Charleston Restaurant Report APRIL 2024
ON THE MENU
1. Local Restaurant Scene -- RESTAURANT OWNERS REFLECT ON CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS
2. National Restaurant Scene – MARKETING CAMPAIGNS LIFTING OFF
3. Restaurant Openings, Closings + Coming Soon!
4. Food For Thought -- DOZENS OF NEW RESTAURANTS COMING SOON
LOCAL RESTAURANT SCENE
RESTAURANT OWNERS REFLECT ON CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS
A few weeks ago, the Charleston City Paper talked with several local restaurant owners about the current state of industry affairs. It's refreshing to read about the many positive changes in the attitudes and management approaches that are top-of-mind for owners today that weren't anywhere close to the radar 20 years ago. Check out the article here....
NATIONAL RESTAURANT SCENE
MARKETING CAMPAIGNS LIFTING OFF
According to Nations Restaurant News, the big guys in the restaurant biz are cranking up their marketing campaigns after several years of limited spending. Spending is up on all fronts with an emphasis on the value proposition, promoting brand awareness, pushing digital channels, hyping new locations and trying to stay out front in a super-competitive marketplace. Are you beefing up your marketing efforts? Read the article here....
RESTAURANT OPENINGS, CLOSINGS + COMING SOON!
Openings + Closings list reflects 1st Quarter 2024 market activity (January - March):
OPENINGS --
Agaves (Mount Pleasant — former Taziki’s)
Bar on the River (West Ashley)
Bartaco (Downtown — former King Street Grille)
Bodega (Mount Pleasant – former Andolini’s Pizza)
Capy’s (Moncks Corner — former Chill-N-Grill)
Cleats (Downtown)
Da Toscano Fugazzi (Downtown)
Dunkin’ (St. George)
Get Carried Away + The Perch (Mount Pleasant — former Wild Wing Cafe)
High Score Brewing (North Charleston)
Huey Magoo’s (Goose Creek — former Bojangle’s)
Jersey Mike’s Subs (Johns Island)
Mario’s Peruvian Chicken (North Charleston)
Mei Thai (Summerville — relocated from N Chas)
Page’s Okra Grill (Summerville)
Palmira BBQ (West Ashley — former Sunflower Cafe)
Parker’s Kitchen (North Charleston)
Philosophers & Fools (Downtown)
Red Palm Tavern (Downtown — former Crust Pizza)
Ruby’s New York Style Bagels (Mount Pleasant)
Santi’s (West Ashley — former DD Pecker’s)
Sissy Bar (North Charleston — former Three Sirens)
Smashley’s Burger Bar (North Charleston)
Spread Bagelry (Downtown)
Taverna Philosophia (Mount Pleasant — former Bacco)
The Flying Biscuit Cafe (West Ashley)
Three Girls on Spring (Downtown)
Verde (North Charleston — former Abundant Seafood)
Woodhaven Pizza (Mount Pleasant — former Pasture & Grain)
XO Brasserie (Downtown)
CLOSINGS --
Crazy D’s (Goose Creek)
Day Drink Brunch Lounge (Summerville)
Harold’s Cabin (Downtown)
Gale (Downtown)
Laura Alberts (Daniel Island)
Neon Tiger (Downtown)
Nigel’s II ( Ladson)
Outback Steakhouse (Mount Pleasant)
The Grit Counter (Mount Pleasant)
Wild Wing Cafe (North Charleston)
COMING SOON --
The number of publicly-announced restaurant projects on the Coming Soon list -- opening in the near future -- hit 80 at the end of the 1st quarter. Whoooaaa...
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
DOZENS OF NEW RESTAURANTS COMING SOON
We all know the Charleston metro area is growing rapidly -- driven by increases in population, national tourism exposure, corporate growth and all types of commercial development. New retail / restaurant development follows the rooftops. You can find new restaurant clusters around Nexton, the Hwy 176 corridor and northern Mt Pleasant. The latest quarterly stats showed roughly 30 openings, 10 closings, and 80 restaurants coming soon. The Coming Soon list is the longest I've seen it in 15 years of tracking this market.
