Ladies, don’t let anyone tell you there aren’t perks to pregnancy-induced insomnia. Sure getting up to pee every hour will have you considering catheter models with the same enthusiasm as tweens freaking over Lilly Pulitzer at Target. But when else will you have the chance to spend midnight to 4 a.m. counting restaurant openings instead of sheep?
I made it to over 20 Saturday night. Some are new, some are old, but all are projected 2015 openings.
1. Maybank Public House
James Island’s answer to Mt. P fave Coleman Public House, Maybank Public House appears to be making some progress. On a visit to the Terrace Theatre this weekend, we spotted signage and crews in the former Mustard Seed restaurant (1970 Maybank Hwy.) According to its Facebook page, construction began mid-March. Follow the restaurant’s Facebook page for more updates.
2. The Watch rooftop bar at The Restoration hotel
According to Eater Charleston, The Restoration hotel is building a rooftop bar called The Watch (79 Wentworth St.). The Restoration is promising 360-degree views from the seventh-story space. We got to experience The Restoration’s private rooftop during a 2011 Charleston Fashion Week event and can vouch that it’s a fantastic vista similar only to the top floor of the parking garage at Charleston Place Hotel. The space is purported to open this fall.
3. The Sylvia Vlosky Yaschik Jewish Studies Center’s vegan/kosher cafeteria
The discovery of a Civil War shell nearly waylaid plans for CofC’s first kosher cafeteria, but safety crews dislodged the vintage bomb that was found back in December, and construction has continued. It’s just a steel frame right now, but CofC’s website says to expect a winter opening.
4. Generalísimo
Noticed there’s not much going on at 565 King St., the site of the Generalisimo restaurant. Created by the Southern Charm brain-trust, producer Bryan Kestner and Whitney Sudler-Smith, Generalisimo hasn’t seen construction crews in several weeks, according to Kestner. A March 11 BAR agenda reveals that the most recent request for “final approval for new storefront, door, signage and lighting and removal of existing signage on east elevation. Request after-the-fact approval for second-story windows on east elevation, roof replacement, mechanical equipment on roof, and new wall on rear roof along north property line” was denied. The motion reads “Denial of all after-the-fact requests. Denial of uplights; final approval for remainder of new requests per staff comments with staff to review final construction documents.”
5. Chick’s Fry House
There’s a lot of good fried chicken in Charleston, but after tasting Chick’s Fry House (1011 King St.) variety at the Beer, Whiskey, Chicken event hosted at Redux last week, we can attest Chick’s will easily make the top five. Chef/owner Robert Stehling’s yardbird won’t be available until late spring, but progress is looking good.
6. The Westendorff
Mosaic Catering and Cafe owner Steven Niketas has been busy at 114 St. Philip St. — the former home of C.W. Westendorff & Sons hardware store. The rehab of the 125-year-old building has required consulting with historic building experts, the reconstruction of the building’s foundation, and paint stripping of the facade (which revealed vintage signage). But the new restaurant still got a ways to go. Niketas is hoping his elevated comfort-food, all-day brunch and dinner spot will open in June.
7. Harold’s Cabin
While interviewing architect Julia F. Martin on her plans for The Westendorff, we discovered she’s also the woman behind the plans for Harold’s Cabin — yes, the Bill Murray project (with partners RiverDogs food mastermind John Schumacher, Mike Veeck, and Ben Danofsky) at 247 Congress St. The Post & Courier followed up on developments last week reporting that construction will finally recommence this month.
8. Halls Chophouse possible purchase of Maverick Southern Kitchens restaurants
OK, so it’s not necessarily a restaurant build-out, but we’re waiting to hear the final word on whether the Hall family will become the new owners of Maverick Southern Kitchens. We know Halls Chophouse owner Bill Hall and Maverick president Dick Elliott have been in discussions, but Dick wouldn’t say anything official about a possible deal when we spoke to him last week. Well, aside from comparing a restaurant deal to the sale of a beloved pet — “If you have a dog you love and someone says ‘I’ll give you $10 for your dog.’ You’d say, ‘no,’” explains Elliott. “But what if they offered you $10 million? I think there’s a point where you’d say yes.” Uh, actually no.
9. Screen Door
The restaurant formerly known as Lucky’s on James Island is in the midst of a makeover to become Screen Door (1271 Folly Road). Taking the helm is former Palace Hotel chef Blake Joyal. Screen Door predicted an early 2015 opening, so we expect to hear news of service starting any day now.
10. Parlor Deluxe
Warehouse fans, you have some good news. The bar is getting a sister property: Parlor Deluxe. All of your tot and ice creaming cravings will soon be sated just across the street at 207 A St. Philip St. According to owner James Groetzinger, the small spot (formerly Sweet Radish Bakeshop) will offer a modern twist on a sweet shop meets soda fountain. Look for it to open early this summer.
11. 708 King St. unnamed project
Hat tip to Erin Perkins for getting the early word on whatever is happening in the former Zappo’s Pizza (708 King St.). According to Perkin’s reporting on Eater Charleston, The Alley owner Jimmy Poole and chef Robert Berry (briefly of Indaco) are remodeling the space. No word on what food they plan to dish out, but we’ll find out early summer it sounds like.
12. Anson
The only information we can get about Anson restaurant, owned by the Balish family, seems to come courtesy of BAR agendas — the last was in December when builders approached the BAR for approval on the two-story building’s masonry updates. Here’s hoping we get another update soon.
13. Farmer & Exchange
Another Balish family project, Farmer & Exchange (141 East Bay St.) is supposed to go into the old building that once housed Charlie’s Little Bar. That said, we keep walking by and have yet to see signs of any significant work inside the old space.
14. Home Team BBQ
In case you haven’t read CP in a bit, you can find everything you need to know on Home Team BBQ’s upcoming 126 Williman St. location here, here, and here.
15. Mercantile, Mash, & The Cedar Room
The monster project of retrofitting one side of the Old Cigar Factory into Indigo Road’s Mercantile, Mash, & The Cedar Room is still in progress. The two-story 8,000-square-foot gourmet market and exposition kitchen is expected to open this summer.
16. Tattooed Moose
A March 14 tweet from Tattooed Moose revealed that the Johns Island location (3328 Maybank Hwy.) now has walls. The projected opening is Spring/Summer 2015.
17. Tricera Coffee
Collective Coffee is being replaced by Tricera Coffee, and the 41-A George St. shop should open soon.
18. Gnome Cafe
The first we heard about Gnome Cafe was when writer Mark Rinaldi wrote “Vegging Out” for CP in January. According to Rinaldi, Gnome Cafe is a proposed vegan restaurant coming to town soon. Eater tracked down a Gnome Cafe parking spot sign at President and Cannon streets, so maybe this isn’t some elaborate prank.
19. Westside Delicatessen
The promise of March knackwurst has come and gone, and we’re still waiting for Westide Delicatessen developer Jeffrey Roberts to respond to us regarding the opening of his 237 Fishburne St. location. Maybe this month?
20. The Workshop
For a thoroughfare of produce trucks, it’s remarkable our Morrison Drive hood doesn’t have a casual fresh veg cafe. In fact it’s something our staff bemoans daily. But we have hope that Butcher & Bee’s upcoming project, The Workshop (1085 Morrison Dr.), may answer our vegetable prayers. There’s a huge sign around the building right now. Last we heard, they were hoping for a 2015 opening, so maybe before the end of the year we’ll get a fresh salad within walking distance of our office.
21. Breizh Pan’ Crepes
39 George St. is about to feel a little more Euro. French expats Céline and Patrice Rombaut are about to open Breizh Pan’ Crepes. The cafe’s website says it will offer breakfast, lunch, and dessert, including sweet and savory buckwheat (gluten-free) or flour crepes. Look for Breizh Pan’ to open soon.
22. Lewis Barbecue
One of the most anticipated restaurants for 2015 is John Lewis’ Lewis Barbecue. The Austin-based barbecue baron will set up shop at 464 N. Nassau St. Early reports have projected a spring opening.
23. Ruth’s Chris Steak House
May 24. That’s the date chain steak shack Ruth’s Chris will be opening. So there’s that.
24. La Lola
This just in courtesy of Eater — East Bay Street is apparently getting a new tapas spot. Reporting to be a restaurant, winery, and deli, the restaurant (285 East Bay St.) shows construction underway via Instagram.
25. Basil owner’s new Vietnamese project
In February Basil owner Henry Eang confirmed he’s opening a new Vietnamese restaurant in Park Circle. The unnamed project will go into 1070 East Montague Ave. and if things go to plan, will open this year.
26. Arriba Cantina Cocina
According to Post & Courier‘s Warren Wise, a new Mexican restaurant called Arriba Cantina Cocina will open at Bohicket Marina on April 28.
27. 5Church
The former Market Street party palace Mad River Bar & Grill will become 5Church early this summer. An offshoot of the Charlotte restaurant, 5Church plans to renovate 32-B North Market St. into a “metropolitan chic” space with huge menu serving everything from Wagyu heart of ribeye to pierogies.
28. The Codfather
If you’re following the comments below, you now know that the Codfather (1809 Reynolds Ave.) is a new fish and chips shop coming to North Charleston from owner Adam Randall. According to Randall, the Codfather will open June 1.
29. 951 Folly Rd.
The site of former Roadside Kitchen is being tranformed into restaurant by Joe Walker and David LeBoutillier (of McCrady’s, 39 Rue de Jean, and Poe’s Tavern), according to Eater. No chef or opening date have been announced yet.
Did we miss any? Let us know.
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