Charleston Restaurant Report October 2016

ON THE MENU1. Green Scene – Ocean-Friendly Restaurant Initiative Targets Styrofoam Elimination2. Local Restaurant News – Charleston Launches Restaurant Food Waste Composting Program On Upper Peninsula3. Restaurant Openings, Closings and Coming Soon!4. National Restaurant Trends – Are Lagging Restaurant Sales Indicative of Looming National Recession?------------------------------------------------------------GREEN SCENEOCEAN-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT INITIATIVE TARGETS STYROFOAM ELIMINATIONTaking a cue from the Hawaii Surfrider Foundation, the Charleston chapter of the foundation is encouraging local restaurants to give up styrofoam and plastics as part of a new initiative to help our oceans. Reducing or eliminating use of styrofoam and plastics at a common source will mean less trash ends up on our public highways, beaches and marshes. The Surfrider folks may be calling on your restaurant soon to join the movement. Read more right here.LOCAL RESTAURANT NEWSCHARLESTON LAUNCHES RESTAURANT FOOD WASTE COMPOSTING PROGRAM ON UPPER PENINSULAThe City of Charleston received grant funds from DHEC to start a scrap food pickup service from participating restaurants in the upper peninsula. The scraps go to the Charleston County landfill where they are composted with yard debris and re-sold. The city says this is just the beginning, as they hope to expand the program to other areas of the city. Read more about it in the Post & Courier.RESTAURANT OPENINGS, CLOSINGS + COMING SOON!The following list reflects 3rd Quarter 2016 market activity (July - September 2016):OPENINGS --Ashley Lanes Tavern (W. Ashley)Beech (Downtown – former Freshii)Bianco’s Pizza (W. Ashley)Blind Tiger (Downtown – reopened)Blue’s Burger Joint (James Island – former Island Bar & Grill)Cane Rhum Bar (Downtown – former Big John’s Tavern)Crust (Summerville)Donato’s Pizza (Summerville)Feast (Isle of Palms)Five Loaves Juice Bar (Downtown)Fratello’s (Mt Pleasant – former Carter’s Kitchen)Ladles (Downtown)Lagunitas Tap Room (Downtown – former Southend Brewery)McCrady’s Tavern (Downtown – former McCrady’s)Meeting at Market (Downtown)Mex 1 (Sullivans Island – former SALT)MOD Pizza (W. Ashley)Nana’s Donuts (Downtown – former Diggity Donuts)Nigel’s Good Food II (Ladson)Pieology Pizzeria (N. Charleston)Pier 41 (Mt. Pleasant – former Bangkok Bistro)R Kitchen West (W. Ashley – former Livelihood Café)Sermet’s Southernterranean Cuisine-Bar (James Island – former Heart Woodfire Kitchen)Ti-Ney Bangkok (Summerville)Toast (W. Ashley – former Tabbuli)Urban Cookhouse (Mt. Pleasant)Wok Box (Summerville)CLOSINGS --Black Sheep (Mt. Pleasant)Bull Street Gourmet (Downtown)Dell’z Deli (Downtown)King Street Grille (Downtown)Ladles (Downtown)McDonald’s (Mt. Pleasant)Menkoi Ramen House (Downtown)Molly Darcy’s (Downtown)Normandy Farm Bakery (Downtown)Parlor Deluxe (Downtown)Southend Brewery (Downtown)Tabbuli (W. Ashley)Two Boroughs Larder (Downtown)COMING SOON --Avila (Downtown – former Ladles)Charles Towne Fermentory (W. Ashley)Chipotle (Mt. Pleasant)Cinco (Mt. Pleasant – former Water Dog Grill)Hen and the Goat (James Island – former Black Bean Co.)IHOP (Downtown – former Tsunami)Nacha Mama’s Taqueria (Downtown – former Garcia’s)Pancito + Lefty (Downtown – former Zappo’s Pizza)Pizza King (Downtown – former Dell’z Deli)Poke Tea House (Downtown – former Bull St Gourmet)Revelator Coffee Company (Downtown)Scott’s BBQ (Downtown – former Chick’s Fry House)Smoke BBQ (Mt. Pleasant – former Black Sheep)Starbucks (Downtown)Swig & Swine (Summerville)Top Dawg Tavern (Summerville)Tropical Smoothie Café (Mt. Pleasant – former Fountain Cafe)NATIONAL RESTAURANT TRENDSARE LAGGING RESTAURANT SALES INDICATIVE OF LOOMING NATIONAL RECESSION?For those of you who pay attention to national economics, the National Restaurant Association's chief economist thinks the big picture still looks good for restaurant sales, despite the downward sales trend that started in the spring. National median household incomes are rising. As incomes rise, discretionary spending at restaurants should increase. Read more from Nations Restaurant News.