerage. According to company materials, those divisions exemplify the power of performance by striving to continuously improve the company’s return on investment.

In 1988, The Beach Company purchased all of the undeveloped land and resort amenities on the world-renowned, 10,000-acre barrier island of Kiawah, located on the coast of South Carolina. To date, it is the largest real estate transaction in the state’s history. The organization was the lead developer of various residential portions of the island and resort through 1997.

Majestic Square, headquarters for The Beach Company and another one of its landmarks, is a nationally acclaimed retail and commercial development in downtown Charleston. It features successfully blended office space and retail, including Saks Fifth Avenue, as well as structured parking—all in a historically sensitive architectural style.

Up on top
The Beach Company has been named to the 22nd Annual South Carolina Top 100, a ranking of the state’s privately owned companies based on net revenue for the most recently completed fiscal year. The Beach Company was named 38th on the list of 100 companies compiled by Grant Thornton, LLP, in cooperation with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

To qualify, companies must be privately held, headquartered in South Carolina, and cannot be a subsidiary or division of another company. The Beach Company ranked second in the $50 million to $99 million portion of the list. 2006 list members represent total revenues of $19.8 billion, a significant increase in comparison to last year’s $15 billion.

“The board of directors, stock-holders, executives, and staff at The Beach Company are thrilled to be a part of this list yet again and are honored to be counted among some of the most influential organizations in the state,” said John Darby, president and CEO of The Beach Company. “We strive for excellence on a daily basis and take tremendous pride in our accomplishments.”