BY CHRISTINA KOZLOW

 

 

When Heath Seay began working as a sales associate at Tommy Bahama in the Belmond Charleston Place, he didn’t realize “concierge” was part of his job description. Seay, a 23-year-old local, found himself not only offering suggestions on where to go at night, but also being asked to join in on nights out. Remembering what his dad always said, “If you’re good at something, never do it for free,” Seay is now the owner and lead coordinator of Chuck@Nite.

Partnering with several venues on King Street, such as Mynt, Republic, Stars and Cocktail Club, Chuck@Nite, personally shows clients to the best places, granting them access to VIP sections, bottle service and even private rooms. Seay believes Charleston is big enough that there is always something going on, but small enough that networking like this can make a difference.

 Chucktown is the local nickname for Charleston, and for Seay, “Chuck” has become the company’s fictional character. #FindChuck is the hash tag, and the company uses “Chuck” as that one person who always seems to know where to go, what to do and who to talk to.

The Chuck@Nite experience begins before arriving at a venue, with a discussion of the goal and vibe of the night. Bachelorette parties may look forward to a more club-like atmosphere, for example, while some tourists would rather grab a beer and jam to a local band at a dive bar. No matter what the desired experience, Chuck @ Nite arranges transportation to and from the venue, and has at least one team member escort the party for the entire night to ensure VIP service.

“I got what I needed for all 100+ guest to have a good time,” says Joe Cristaldi, in his online Chuck@Nite testimonial. “We waited in no lines, had our own servers, drink specials and even had a private room opened up for my party.”

The four-person staff of Chuck @ Nite  can deliver different packages and levels of services, but they always make sure that clients spend the night like locals rather than falling into tourist traps. “Once we’re hired, our duty is to make sure everything is taken care of,” says Seay. “The only job of the clients is to enjoy their night out in Chuck.”

Besides being hired for private events, the Chuck@Nite staff also prides themselves on planning and hosting themed events. Not only do these events deliver a unique experience, but they always incorporate a charitable aspect. One of the biggest events, tentatively scheduled for June, will be the “Chucktown Funk You Up” bar crawl on Upper King. It will have a music theme, with each venue having a different musical genre and charity. Each ticket sale will be rewarded with a T-shirt, and donations over a certain amount will receive a ticket for an invite-only private performance by a local artist.

Seay not only prides himself on the service Chuck@Nite provides, but also the ability to turn his day job into an entrepreneurial adventure.