The struggling book industry will take another hit in February when the longtime Books-a-Million store closes in West Ashley.

The Birmingham, Ala.-based bookstore at 832 Orleans Road beside Best Buy hoisted a banner on the storefront over the weekend announcing its departure. It opened in 1994 across from Citadel Mall.

Store manager Jonathan Frasier said the store’s last day will be Feb. 16, but he declined to give a reason for the shop’s demise.

“I can’t disclose why we are closing,” he said.

All items in the store are marked down 20-50 percent.

The store has 14 employees.
Frasier said he doesn’t have plans for another job yet.
“I’ll find something,” he said.

The closing will not affect the sister store at Northwoods Mall.

Piggly Wiggly is putting its money where its mouth is.

As part of the Charleston-based company’s “Local Since Forever” advertising campaign, the grocery chain has launched a giveaway game promotion with over 500,000 instant prizes and discounts worth more than $1 million.

Each time a customer shops at a participating store through March 5, a shopper will earn a Local Since Forever Giveaway game ticket. For every $50 spent, a customer will earn a bonus ticket. Shoppers can earn up to five tickets per day. There is no limit on how much or how many times a customer can win, but the more one shops, the greater the chances of winning.

Major prizes include a $20,000 cash grand prize, plus an additional $5,000 for the winner to donate to the local school of his or her choice; five prizes for free groceries for a year; 15 prizes for free gasoline for a year; 50 prizes for $1,000 local getaways; and 1,000 prizes of local food prize packs.

For more information, visit your local Piggly Wiggly store or ThePigGiveaway.net.

The Tides Hotel, Blu Restaurant and Bar and Roasted coffeehouse on Folly Beach will be closed through Thursday for their annual winter cleaning.

The work includes new paint, refinished floors, steam-cleaned rooms, new bathroom fixtures and mattresses.

The hotel, restaurant and coffee shop will reopen Friday.

Want a free three-inch flatbread sandwich and coffee from Subway’s breakfast menu?

Then go to myfreebreakfast.com and select a time and day to visit a participating Subway during the sandwich’s trial period Jan. 28-Feb. 2.

The egg sandwich choices include bacon, egg and cheese; black forest ham, egg and cheese; and steak, egg and cheese. An egg white option is also available.

The promotion is available at Subways in the Carolinas and Augusta, Ga.

With the holidays over and most people’s pocketbooks tapped out, Patriots Point is again offering its special promotion of “Pay What You Can” on the first weekend of the new year.

On Saturday and Sunday, the naval and maritime museum will waive normal parking and admission fees and allow visitors to pay whatever they feel like they can afford.

Last year, the offer was for South Carolina residents only. This year, it’s open to everyone, regardless of where they live.

Normal admission rates are $18 for adults. Parking usually costs $5.
As always, military members in uniform and children under 6 are free.

For more information, go to www.patriotspoint.org.