Charleston Restaurant Report April 2015
ON THE MENU
1. Green Scene – "REAL FOODS" ARE COMING BACK!
2. Local Restaurant News – CONSIDER A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO RESTAURANT TIPPING
3. Restaurant Openings, Closings and Coming Soon
4. National Restaurant Trends – RESTAURANTS EMBRACING MOBILE PAY TECHNOLOGY
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GREEN SCENE
"REAL FOODS" ARE COMING BACK!
We've come full-circle, from the farm-fresh foods of our grandfathers, to the fully-processed "junk food" of our younger days, and now back again to "Real Food". We've all come to know the current food world buzzwords like "farm-to-table", "seasonal", and "sustainable". "Real Food" is the latest loosely-definable term of the day used to describe edible items that are not-as-processed, perceived to be fresh, and hold potentially-healthy benefits. Consumer demand for such foods are on the rise, as both old and young people use more butter, eat more broth and demand less hormone-laced proteins from restaurants nationwide. Find out more in Nation's Restaurant News: http://nrn.com/food-trends/consumer-demand-real-foods-grows
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LOCAL RESTAURANT NEWS
CONSIDER A VIABLE ALTERNATIVE TO RESTAURANT TIPPING
Restaurant employee pay and benefits in the local restaurant scene have been a hot topic of discussion recently. In light of multiple employee lawsuits and regulatory fines for alleged unpaid labor hours, restaurant owners may be rethinking the way they compensate their labor pool. One alternative is to adopt a no-tip business model. The idea is being put to the test in restaurants across the country. The restaurant clearly informs customers that tipping is not necessary. Instead of collecting tips, servers and bartenders are paid an hourly wage and receive benefits such as health insurance, vacation or sick days. Learn more:
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150216/PC05/150219648/1017/no-tip-restaurant-offers-food-for-thought-on-pay-benefits
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RESTAURANT OPENINGS, CLOSINGS + COMING SOON!
The following list reflects 1st Quarter 2015 market activity (January - March, 2015):
OPENINGS --
Barony Tavern (Downtown – former Wentworth Grill)
Benny Palmetto’s (Mt. Pleasant)
Café Framboise (Downtown)
Chicken Salad Chick (Summerville)
Chipotle (Downtown)
Cumberland Street Smokehouse (Downtown – former Egan & Sons)
Diggity Doughnuts (Downtown – former Ike & Alice’s)
Famulari’s Pizzeria (Summerville)
Five Loaves Café (Summerville)
Fountain Café & BBQ (Mt. Pleasant)
Graze (Summerville – former Moose’s BBQ)
Jack’s Café (Downtown – reopened)
Marco’s Pizza (James Island)
McKee’s at 139-B (Downtown)
Nick’s Gyros & Phillys (N. Charleston)
Spero (Downtown -- former Hello My Name Is BBQ)
Smoothie King (Downtown – former Pita Pit)
St. Alban (Downtown)
Starbucks Coffee (Mt. Pleasant)
Suelto (N. Charleston)
Sweet Savor (N. Charleston – former Ethiopian Taste)
Thai Elephants (James Island – former Café Kronic)
The Junction Kitchen (N. Charleston – former Port City Pizza)
Tricera Coffee (Downtown – former Collective Coffee)
Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint (Mt. Pleasant – former Heirloom Eats)
Wasabi (Mt. Pleasant – former Neil Jordan’s Steakhouse)
Yo Burrito Cantina (N. Charleston – former Cork Bistro)
CLOSINGS --
Atlanta Bread Co. (Summerville)
Big John’s Tavern (Downtown)
Brixx (Mt. Pleasant)
Carvel / Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs (Mt. Pleasant)
Chick-A-Boom (N. Charleston)
Collective Coffee (Downtown)
Ethiopian Taste (N. Charleston)
Freshberry (Mt. Pleasant)
Hello My Name Is BBQ (Downtown)
Il Cortile del Re (Downtown)
Motobar (Downtown)
Planet Smoothie (Downtown)
Sweet Radish Bakeshop (Downtown)
Yogurt Mountain (Downtown)
COMING SOON --
492 King (Downtown)
5 Church (Downtown – former Mad River Grille)
Andolini’s (W. Ashley – former Tenichi Buffet & Grill)
Anson (Downtown -- reopening)
Arriba Cantina Cucina (Johns Island)
Breizh Pan’ Crepes (Downtown – former Freshberry)
Carolina Ale House (Downtown)
Chick’s Fry House (Downtown)
Generalissimo (Downtown)
Home Team BBQ (Downtown)
IHOP (James Island – former Ruby Tuesday)
Jimmy John’s (W. Ashley)
Maybank Public House (James Island – former Mustard Seed)
Parlor Deluxe (Downtown – former Sweet Radish Bakeshop)
Republic Ice Cream (Downtown – former Planet Smoothie)
Ruth’s Chris Steak House (Downtown – former Tristan)
Screen Door (James Island – former Lucky’s Grill)
Starbucks (W. Ashley – former Bojangles)
Sunrise Bistro (Summerville)
Tattooed Moose (Johns Island)
The Westendorff (Downtown)
The Workshop (Downtown)
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NATIONAL RESTAURANT TRENDS
RESTAURANTS EMBRACING MOBILE PAY TECHNOLOGY
Restaurant groups of all sizes are employing mobile pay and ordering technology to boost sales, promote operational efficiencies, and help build brand loyalty programs. The usage numbers are enlightening. Consumers regularly use smart phones to view menus, research nutritional info, order and pay for meals, and receive brand loyalty rewards. The big pizza chains are capturing 35-50% of sales digitally through ordering and payment apps. Thirty-five percent of quick service restaurants currently offer mobile or wireless payment options. Learn more --
http://nrn.com/technology/mobile-pay-makes-headway-restaurants?page=2