Old navy base continues to attract investment

By Mike Switzer

Published July 21, 2022 at 5:30 AM EDT

After the navy base closed in Charleston, its prime location real estate has become home to many companies. One of those is a modern blacksmithing company that recently announced a $2.9 million expansion accompanied by increasing hiring plans. Mike Switzer interviews Robert Thomas, founder of Robert Thomas Iron Design in North Charleston, SC.

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Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

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