NEIL LIPSITZ
Nostalgia on Bay Street
story by ROBIN COKER photos by PAUL NURNBERG
Having become a somewhat transient tourist town, with a consistent rotation of our beloved military families and retirees making Beaufort home, a “true local” can be hard to find. It is a rare and wonderful treat to sit down for tea with a fourth-generation Beaufortonian and listen to the tales of “the good ol’ days.” Our very own Lowcountry version of “Mayberry.” If you get the chance to sit across from Neil Lipsitz soak it up, he is one of the keepers of many of the local legends and passerby’s stories. Growing up in the heart of Beaufort on Bay Street, Neil has been a staple of our community for many years, not to mention his last name displayed above the doors of what used to be his family shoe store. The doors of his store may no longer be open; however, the locals know where to find the Lipsitz name.
Growing up in the 1960s, Neil paints a picture of heartfelt nostalgia, which looks nothing like today’s downtown Beaufort. Before the waterfront park ever existed, locals flocked to downtown Bay Street for all of their shopping. It was the “main hub” for whatever you needed. Everything was owned and run by locals, from clothing stores to banks, and everyone knew your name. It was a different time, he explains, a time when you could walk into the local pharmacy, Luther’s, and “put it on dad’s tab.” A stranger passing by wasn’t a stranger but a friend of moms who knew who you were and picked you up to give you a ride. When he needed to see the doctor, he would simply “walk on down.”
Neil was introduced to the love of his life, Michele Eisler, by a mutual friend; Michele was originally from Columbus, Ohio. They initially were corresponding by letters, phone calls, and occasional visits. After about nine months, he got up the courage, whisked her away to Disney World, and popped the question. No, he didn’t get on one knee in front of the castle in typical fashion… he had “an insider” who assisted him in a harp side proposal involving a special “will you marry me” as a menu item at Victoria and Albert’s. Plot spoiler… she said yes. Almost 28 years later, and they are still strong, Neil and his wife Michele will celebrate another year together this coming Halloween. They have a son, Adam, who is a senior software engineer in Columbia. They couldn’t be more proud (and perhaps send a silent subliminal prayer out for him to potentially meet “the one” and just maybe come back to our Lowcountry), but something tells me they will be happy with whatever he decides.
Neil pursued his higher education first at USC-Beaufort, then transferred to USC-Coastal Carolina University to finish his education. He graduated in 1980 with a B.S. in Business Administration, specializing in Management and Real Estate. After college, he returned home to Beaufort to carry out the family’s legacy and work for their department store on Bay Street. He also pursued his real estate skills and quickly discovered that his passion was in retail.
Neil followed in his father’s footsteps and opened his own store on Bay Street, right across from the family store where he spent his childhood. He began fitting shoes for local legends, travelers, and “celebrities” who stayed in town. He can still recall the exact style of shoe many of his customers would come to shop for, including Pat Conroy. He showed up daily to serve in this capacity until life had other plans and his health would no longer allow him to keep the doors open.
In 2010, he closed Lipsitz shoe store. Having grown up working alongside his father he learned that one of the most important things in life is always to treat everyone the same, regardless of race, socioeconomic background, age, or past. This trait has often been tied to Neil’s reputation, just ask Tom Hanks. He has many stories of his interactions, and even a few cameo appearances, with the cast of numerous movies filmed locally, including The Big Chill and Forrest Gump. Though he was kicked off the set of The Prince of Tides by Barbara Streisand herself for being “too crazy.” His philosophy is simple, people are people. No one is more important than the next. Show up the same in every interaction, be kind and go out of the way to ensure someone gets what they need. It pays off and sometimes even results in being invited to a closed set of a classic film recording.
His father’s nickname was “The Mayor of Bay Street,” although no longer here to witness, no doubt he would be proud that Neil has stepped into a local government role. Having been elected, he now sits as a member of our City Council. His reputation for taking a genuine interest and equal care for all people no matter who they are just may or may not have been a factor in the election results. Giving back to the community has been ingrained into his DNA, his family upbringing being his prime example.
Having spent much of his adult life building his own business and helping his father with the family store, there were not many hours left in the day outside of Neil’s daily commitments. However, the pull to give back to the hometown that had given him so much was always strong. Who wouldn’t want an authentic local serving our community with such respect and regard for equal opportunity? One of his “passion projects” is to provide a safe and clean place for locals to socialize, play, and generally “come together” as a community. Southside Park is on the agenda for improvement with the addition of a children’s playground, disc golf, a place for concerts, and even a community garden. A gathering place for locals will add immense value and encourage young families to come together, play pick-up games, and host community events.
The plans have been submitted, however, the fundraising has not yet begun. If you feel the pull to contribute, you can do so at the City of Beaufort’s website, searching for Beaufort Pride of Place to participate in the community effort to revamp Southside Park. Neil sat as a board member of the South Carolina Board of Nursing for 5 1/2 years before his election to City Council. His current objective in this role is to aid in creating the opportunity for a four-year nursing degree right here in Beaufort. In discussing Neil’s efforts in this arena, his response is firm, “it is now and had always been a group effort for any initiative. I couldn’t do what I am doing if the groundwork had not been laid by the locals who preceded me. I appreciate the community’s support, who continue to come alongside to support what will add value to our community.”
Community is what Neil Lipsitz stands on today, yesterday, and for the future.
