Legendary Hilton Head diner loses its creator. He made it a can’t-miss experience
.jpg "A Facebook post from Harold’s Diner on Hilton Head Island said that the diner’s creator, Chuck Hyatt, has died.")
Chuck Hyatt, the man responsible for turning Harold’s Diner on Hilton Head Island into the raucous dining experience that it is, has died, the restaurant said on Facebook.
Known as “Harold” by visitors — a common confusion that he did not appreciate — Hyatt took over the space at 641 William Hilton Parkway more than two decades ago and turned it into a must-visit destination with a rowdy, obscene staff and great diner food, according to social media posts from the restaurant.
Harold’s is where people go for breakfast and a show — where no one is safe from an insult or even a scolding from someone on staff. Signs that say things like “People say I have a bad attitude. I say screw ‘em” and “stupidity is not a handicap! Park elsewhere!” are plastered on the walls.
The diner’s motto, which hangs over the grill spelled out with old license plates, is “eat here or we both starve.”
Harold’s Diner founder a diehard Red Sox fan
A tribute to Hyatt posted on the diner’s Facebook page memorialized him as a diehard Red Sox fan who left his mark everywhere, “from the decor on the walls to the stories shared across the counter.”
“Chuck had a sharp wit, a fork tongue and a one-of-a-kind ability to make people laugh daily — whether you were ready for it or not,” the post read. “He created more than a diner. He created a place where sarcasm was part of the menu, laughter was expected and everyone felt like part of the family.”
“Well … most everyone,” it said.
A phone call placed to the restaurant Thursday morning went to voicemail. A Facebook message was not immediately returned.