Despite setbacks from snow, Bluffton and Hilton Head eateries gear up for Restaurant Week
Weather is often unpredictable and can throw a wrench in big events. For Bluffton and Hilton Head, local restaurants were one of the many places hit hard with closures right before the start of one of the biggest events — Restaurant Week.
The 17th annual Chamber Restaurant Week kicked off the weekend of Jan. 25 with over 70 participating restaurants in the area offering a variety of specials and deals for diners.
Unfortunately, due to the winter weather, many locations had to close their doors due to unsafe conditions.
This left many locations completely shut down between Jan. 21-24, right before this event was set to start. Many participants in this year’s Restaurant Week are local businesses, meaning that these forced shutdowns led to thousands of dollars in revenue lost and hours of food preparation gone.
“We had to shut down both our fishing factory and the restaurant, which impacted everyone, from our fishers to our chefs and our servers,” said Tina Toomer, one of the owners of Bluffton Oyster Company and Seafood House.
The winter months are a slow time for tourism throughout the Lowcountry, making January an ideal time for Restaurant Week, as it helps boost local business. But the snow has put a damper in that boost.
“We had to close on Thursday and Friday due to the snow and road conditions,” said Joe Propato, owner of The Daily Cafe and Market. “The timing was not ideal and business really slowed down, but this is our first year in Restaurant Week and we’re staying optimistic.”
As temperatures continue to warm, businesses are hopeful for a rebound after the winter weather forced unexpected closures.
“Closing always costs us several thousand, so we’re ready for people to come. The good side of this though is that the colder it is … the fatter the oysters are,” said Toomer, highlighting how even the harshest conditions can bring unique benefits.
To learn more about all the participants in Restaurant Week, click here, or to learn more, visit the Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber Restaurant Week webpage.
This story was originally published January 28, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
