The Early Years
The origins of Pearlstine Distributors stretch back to the turbulent years of this country’s Civil War era. After arriving in America around 1860, Russian immigrant Tanchum "Thomas" Pearlstine and his son Isaac Moses Pearlstine traveled the rural South selling household goods and saving money to bring other family members to the United States. After the outbreak of the war, they continued their itinerant business style, selling home-made brass buckles and buttons for the uniforms of Confederate soldiers.

1862
During the war, the Pearlstines continued their itinerant business style, selling home-made buckles, caps and corn-cob buttons for the uniforms of Confederate soldiers. Isaac also worked at Sullivan’s Island on a project to extract salt from seawater. Salt was in short supply due to the Union blockade of Confederate ports.

1865
Only a few weeks after General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, Isaac M. Pearlstine opened a tiny general store in the tiny community of Beech Hill, South Carolina.

1877
With his sons Shep and Hyman, Isaac Pearlstine operated a carriage and buggy business in nearby Charleston, South Carolina.

1883-85
The Pearlstines opened a small grain business in Ridgeville, a company they closed two years later to open a wholesale grocery, hay and grain business in Charleston at 493 King Street.

1903
The Pearlstine’s Charleston-based company moved to a three story brick building and warehouse at 201-203 East Bay Street. In another building near the U.S. Customs House and Isle of Palms Ferry wharf, they sold hardware including wagons, tack, roofing and fencing.

Early 1900s
I.M. Pearlstine & Sons expanded to include wholesale and retail stores in Walterboro, Eutawville, Mount Holly, Hampton, Kingstree, Sumter and Florence.

1918
The family company purchased Farline Supply Company, a hardware firm that would evolve into a distributor for Bevo, a beer-flavored soft drink developed by Anheuser-Busch in anticipation of Prohibition. Most of the satellite stores were sold within the next few years.

1933
Prohibition was repealed. Although Bevo production had ended years earlier, the Pearlstine company’s affiliation with Anheuser-Busch continued. In 1933 I.M. Pearlstine & Sons was distributing Michelob beer and other products from the rapidly growing brewer.

1934
After the death of Hyman Pearlstine, control of the business went to a cousin Sam Cohen and to Shep Pearlstine's sons Milton and Edwin Sr.

1950
The grocery lines were sold to allow the company to concentrate on beer distribution in seven South Carolina counties: Beaufort, Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton, Dorchester, Hampton and Jasper.

1950s
Distribution of wines began – a first for South Carolina.

1961
The company’s two remaining satellite stores were sold and a branch distribution operation was established in Beaufort

1970
Having outgrown its East Bay site, the company moved to a then-spacious new beer distribution facility on Gaynor Avenue in North Charleston.

1971
Pearlstine Distributors was incorporated and I.M. Pearlstine & Sons became a real estate and investment management firm.

1982
Palmetto Distributors was created as a Pearlstine Distributors subsidiary handling distribution of wines, soda, snack foods, liquor, mixers and bar supplies.

1995
Palmetto Distributors was sold and Pearlstine Distributors focused entirely on the distribution of beer.

1996
The fifth generation of Pearlstines assumed ownership positions when the majority of the company was purchased by Susan Pearlstine and Jan Pearlstine Lipov from their father Edwin Pearlstine Jr.

2003
In the Charleston region’s East Cooper area, Pearlstine Distributors opened one of the region’s largest and most advanced beer distribution facilities.