Future of Salty Dog on Hilton Head begins to take shape. Take a peek
The sounds of drilling, sawing and hammering filled the air at the Salty Dog Cafe on Hilton Head Island Thursday afternoon.
Visitors peering over the silt fencing by the South Beach Marina can see the future of the iconic Sea Pines destination has begun to take shape.
A major redevelopment project is in the works for the nostalgic South Beach Marina. Early last year, the 40-year-old complex that once housed the South Beach Inn was reduced to rubble to make way for a new facility.
Two buildings, totaling 10,000 square feet, will be constructed at the site, according to design documents submitted to the town. They’ll house restaurant and retail spaces as well as exterior areas for people to gather and enjoy the waterfront views.
Despite the light rain Thursday afternoon, workers with Nix Construction could be seen hard at work inside one of the new buildings.
Walls and roofing have already been installed for the first building in the new complex, it appears.
The green panels lining the exterior of the building are structural wall sheathing, according to Huber Engineered Woods LLC, which manufactures the material. The product helps protect the building from moisture in the air, according to the manufacturer.
According to design documents, this first building will be the new home of Jake’s Cargo once complete. Vertical construction for the second building, which will house the Salty Dog Cafe, had not started as of Thursday.
Change divides Salty Dog fans
The change is upsetting for some longtime patrons who loved the building’s original design, which took inspiration from New England-style fishing villages.
The Salty Dog Cafe first opened its doors in 1987 and has become one of the island’s most treasured destinations.
When the Island Packet reported on the demolition in June, patrons took to social media to debate the new development.
“First came to the island in 1989.. hate what is happening to it,” wrote one Gail Cummings.
Others were more sympathetic to the developers.
“Hilton Head is an extremely corrosive environment,” wrote commenter Peter Lee. “The truth is most buildings here are well past their usable life span and have been patched together for years. It doesn’t make sense to keep patching the patches when new technologies and materials are available.”
Calls to Tim Stearns, the chief operating officer with the South Beach Management Group, and Salty Dog Inc. President Bob Gossett were not returned Friday morning.
