What's New on Hilton Head Island
This page will be updated frequently for the returning visitor. This page will show four years of changes on Hilton Head. We will not attempt to keep up with the rapidly changing events in Bluffton.
Restaurants and Nightlife
Red = closed, at least for now. Blue = new The dates are just so I know when to remove old entries.
XO Lounge has opened in the Hilton Ocean Front Resort in Palmetto dunes. Live entertainment by well regarded local musicians, cocktails, wine and appetizers are featured. Hours are 5PM to 1AM. 05/08
Homeport has closed and the building was torn down to make room for townhouses. 05/08
The Shoreline Ballroom has opened. They will present entertainment by name bands from around the country. 05/08
Spice was closed when we stopped by July 31. 07/08
Eat! Hilton Head has opened where Spice was in the Village at Wexford. 10/08
Twist..The Bistro has opened where Moneypenny's was in the Village Exchange on palmetto Bay Rd. Cheryl Christine performs there on Wednesdays. 10/08
Rider's Lounge closed. The owner said it was losing money. 11/08
Wise Guys, a restaurant specializing in wines by the glass and appetizers/Tapas style food opened next to Frankie Bones at the North end. They ues the wine dispensing system the replaces air in the bottle with Nitrogen to keep the wine from oxidizing. Can be pricy. 11/08
Prana International is the island's newest nightclub. It is said to be a real party place, with plenty going on. There is dancing, live music and occasionally Jello wrestling, volleyball, mechanical bull riding and other such activities. Sunday's is Live Latin night, on ladies night the ladies get paid $5 to attend and there are $1 vodka and 25 cent beer nights. 04/09
Sticky Fingers has closed, strangely just before the peak tourist season. 06/09
Monkey Business has come full circle. After becoming Stages it has morphed back to Monkey Business. 07/09
The Internet Café at Coligny has closed. (10/09)
Stripes American Grill has closed. Sandstone South, a deli, has taken its place. (10/09)
Pierce Lowrey of the Lowrey Group (CQ's, Boathouse II, Antonios, and Ocean Grill; Celebrate Hilton Head) passed away. His wife Bonnie will carry on with the business. 02-10
Boathouse II was sold by the Lowrey Group to SERG, and has been remodeled, with a new, larger bar and a raw bar where the old bar was. The menu has been expended very considerably. 03-10
SERG sold Marley's. 03-10
Ocean Grill is undergoing a facelift. 03-10
Smokehouse has opened in it's new location on Palmetto Bay Rd. The facility has a much larger bar and dining room and sports an outside deck with tables for the smokers. 03/10
Charlie's Crab is now the Chart House. Both are owned by the same company. 05/10
Southern Coney and Breakfast opened in Circle Center, next to Amigos. 05/10
Other Businesses
The Coastal Discovery Museum has moved to
Honey Horn Plantation. 12/07
The bike paths between Sea Pines Circle and the beach have been moved away from the street and now incorporate boardwalks across the lagoons. Bike paths like that are being built along Mathews Drive from Marshland Rd. to Hgwy 278.
The Cross Island Expressway toll increased from $1.00 to $1.25 on March 31. 2008.
The Hilton Head comedy Club has opened. It will
provide comedy every night and they say they will have well known comedians from
TV and other national venues. Closed on Sunday and Monday. Currently admission
is $12 weekends and $10 weekdays with no drink minimum. Must be 18 to get in.
07/08
Corks, of Bluffton, has opened a Hilton Head
location at Island Crossings, where Staples is. 05-10
Real Estate News
MLS reports for Hilton Head Island:
| 2003 |
2004 |
Change | 2005 | Change | 2006 | Change | 2007 | Change | 2008 | Change | 2009 | Change | |
| Homes sold | 943 | 1186 | +25.8% | 1314 | +10.8% | 758 | -42.3% | 694 | -8.4% | 538 | -22.5% | 550 | +2.2% |
| Average price | $679,587 | $760,714 | +12% | $927,752 | + 22% | $999,051 | +7.7% | $1,018,686 | +2% | $852,501 | -16.3% | $725,504 | -14.9% |
| Days on¹ market | 136 | 128 | 94 | 103 | 128 | 161 | 233 | ||||||
| Villas sold | 1361 | 1726 | +26.8% | 1954 | +13.2% | 791 | -59.5% | 627 | -20.7% | 476 | -24% | 510 | +7.1% |
| Average price | $265,884 | $278,711 | +4.8% | $349,583 | +25.4% | $398,854 | +14.1% | $395,179 | -1.0% | $402,573² | +2%² | $261,202 | -35.1%² |
| Days on¹ market | 119 | 87 | 61 | 95 | 118 | 147 | 239 | ||||||
| Lots Sold |
261 | 422 | +61.7% | 370 | -14% | 196 | -47.0% | 73 | -62.8% | 34 | -53% | 47 | |
| Average price | $277,674 | $331,234 | +19.3% | $439,756 | +32.8% | $515,836 | +17.3% | $515,938 | 0% | $438,244 | -15.1% | $434,755 | -0.8% |
| Days on market | 194 | 157 | 82 | 93¹ | 133 | 189 | 346 |
¹This statistic is deceptive because many listings
renew after six months, therefore could be this many days plus six months.
²The average price of villas in 2008 was inflated by the sale of one property
at more than $3 million. Without that sale the average would have been $393,936.
The inventory of homes for sale is 200 below last year at
this time, which is a good sign for future values. Values today are in the range
of values in 2004.
Note these figures apply to homes sold through real estate agents, not
those sold by developers of new housing, and do not include properties in
Bluffton.
Once again, fewer high-end homes sold, which lowered the average price. Prices remain strong for villas.
*Statistics courtesy of Felice LaMarca.
Also of Interest
Smoking Ban: the Town of Hilton Head island has passed an ordinance prohibiting smoking in public buildings effective May !, 2007. Most of Beaufort County already has such a ban in place. Specifically, the law bans smoking in businesses but not homes, tobacco shops, hotels and motels and businesses with only one employee if they do not share space with other businesses. Some restaurants with outdoor tables permit smoking there - Reilly's, Shrimp Michaels, and some in the "Barmuda Triangle" are examples.
Fishing license required for salt water fishing
A new law requires a license to fish in salt water
even from the beach or a pier. This was done to preempt a Federal fishing
license requirement. Fees are $5 for in state 14 day license, $11 for 14 day out
of state license. Those under age 16 don't need a license. Get full information
here.
The Island Packet recently took a poll of locals, who voted on their favorite businesses in various categories. Hilton head Monthly magazine did the same. Some excerpts from the list of winners for 2010 :
Best:
Auto repair shop - H&H Auto Service
Day Spa - Faces Day Spa & Boutique (also best manicure/pedicure, best
massage)
Bakery - Signe's Bakery
Bar/Tavern - Wise Guys
Barbecue - The Smokehouse
Breakfast restaurant - Palmetto Bay Sunrise Café
Deli -Gruby's New York Deli
Dentist - Matthew Mastrorocco
Fine dining restaurant - Michael Anthony's
Fried chicken - Publix supermarkets
Hair salon - Salon 5200
Hot Dog - Street Meet American take out
Ice Cream/ Yogurt - Hilton Head Ice Cream
Live entertainment venue - The Jazz Corner
Local musicians - Deaz Guys
Mexican restaurant - Mi Tierra
Pizza - Giuseppi's (5th consecutive year)
Seafood restaurant - Hudson's
Sports bar - Casey's
Sushi - Hinoki
Tapas restaurant - Wise Guys
Wine bar - Cork's Neighborhood Wine Bar
Wings - Wild Wings
A report by a consulting firm studying growth in this area estimated
Hilton Head Island population at 38,931 in January 2005.
At long last the liquor mini-bottle law has been rescinded. Bars may free pour or use the minis - their choice. The advantage to the public is drinks don't have to be so strong. Hopefully some bars will reduce the pour from 1.7 Oz. to something more reasonable and reduce prices accordingly (or am I being naive?).
Traffic Advisories
We try to keep this site current and reasonably detailed, but you can get
complete updates as to road conditions from the South Carolina Department of
Transportation here.
Also, you can actually see the traffic in the area on web cams set up by
Beaufort county
here. This may be especially helpful to visitors who bring their computer
for help in planning to go to greater Bluffton to shop.
New Traffic Laws
South Carolina has passed a law allowing police to stop and ticket any driver
with an unbelted occupant in a vehicle. It went into effect December 9, 2005.
Also currently in effect is a law prohibiting tinted automobile windows blocking
more than 27% of visible light. It doesn't matter if you're from out of state -
our cops don't like to approach a vehicle in which they can't see the occupants.
Updated 08/10/2010