Sunrise Bistro Takes Over West Ashley Cafe Space

The regional restaurant chain is securing a new location through an existing lease transfer in the Charleston market.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Vacant brick storefront with historic porch and iron details in Charleston, captured in soft morning light. — Sunrise Bistro is expanding its regional footprint by assuming the lease of the former Annie O Love's Cookie Cafe in West Ashley. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Sunrise Bistro is expanding into the West Ashley space formerly occupied by Annie O Love's Cookie Cafe. Owner Annie Oswald transferred the building lease to the incoming restaurant operator this October.

Why it matters

The lease transfer marks the exit of a specialized, allergen-friendly bakery operator and the continued regional scaling of Sunrise Bistro. Annie Oswald intends to shift her focus to her nearby business, Anahata Yoga.

Sunrise Bistro is taking over the site after growing from its 2009 origins on Johns Island to current operations in Mount Pleasant, Summerville, Goose Creek, and Beech Island. Annie Oswald, who opened her original cafe in 2017, will continue operating Anahata Yoga at the same center.

The players

Sunrise Bistro

A regional restaurant chain operating since 2009 with multiple locations across South Carolina.

Annie Oswald

A local entrepreneur who founded Annie O Love's Cookie Cafe in 2017 and Anahata Yoga in 2024.

The details

The transition occurs as the owner of the cookie cafe seeks to move on to new professional interests. The incoming operator, an established regional chain, assumes the existing lease for the bakery building on Ashley River Road. This allows the new tenant to bypass typical site-selection and permitting lead times required for new construction.

2009: Sunrise Bistro opens its first location on Johns Island.
2017: Annie Oswald opens Annie O Love's Cookie Cafe.
2024: Annie Oswald opens Anahata Yoga.
February 2026: Annie Oswald lists the bakery business for sale.
October 2026: Annie Oswald transfers the lease to Sunrise Bistro.

Market Landscape

This lease transfer follows the local trend of established regional restaurant brands absorbing specialized, smaller-footprint retail spaces as they continue to expand outside the downtown core. It illustrates how owners of adjacent businesses, like Anahata Yoga, strategically manage their portfolio footprints when exiting legacy operations.

Operators looking to downsize or pivot should monitor how lease transfers allow for seamless transition between distinct business models. Evaluate your own current lease agreements for assignment clauses that provide the flexibility to exit specific retail locations when refocusing on core assets.

The takeaway

The transfer demonstrates the value of maintaining clean lease documentation to facilitate quick business transitions. Monitor local real estate filings to identify which regional chains are actively seeking to scale into vacant, existing retail footprints.