Bert’s at Folly Transcends with Selection, Hours, and Good Vibes

Hey Buc-ee’s, hold my beer, because I’m about to tell you about Bert’s Market – the Folly Beach quick stop that makes all others look like pretenders to the throne.  

This is not your average convenience store. During my first visit in many years, I walked in Bert’s around 6 AM. I was on my way back home and grabbed a cup of coffee and made my way to the register.  

When I went to pay, I was told that was not the way things worked at Bert’s. 

“Coffee is always free here.” 

“We may doze, but we never close” is Bert’s motto. They mean it, too. It’s open seven days a week, 365 days a year, supplying essentials to tourists and locals alike. 

It’s amazing how many items they have in this modest building, tucked a block from the beach and surrounded by beach homes. 

Yes, they have normal grocery store staples – the expected canned fruit, cold beer, and loaves of white bread. But there’s more. A lot more. They have fishing supplies, a deli, organic food, a hot food bar and, to make sure the music never stops on Folly, drumsticks, guitar strings picks and even cables. Jimmy Buffet would be proud. 

Bert’s, opened 30 years ago by the entrepreneurial Bert Hastings, is now owned by his daughter and her husband. Cap’n Bert is still a big part of this place, however. The founding father watched the comings and goings at his namesake store from a mural on the wall.  

The funkiness is ever-present in the store. It’s truly a beach vibe with a laid-back feel. The store’s marketing celebrates the fact that Bert’s is patronized by freaks, surfers, skaters, crunks, retirees, tourists, stoners, day-trippers, hippies, hipsters, and regular folk.  

I Googled crunk. It means crazy drunk. You’re welcome. 

While real estate doesn’t offer much room for expansion, the store has found a way - kind of. They went vertical and raised shelves a few feet to accommodate more product. 

Walking through this store is an adventure. It bears little resemblance to the average convenience store. Bert’s is more like a grocery store, bait and tackle shop, apparel store gift shop, and deli. It’s a lot to pack in. 

Bert’s is a place that just makes you feel better. It has a vibe unto itself. Walking up an aisle, customers see a sign that says, “Tell me something good that’s happened to you today.” You pick up the small fuzzy lapel mic and tell the camera about it. Chances are you will see it on their Facebook page.  

There is also a Wall of Wine and a Beer Cave. Hey, this is the beach. It should be noted, however, in accordance with Folly Beach ordinance, there are no alcohol sales between 2am – 6am.  

That only leaves 20 always-open hours to pick up that sixer.  

Sacrifice.