Willie’s sign removed as operator forges new path after St. Helena shooting
The St. Helena Island businessman behind the restaurant where a mass shooting killed four was seen taking down the bar’s signage Tuesday afternoon, signaling a new era as authorities attempt to take away his alcohol and business licenses.
Willie Turral, who rents the space formerly known as Willie’s Bar and Grill, removed the bar’s iconic yellow sign with black handprints as he progressed with plans to turn the space into an economic development center.
It was about 1 a.m. Oct. 12 when three shooters, fueled by a personal dispute, opened fire in the parking lot outside Willie’s Bar and Grill. Four people were killed, including one of the suspected gunmen, and 15 others were injured. Authorities last week charged one man with four counts of murder in connection with the incident.
The business, located on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive in St. Helena’s Frogmore community, has remained closed since the day of the shooting. But in the days following the mass shooting, Turral invited several nonprofits into its kitchen to cook plate lunches and gumbo, with a portion of proceeds going toward the victims’ families.
Sheriff P.J. Tanner said it was the most horrific case he’s seen across his decades in office — and it led police to seek the revocation of the bar’s licenses, citing what they saw as a concerning history of criminal activity at the location.
The bar’s licenses to sell beer, wine and liquor were temporarily suspended Nov. 12. The South Carolina Department of Revenue sought to extend the suspension until a later hearing where a judge would decide whether to strip the bar of those licenses.
Willie’s still has an active business license with the county, but it is currently under review per request of the sheriff, according to a county spokesperson.
Turral did not attend Monday’s hearing in Columbia where his potential license revocations were discussed. He told the Beaufort Gazette and Island Packet he no longer wanted to contest the decision and was ready to move on to the next chapter.
“You took the liquor license, great. I’m moving on. I’m working on SHEDWorks. Somebody has to do some work in this community,” he said, referencing the name of his new business that starts with an acronym for “St. Helena Economic Development Center.”
He is the founder and CEO of the company, he said, a project he was working on well before the shooting occurred.
“I don’t want to fight with him,” Turral said, referring to Sheriff Tanner’s efforts to revoke his licenses. “My focus is the kids of this community.”
Turral said he plans to renovate the space to be used as a community “digital corridor,” providing resources and incubation services for local businesses. He wants to turn the unfortunate circumstances into “a positive and triumphant story of community resilience,” Turral said.
“We need more than a bar here, and I’m the man for the job,” he said.
Still, Turral expressed worry about the lack of a gathering space like Willie’s on St. Helena. The violence that broke out at his bar could manifest anywhere, he said.
“Shutting this business down is only going to create micro-pockets of chaos on this island,” Turral said. “Now we don’t have to worry about shots firing in my parking lot, but shots entering homes through house parties in neighborhoods.”
This story was originally published November 19, 2025 at 12:04 PM.
