Tidewater Carts Superstore brings discount golf carts to Aiken

TAYLOR BELTZ, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·2 min read

Jun. 1—Tidewater Carts Superstore opened its first location in Aiken on May 18.

"We're just glad to finally be open," manager Patrick O'Leary said.

Located at 1506 Whiskey Road, the store offers discount golf carts, golf cart repairs and accessories. Trade-ins are also accepted at this location.

Tidewater stocks brand-new or refurbished Evolution golf carts, which are electric carts with lithium batteries. These carts come with two seats, four seats and in a six-seat limo style.

"All our carts have headlights, taillights, brake lights, turn signals, a horn and the basic model just has a speedometer down here," O'Leary said. "The top of the line model ... has a touch screen."

With a 30-mile range and fast charging batteries, O'Leary said the carts are convenient for driving around Aiken.

"I've been told you can actually drive back roads all the way to downtown," O'Leary said. "You can go to Laurens Street and go eat, with a golf cart. And you're not using gas. They're easier to park on Park Avenue and Laurens Street than a car."

The building on Whiskey Road used to be a physical therapy business but underwent renovations before Tidewater opened. This included installing new showroom floors inside, O'Leary said.

Although O'Leary requested that one part of the old business was left untouched; a mural of a tree featuring green handprints for leaves in the lobby.

"These are all the kids that had physical therapy here," he said. "This is my neighbor's (hand)."

Despite the amount of rain during their first few weeks open, O'Leary said that the reception from the community has been positive.

"The outpouring of support from people, everybody comes in and says; 'You're definitely going to sell here,'" he said.

Tidewater Carts is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. They are closed every Sunday.

Tidewater Carts was started outside of Columbia in 2009 as a business for refurbishing and selling golf carts, its website said.

After the original business was sold, new ownership reopened Tidewater Carts in 2019 with a new location in Columbia. The business is now owned by Mark Dixon.

They also have locations in Easley, South Carolina, and Atlantic Beach, North Carolina.

For more information about Tidewater Carts Superstore, visit https://tidewatercarts.com/