Fast food planned at site of familiar Beaufort Co. seafood restaurant
A longtime seafood restaurant could soon be demolished to make way for more fast food in northern Beaufort County.
Developers plan to build a Wendy’s on Sea Island Parkway in a busy commercial area on growing Lady’s Island, city documents show. The work would require demolishing the Steamer Oyster and Steakhouse, which has served seafood for years at its spot on 168 Sea Island Parkway.
The 2,500-square-foot building would include a drive-through in the back and a covered outdoor seating area on Sea Island Parkway. The new restaurant would be across the street from a recently rebuilt McDonald’s and between Publix and Food Lion grocery store shopping centers.
Charlotte-based Carolina Restaurant Group would operate the chain’s new location. The franchise has more than 100 locations, including the Wendy’s on Boundary Street.
Local officials have worked to buy and tear down the Boundary Street Wendy’s as part of plans for an open vista along Battery Creek. The restaurant would move to another nearby location, but the Lady’s Island plans are independent of that effort, city planning staff said.
Steamer had been open as recently as October.
Signs at the restaurant tell visitors the business is closed for renovations. The property is under contract, according to real estate listings.
Wendy’s plans will be considered by the city of Beaufort’s design review board Thursday. The property had previously been annexed into the city.
This story was originally published December 11, 2019 at 12:02 PM.
