Charleston Restaurant Report APRIL 2025
ON THE MENU
1. Local Restaurant Scene -- PRESSURES & SHIFTS
2. National Restaurant Scene – NEW TECHNOLOGIES ADDRESS STAFFING CHALLENGES
3. Restaurant Openings, Closings + Coming Soon!
4. Food For Thought -- RESTAURANT CLOSURES AREN'T A NEW TREND, JUST PART OF THE NORMAL EBB & FLOW
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LOCAL RESTAURANT SCENE
PRESSURES & SHIFTS
Charleston restaurant operators continue to face significant staffing pressures, with many reporting difficulties maintaining adequate front and back-of-house teams. To adapt, some are adopting technologies to connect with potential employees and modifying service models to ease labor demands while trying to meet guest expectations. On the marketing front, the latest Restaurant Week proved effective in driving traffic during a slower month— highlighting the value of a well-timed campaign. As the market shifts, successful operators can lean into technology, flexible staffing strategies, and targeted marketing efforts to rise above the rest in a competitive environment.
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NATIONAL RESTAURANT SCENE
NEW TECHNOLOGIES ADDRESS STAFFING CHALLENGES
A recent National Restaurant Association report highlights a significant shift in how technology is addressing staffing challenges within the restaurant industry. The adoption of Automated Systems like automated labor management, recruitment, and scheduling tools to streamline operations are ramping up. Investments are being made in AI-driven technologies to enhance hiring processes and employee engagement. Mobile-Friendly Applications are helping candidates apply for jobs via mobile devices, and features like QR codes and text-to-apply options are becoming essential.
For Charleston's restaurant operators, integrating these technologies could help alleviate local staffing shortages by expediting recruitment and improving retention strategies. Read more in Nations Restaurant News...
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RESTAURANT OPENINGS, CLOSINGS + COMING SOON!
Openings + Closings list reflects 1st Quarter 2025 market activity (January - March):
OPENINGS --
Bagels by KISS (Downtown — former Jake’s Market)
Biscuit Belly (Summerville)
Blu Oyster (Johns Island — reopened)
Buck’s Deli (Daniel Island)
Cafe Roca (West Ashley — former A Salt N Battered)
Catrina’s Tequila & Taco Bar (Cainhoy)
Chick-fil-a (Ladson)
Co (Downtown — reopened)
Dairy Queen (James Island — former Subway)
Daniela’s Downtown (Downtown — former 132 Spring Coffee & Kitchen)
Dunkin’ (Summerville)
East Bay Deli (Moncks Corner)
Jersey Mike’s Subs (Summerville)
Jinya Ramen Bar (Downtown)
Joyland (Downtown — former Hero Doughnuts)
Hokkaido Ramen House (Summerville — former Red Bowl)
Kersey House (Summerville)
La Cuisine de Chevalier (Summerville — relocated)
Madison Maison (Downtown)
Merci (Downtown)
Mezcal (Mount Pleasant)
MOMO Crowfield (Goose Creek)
Parker’s Kitchen (Moncks Corner)
Rotolo’s Craft & Crust (Summerville)
Summit Coffee Co (Mount Pleasant — former Pickled Palate)
Summit Coffee Co (Summerville)
The Heyday (Johns Island)
Tutti Pizza (Downtown)
Volpe (Downtown — former Laurel)
Wakey Bakey Bagels (Summerville)
Wings Co. (Daniel Island — former Ali Baba)
Zachary’s Daquiris (Downtown — former Basil)
CLOSINGS --
Bar Copa (Johns Island)
Brew Cellar (North Charleston)
Bumpa’s (Downtown)
Gingerline (Downtown)
Local 616 (Downtown)
Red Bowl (Summerville)
Taco Bartina (West Ashley)
West Ashley Crab Shack (West Ashley)
YoBo Cantina Fresca (West Ashley)
COMING SOON --
The number of publicly-announced restaurant projects on the Coming Soon list -- expected to open in the next 12 months -- is in the mid-50's at the end of the 1st Quarter.
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT
RESTAURANT CLOSURES AREN'T A NEW TREND, JUST PART OF THE NORMAL EBB & FLOW
Lately, local headlines have zeroed in on some high-profile restaurant closures, painting a picture of a Charleston dining scene contemplating retreat. But when you step back and look at the data, a different story emerges: closures have remained steady over time, even as the names change.
Every quarter, I track restaurant openings and closings across the Charleston market. The latest numbers from Q4 2024 are in line with what I’ve seen in past years of reports—roughly the same volume of openings versus closings, just with more recognizable names in the closing mix. That’s what’s driving the narrative shift: visibility, not volume.
We are all aware that turnover is part of the industry. What doesn’t always make the news early on are the new concepts launching with new operators, fresh ideas, and evolving business models at play in the market.
The Charleston F&B scene may be shifting but certainly not shrinking. And if the past few years have shown us anything, it’s that this market continues to attract talent, investment, and culinary innovation, even in the face of change.
