Prohibition Charleston

What Prohibition Charleston does

Prohibition Charleston operates a single-location, 1920s speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar and restaurant at 547 King Street in Charleston, South Carolina, serving local residents and tourists with a premium nightlife and dining experience. The venue combines craft cocktails developed by Beverage Director Jim McCourt with modern Southern cuisine led by Chef Greg Garrison, supported by an extensive whiskey collection of 150+ selections and a curated wine program sourced from California, France, Spain, Italy, Argentina, and Greece. The infrastructure includes three bars, a large heated outdoor patio, and a main dining room with seating for 70 (120 standing), with full-venue private event capacity of up to 150 guests.

The business generates revenue through multiple streams: walk-in food and beverage sales (cocktails at $17, beer $6-$9, wine $14-$105), premium bottle service Friday and Saturday nights ($300-$750 with minimum spend), private event bookings for celebrations and corporate functions, gift card sales via Toast Tab, and ticketed holiday events through Eventbrite. Operations run seven days per week with daily live music programming across multiple genres and named local artists. Seasonal programming is anchored by the annual Sippin' Santa Tiki-themed Christmas pop-up (November 27 through New Year's Eve).

Go-to-market is overwhelmingly direct-to-consumer via the venue's website, social media artist spotlights, email, and physical walk-ins, with limited reservations outside of private events and special occasions. The company employs 33 staff, is privately held with no disclosed ownership, investors, or parent entity, and was recognized in Charleston City Paper's Best of Charleston 2020 under Best Downtown Bar and Best Cocktails. No funding rounds, acquisitions, or geographic expansions have been disclosed; all growth signals to date operate within the existing single location.

Name

Prohibition Charleston

Legal name

Prohibition Charleston

Website

https://prohibitioncharleston.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Prohibition Charleston is a 1920s speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar and restaurant on upper King Street in Charleston, SC, serving local residents and tourists with craft cocktails, modern Southern cuisine, an extensive whiskey collection, daily live music, private events for up to 150 guests, and seasonal Sippin' Santa pop-up programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cocktail Bar and Restaurant

NAICS

Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (72241)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Cocktail Bars & Lounges (CRANACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cocktail Lounges & Speakeasies (MPAGAIAD), Cocktail Bars & Speakeasies (THAFAEAE)

Keywords

• Craft cocktail bar
• Southern cuisine restaurant
• Live music venue
• Private event hosting
• Whiskey bar

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Food and Beverage Sales: Revenue from cocktails, wine, beer, and food sales. Cocktails priced at $17, beer $6-$9, wine $14-$105. Extensive whiskey collection available by the pour.
2. Bottle Service: Premium bottle service on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 10pm. Curated selection of Champagnes and Premium Spirits with complimentary mixers. Tables accommodate up to 12 people with minimum spend required. Spirits priced from $300-$750.
3. Private Event Bookings: Revenue from hosting private events including rehearsal dinners, weddings, corporate events, birthday parties, and bachelor/bachelorette parties. Three distinct areas available with full venue capacity up to 150 guests.
4. Gift Cards: Gift cards sold through Toast Tab platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Prohibition Charleston is a 1920s speakeasy-inspired cocktail bar and restaurant located at 547 King Street in Charleston, SC. The venue serves craft cocktails curated by Beverage Director Jim McCourt, an extensive whiskey and wine selection, modern Southern cuisine by Chef Greg Garrison, and live music entertainment seven days a week. It operates three bars with a heated outdoor patio, hosts private events for up to 150 guests, and runs seasonal pop-up concepts including the annual Sippin' Santa Tiki bar.

Product overview

Prohibition Charleston is a vintage-inspired 1920s speakeasy-style cocktail bar and restaurant located at 547 King Street. The venue operates as a unified hospitality offering combining craft cocktails, extensive wine and whiskey programs, sophisticated Southern cuisine by Chef Greg Garrison, and live music entertainment. The core products include specialty cocktails (including aged 547 Manhattan) and an extensive whiskey collection, supported by bottle service, a curated wine program, and draft/packaged beverages. Additional offerings include live music across multiple nights, weekend brunch service, and seasonal programming such as the annual Sippin' Santa Tiki-themed pop-up bar. Private event hosting for up to 150 guests across three distinct spaces rounds out the service portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sippin' Santa: Annual Tiki-themed Christmas pop-up bar operating from November 27th through New Year's Eve at Prohibition Charleston

Products and services

• Cocktail Bar Service On-premise bar service offering craft cocktails, wine, beer, and an extensive whiskey program for walk-in guests and diners. Inventive cocktails are developed by Beverage Director Jim McCourt.
• Restaurant Service Full-service restaurant offering modern Southern cuisine and elevated comfort food for dine-in guests and private event attendees.
• Brunch Service Weekend brunch service available Thursday through Sunday from 11am, featuring cocktail pairings and live music on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
• Bottle Service Premium bottle service available Friday and Saturday nights from 10pm to close, featuring curated Champagnes and Premium Spirits (vodka, tequila, rum, whiskey, cognac) with complimentary mixers. Tables accommodate up to 12 people and require a minimum spend; bottles range from $300 to $750.
• Private Event Space Bookable private event venue with three distinct spaces accommodating up to 150 guests for birthday parties, anniversaries, rehearsal dinners, weddings, corporate events, team banquets, and bachelor/bachelorette parties. Custom menus and bespoke cocktails available.
• Sippin' Santa Pop-Up Bar Seasonal Tiki-themed Christmas pop-up bar held annually from late November through New Year's Eve, featuring over-the-top tropical holiday décor, themed glassware, and festive programming across the venue's three bars and heated outdoor patio.
• Gift Cards Digital gift cards sold through the Toast Tab platform, redeemable at Prohibition Charleston.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Dead Rabbit: NYC speakeasy-style cocktail bar renowned for its punch and cocktail programs and historical taproom design. Comparable on speakeasy aesthetic, cocktail authority, and premium destination positioning.
• Please Don't Tell (PDT): Iconic NYC speakeasy cocktail bar accessed through a hidden entrance, known for cocktail authority and a tight, reservation-driven model. Comparable on speakeasy concept, cocktail authority, and premium destination positioning.
• Death & Co: Award-winning cocktail bar brand originating in NYC with multiple locations and a reputation-defining cocktail program. Comparable as a benchmark cocktail-authority concept where named beverage directors, rare spirits, and speakeasy-adjacent design justify premium pricing.
• Employees Only: NYC speakeasy cocktail bar with multiple global outposts and a benchmark craft cocktail program. Comparable on speakeasy design language, named mixologist culture, and late-night premium cocktail positioning.
• The Belmont: Charleston cocktail lounge and dining venue with craft cocktails, spirits program, and live entertainment. Directly comparable as an upscale cocktail-led Charleston bar competing for the same downtown discretionary spend.
• Church and Union Charleston: Upscale Charleston restaurant and bar combining modern cuisine, craft cocktails, and a lively bar scene. Comparable on full-service upscale positioning, cocktail program depth, and downtown Charleston discretionary customer base.
• The Macintosh: Charleston upscale restaurant and bar with craft cocktails, seasonal Southern-influenced cuisine, and live entertainment. Comparable as a Charleston-based cocktail-and-dining concept serving the same upscale discretionary segment.
• The Gin Joint: Charleston craft cocktail bar known for serious mixology, seasonal menus, and a no-reservations walk-in model. Highly comparable as a cocktail-authority concept operating in the same local market and competing for similar discretionary nightlife traffic.
• The Cocktail Club Charleston: Speakeasy-style cocktail bar in Charleston with elevated cocktails, spirits focus, and late-night service. Closely comparable on concept, target customer (cocktail enthusiasts), and Charleston upper King Street geography.

Emerging players

• Sweet Liberty: Miami cocktail bar and restaurant combining craft cocktails with elevated comfort food and a strong neighborhood-celebration atmosphere. Comparable as a cocktail-led, entertainment-driven concept serving a similar upscale discretionary customer base in a competitive nightlife market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prohibitionchs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Prohibition Charleston