Charleston Restaurant Report July 2015
ON THE MENU
1. Green Scene – TECHNOLOGY IS MAKING A HUGE IMPACT ON RESTAURANT OPERATIONS
2. Local Restaurant News – F&B EMPLOYER RATING APP COMES TO MARKET
3. Restaurant Openings, Closings and Coming Soon
4. National Restaurant Trends – MASHUP MENU ITEMS ROLL INTO FAVOR
------------------------------------------------------------
GREEN SCENE
TECHNOLOGY IS MAKING A HUGE IMPACT ON RESTAURANT OPERATIONS
Restaurant operators are employing technological tools to improve all aspects of their operations and in turn their bottom lines. The available technology runs the gamut from online ordering systems to mobile payment apps to voice-activated hand-washing verification to high-resolution video monitoring/training equipment, to labor management software, etc, etc... Late adopters to technology upgrades could potentially be leaving significant amounts of profits on the table. Check out this article in Nation's Restaurant News:
http://nrn.com/consumer-trends/new-tech-efforts-revolutionizing-restaurant-labor
------------------------------------------------------------
LOCAL RESTAURANT NEWS
F&B EMPLOYER RATING APP COMES TO MARKET
Starting in late June, Charleston F&B employees can go online to anonymously rate their employers via the Serve Your City app. The app will include about 100 area restaurants. Plans are already in the works to expand the app to other regional / national cities. Raves + rants are limited to 250 words.
Read Hanna Raskin's article in the Post & Courier:
http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150617/PC0301/150619560/charleston-app-developer-to-launch-review-site-for-restaurant-work
------------------------------------------------------------
RESTAURANT OPENINGS, CLOSINGS + COMING SOON!
The following list reflects 2nd Quarter 2015 market activity (April - June, 2015):
OPENINGS --
492 King (Downtown)
Accent on Wine (N. Charleston)
Apartment A (Downtown)
Arriba Cantina Cucina (Johns Island)
Breizh Pan’ Crepes (Downtown – former Freshberry)
Carolina Ale House (Downtown)
Chick-fil-a (Moncks Corner)
Chick’s Fry House (Downtown)
Destiny Community Café (N. Charleston)
Famulari’s Pizzeria (W. Ashley)
Finn’s Brick Oven (Mt. Pleasant – former Brixx)
Garcia’s Tortilla House (Downtown – former Sweet & Savory Café)
Little Italy’s Ristorante (W. Ashley)
Republic Ice Cream (Downtown – former Planet Smoothie)
Ruth’s Chris Steak House (Downtown – former Tristan)
Screen Door (James Island – former Lucky’s Grill)
Shuckin’ Shack (Summerville – former Alessandra’s Italian)
Smoke (Downtown – former Motobar)
Sunrise Bistro (Summerville)
Taste of India (W. Ashley – former Gennaro”s)
The Loophole (Johns Island)
CLOSINGS --
Delish (Downtown)
Gennaro’s Italian Ristorante (W. Ashley)
King Street Grille (W. Ashley)
Pawleys Front Porch (Mt. Pleasant)
Subway (Downtown)
Union Provisions (Downtown)
Wild Buffalo Steakhouse (N. Charleston)
Wong’s Asian Bistro (N. Charleston)
COMING SOON --
Another Broken Egg (Mt. Pleasant – former Pawleys Front Porch)
Anson (Downtown)
Chipotle (N. Charleston)
Cortaditos (Downtown – former Ike’s Hot Chicken & Fish)
CURE (James Island – former J.Paul’z)
Ellis Creek Fish Camp (James Island)
Huriyali Juices (Downtown)
IHOP (James Island – former Ruby Tuesdays)
Iron Dog Diner (N. Charleston)
Jimmy John’s (W. Ashley)
La Lola (Downtown)
Parlor Deluxe (Downtown – former Sweet Radish Bakeshop)
Raising Cane’s (N. Charleston)
Starbucks (W. Ashley)
Stereo 8 (James Island – former Roadside Kitchen)
Stems & Skins (N. Charleston)
The Codfather (N. Charleston)
The Watch (Downtown)
Tropical Smoothie Café (Daniel Island)
Vintage Coffee Café (Mt. Pleasant)
Wayback Burgers (Goose Creek)
Wayback Burgers (Summerville)
Wok Box (Summerville)
------------------------------------------------------------
NATIONAL RESTAURANT TRENDS
MASHUP MENU ITEMS ROLL INTO FAVOR
Take two traditional menu items and mash them together to see what you get. The trend that seemed to start in the bakery with Cronuts, Wookies, and Cragels, among others, is now spreading to the dinner menu with items such as sushi burritos and breadstick sandwiches appearing on menus around the country. The trend is putting a new twist on the definition of fusion cuisine. Check out this article in Restaurant Hospitality:
http://restaurant-hospitality.com/food-trends/menu-moves-there-s-no-stopping-mashup-trend