Charleston’s well-known entrepreneurial couple Marc and Liz Hudacsko expand their culinary ventures with The Archer
Marc and Liz Hudacsko, recognized for their contribution to Charleston’s dining scene with their neighborhood-centered establishment Berkeley’s, are expanding their culinary ventures with the introduction of The Archer. The Archer aims to be a grown-up version of their other popular spot, promising an elevated dining experience to please the city’s food enthusiasts.
From Berkeley’s to The Archer
According to the couple, Berkeley’s was created with the mindset of being a neighborhood spot where regulars are seen multiple times a week. Their success with Berkeley’s, which began as a pop-up concept We Flew South, before moving into a brick-and-mortar location at Wagener Terrace in 2021, motivated them to further expand their operations. Speaking on the idea behind their new venture, Marc expressed their drive to create another spot that embodied their love for neighborhood, community, and quality dining, but with a more mature and elevated offering.
“We always envisioned doing something that was a grown-up cousin of what we do [at Berkeley’s]. It’s the place that’s super comfortable to come to a couple of times a week, if you want to treat it that way, or it could be a great special occasion place for you if that’s the way you want to look at it,” said Hudacsko.
What to Expect at The Archer
The Archer is not just a grown-up cousin for Berkeley’s in terms of ambience, but its menu too promises a hard-to-forget experience. Guests can look forward to dishes like short ribs, scallops, and chicken-fried grouper. Furthermore, The Archer’s location at 601 Meeting St, the former location of Gale Restaurant, ensures that patrons will get a different neighborhood vibe than Berkeley’s.
This new restaurant and bar aims to match its “grown-up” vibe with a menu of elevated fare. The emphasis is on comfort and natural evolution from Berkeley’s familiar offerings. “Comfortable classics with a spin” is how the chef Paul Farmer describes the food at The Archer. In addition to the food menu, there’s a strong focus on the cocktail program, a step up from Berkeley’s beer and wine only offerings, curated by Jimmy Chmielewski.
A New Foodie Destination in Town
While The Archer’s location in an unconventional dining out location might raise eyebrows, Marc sees potential in the new venue. He identified a pattern of foodie hotspots emerging in unconventional areas, and believes The Archer could join these ranks.
“Charleston, while it’s a pretty established city, I think we’re still finding so much of our identity, especially as we move up the peninsula. People live in parts of town that they didn’t use to live in, and they travel different roads…this is a part of town that’s on the edge of what its potential is,” he said.
Marc and Liz hope to capture regular diners and food enthusiasts with the charm of good food, comfortable ambience, and the assurance of a good time spent in a neighborhood spot. “If you build something great, people will find you. You just need the people who love your restaurant to really love it,” suggested Hudacsko, voicing his and Liz’s hopes for The Archer.
