40-year-old building next to Hilton Head’s Salty Dog razed to the ground. What’s next?
Summer is here, and the Salty Dog Cafe was teeming Friday with locals and tourist enjoying hushpuppies and pina coladas by the beautiful South Beach Marina.
Some were surprised to find half of the iconic complex completely cleared away and fenced off. For 40 years, a cluster of red, white, and blue buildings at the north end of the complex housed shops, restaurants, and the South Beach Inn. Now, visitors will only find stacks of vinyl sheet piling and a forklift in its place.
The marina’s owners, Bob Gossett and Tim Stearn, plan to build a new complex in its place, with modernized designs. With all the rubble from the old building cleared away, the site would seem shovel-ready to passerbys, but those in the construction business will know it’s not always so simple.
Work will first need to be done on the deck and support structures before the new retail spaces can be built. As of Tuesday, developers have received state and federal permits, but have not applied for a building permit from the town.
What’s next?
The first order of business
The SCDES issued a permit for the developers to rebuild the deck and install a new bulkhead about 1 foot further waterward of the existing bulkhead. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also issued a permit for the work on March 21.
These state and federal permits are notorious for long processing times, meaning developers are past at least one more bureaucratic hurdle for the project. However, more hurdles may lie ahead.
Constructing a new building on Hilton Head requires a building permit from the town. According to town spokesperson Heather Woolwine, the owners of the complex have not submitted an application for a permit.
Once a building permit is applied for with the town, it can take about three weeks to be approved, explained Trey Lowe, Development Services Program Manager in a previous interview.
Another lengthy bureaucratic process that is out of the way is the town of Hilton Head’s design review process, aimed at protecting the island’s “character” by encouraging developers to use natural materials and muted colors. The project has been approved by both the town’s Design Review Board and the Sea Pines Architectural Review Board.
The new designs will retain the building’s iconic red, white, and blue striped design, although with slightly muted colors of “wineberry” red and “naval” blue.
What’s at the construction site right now?
Peer behind the fabric screens that cover the fencing, and you’ll see piles of huge zig-zag shaped sheets laying on the dirt next to other equipment.
The 23-feet long gray sheets are vinyl sheet piling used to build bulkheads — sturdy walls that separate the soil from the marina water.
Stand on the docks and look to the right, and you’ll see the old concrete bulkheads that used to lie beneath the structure, getting some air for the first time in 40 years. At their feet lie piles of sandbags, which are also used to hold back water.
What’s open at South Beach Marina?
There’s still plenty to dine, shop, and experience at South Beach Marina village during construction:
- The Salty Dog Cafe
- Salty Dog Ice Cream Shop
- Salty Dog T-Shirt Factory
- Jake’s Cargo; moved to where Land’s End Tavern used to be
- South Beach General Store
- Blue Water Tackleshop
- Salty Dog Happy Hour Cruises and more
What’s closed during construction?
These spots at South Beach Marina Village are currently closed during ongoing renovations:
- Land’s End Tavern
- Jake’s Pizza; however, visitors can order pizza online and pick up at the Salty Dog
- Wreck of the Salty Dog
- A Shore Thing
South Beach Inn & Vacation Rentals (has been closed for years; new complex will likely not have lodging)
This story was updated Tuesday morning to add newly received information from the SCDES.
This story was originally published June 3, 2025 at 9:00 AM.
