Charleston Restaurant Report October 2017
ON THE MENU1. Green Scene – Food Sourcing & Sustainability Are Key Drivers To Capture Millennial Diners2. Local Restaurant News – Charleston Restaurants Not Immune to Workplace Violence3. Restaurant Openings, Closings and Coming Soon Lists!4. National Restaurant Trends – Looking To Boost Sales? Build Online Presence Now!GREEN SCENEFOOD SOURCING + SUSTAINABILITY ARE KEY DRIVERS FOR MILLENNIAL DINERSThe National Restaurant Association posted some valuable research findings for operators in a recent industry report. When millennials choose a restaurant, their decision-making is heavily influenced by several key factors, including 1) healthy menu options, 2) environmentally-friendly foods, and 3) locally-sourced items. Restaurant operators looking for market share in this customer segment would be well-served to pay attention to issues of sustainability as well as incorporating new technology in their restaurants. Read about it here….LOCAL RESTAURANT NEWSCHARLESTON RESTAURANTS NOT IMMUNE TO WORKPLACE VIOLENCEAs the news of Chef Shane Whiddon’s shooting death by a disgruntled employee at Virginia’s on King permeated Charleston in late August, it reminded me of two other restaurant employee-related shootings in downtown Charleston’s past. In June 2003, Boathouse GM Patrick Ringwald was shot to death at the backdoor of the restaurant on East Bay St. In October 2007, local restaurant group owner Sam Mustafa was shot outside Toast Restaurant on Meeting Street and was lucky to survive. One shooting is too many. The most recent shooting should provoke intense discussion for operators and staff: How do you protect restaurant employees and the dining public from disgruntled employees with guns?RESTAURANT OPENINGS, CLOSINGS + COMING SOON!The following Openings + Closings lists reflect 3rd Quarter 2017 market activity (July - September 2017):OPENINGS --Bagel Nation (West Ashley)Baker & The Farmer (Johns Island – former Meathouse)Black Wood Smokehouse (West Ashley – former Med Eatery)Chipotle (Summerville)Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co. (Downtown)Fuji Sushi (Kiawah)Grace & Grit (Mt. Pleasant)Gypsy Eatery (Downtown – former Ladles)Ice & Pan (Downtown)Ink & Ivy (Downtown)Istanbul Shish Kababs (N. Charleston – former Uncle Maddio’s Pizza)Midici (Mt. Pleasant)Moe’s Southwest Grill (N. Chas – former Qdoba)Pour Taproom (Downtown)Southern Roots Smokehouse (N. Charleston – former Barbecue Joint)TBONZ Gill & Grill (Downtown – reopened after fire)The Shellmore (Mt. Pleasant)The South Seas Tiki Lounge (Downtown – former Wise Buck)CLOSINGS --Applebee’s (West Ashley)Burger Fi (Mt. Pleasant)East Bay Deli (Mt. Pleasant)Elements (Mt. Pleasant)Feast (Isle of Palms)Fish (Downtown)Gentry Bar & Room (Downtown)Harborview Bar & Grill (James Island)Scarecrow (Downtown)The Americano (Mt. Pleasant)The Continental Corner (Summerville)The Islander (Daniel Island)Uncle Maddio’s Pizza Joint (Mt. Pleasant)Your Pie (West Ashley)COMING SOON (expected to open in the 4th quarter) --Broom Wagon Coffee (West Ashley)Brown Dog Deli 225 (Downtown – former Smith Street Pizza)Cantina 76 (Kiawah)Come Back Shack (N. Charleston)Daps (Downtown)Eggs Up Grill (Knightsville)Food Truck O Rama (Downtown)Grumpy Goat Cantina (James Island – former Harborview Bar & Grill)Munkle Brewery (Downtown)Nico (Mt Pleasant – former Pane e Vino)Parcel 32 (Downtown – former Fish)Purlieu (Downtown)The Getaway (Downtown)Tijuana Flats (W. Ashley – former Your Pie)Vintage Lounge (Downtown – former Priya)...Plus 35 more openings coming in the next 4-15 months...NATIONAL RESTAURANT TRENDSLOOKING TO BOOST SALES? BUILD ONLINE PRESENCE NOW!Nations Restaurant News reports that TGIFriday’s has been testing the waters of online ordering for the last year, and the results are telling. To Go orders are up 30%, and their online orders have a 7% higher check average than in-house orders. TGIF’s technology push deploys chatbots on social media platforms that engage customers, answer questions, and even make reservations. They are successfully farming new customers on social media and bringing them in the door. New customers account for over 70% of online orders in the last year. Read more here…