Embrace The Charm of Historic Charleston

The first structure at this location was occupied by the Charleston Theatre, which opened in December of 1837. The two-story brick building was designed to resemble Schinkle’s Royal Theatre of Berlin, Germany. Unfortunately, the theatre fell victim to the devastating 1861 downtown fire and remained in ruins for 13 years amidst the economic turmoil of the Civil War.

In 1874, Enoch Pratt, a renowned Baltimore philanthropist, acquired the property and divided it into four lots. He sold the two northern lots to Adolph Tiefenthal, a German immigrant. Tiefenthal commissioned D.A.J. Sullivan to construct the current 2,800 sq. ft. structure on Meeting Street, boasting innovative piped water throughout. The ground floor served as a saloon/restaurant and German beer and wine wholesale, while Tiefenthal and his family resided on the upper floors, following the common practice of the era.

Following Tiefenthal's passing, his widow married Francois Obdebeeck Jr. in 1878, son of the esteemed proprietor of Charleston's Pavillion Hotel. For the subsequent six years, the Obdebeecks resided here, with 'Missus O' assuming the role of head saloonkeeper, establishing a comfortable living in this residence.

In 1886 the the Obdebeecks retired their business and leased the property to the Atlantic Brewing and Ice Company, the first enterprise in Charleston to offer mechanically refrigerated ice.

In 1981, extensive renovations expanded the property, transforming it into the Meeting Street Inn, which flourished until its parent company collapsed in the late 1980s. Despite operating under receivership, the inn fell into disrepair, exacerbated by extensive damage from Hurricane Hugo in September 1989, leaving this formerly elegant establishment in a state of neglect.

Frances F. Limehouse acquired the property in 1992 and immediately began extensive renovations. An accomplished innkeeper, Mrs. Limehouse also undertook the restoration of our sister hotels, the Indigo Inn at 1 Maiden Lane and the Jasmine House at 64 Hasell Street.

Meeting Street Inn seamlessly blends timeless charm with modern comforts in Charleston's historic district. Continuous renovations, including recent updates to the lobby, pool area, and guest rooms, reflect the Inn's commitment to excellence while preserving the building's rich heritage.