For generations of Charleston locals, Citadel cadets, service-industry workers and downtown regulars, Big John’s Tavern has been more than just a bar. It has been one of those places woven into the fabric of Charleston nightlife—a place where strangers could walk in, grab a drink and, as the old slogan promised, “come as a stranger and leave as a friend.”
Now, the future of the longtime East Bay Street establishment is uncertain amid financial and legal troubles surrounding its ownership group.
Big John’s Tavern, located at 251 East Bay Street, traces its history to 1955, when Charleston native and former New York Giants linebacker John “Big John” Canady opened the tavern. The bar became particularly associated with Citadel cadets and downtown workers and developed a reputation as a quintessential Charleston dive bar. …