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.

Smokehouse has opened in it's new location on Palmetto Bay Rd, where Sticky Finger was. The facility has a much larger bar and dining room and sports an outside deck with tables for the smokers. 03/10

Hinchey's Restaurant has moved from Beach Market to the Metropolitan Hotel, which has undergone extensive renovation. The Hotel is located on South Forest Beach Drive in front of Xanadu condominiums.02/11

Flatbread Grill opened at the former Hinchey's site in Beach Market.  They will feature high-temperature oven that will bake Neapolitan pizza and will also serve pasta, salads, sandwiches, burgers and appetizers.02/11

Cheap Seats, a new sports bar, has opened at 55 Mathews Dr., in Triangle Square. 02/11

The Boardroom, a new bar in the tradition of a private club opened February 5. Owners are two Reilley's siblings. Located in the "Barmuda Triangle" near the Hilton Head Brewing company. Outdoor and indoor seating, specialty cocktails from Argentina and Brazil. 02/11

Mi Tierra in Festival Center (Wal Mart, Publix) has closed. The main restaurant continues in business. 03/11

Hot Dog Harbour, a restaurant specializing in a huge variety of hot dogs, has opened in Coligny Plaza, where the hammock shop was. You can get burgers and chili, too, and beer and soft drinks are available. 03/11

The Marksman Tavern has opened at 11 Greenwood Drive, in The Gallery of Shops. It's a British style pub 04/11

The Waterfront Café, formerly Café Europa, has closed. 04/11

The Hilton Head comedy Club has moved to the second floor of Kingfisher restaurant in Shelter Cove. Shows are at 9:00 PM Tuesday through Sunday. 843-785-4442.

Wise Guys, the wine and tapas bar has enlarged and added a steakhouse for full service dining. (4/12)

Tapas Restaurant has moved to Port Royal Plaza, near Sam's Club at 95 Mathews Drive. (04/12)

Corks, of Bluffton, has opened a Hilton Head location at Island Crossings, where Staples is. It's a friendly neighborhood wine bar and they also serve light food 05-10

For those awaiting the return of chef Olivier Allain, the wait is over. Chef Olivier appears at Vine, in the Coligney Plaza. Dinner is served Monday through Friday from 5:00. 80 wines are available, 16 by the glass, and Olivier will entertain you with his classical guitar renderings. 05/12

Ella's Blue Water Grill has opened in Shelter Cove overlooking the water. 05/12

Pazzo Italian cafe and bakery has opened at 807 William Hilton parkway in Plantation Center. Full menu plus pizza and subs. 05/12

Pomodori is another new Italian restaurant located at 1 New Orleans Rd, at the 90 degree bend in the road. 05/12

Antonio's has closed. Word on the street is it was bought by a long time Hilton Head restaurateur - we shall see. (It's now Ombra Cucina Rustica) 06/12

Moneypennie's is now Vibe. 03/12

Okko, a new Asian restaurant serves Thai, sushi, and features teppanyaki-style cooking (at the Table) on Mathews drive at the North end. 5/12

Wine Times Four has closed.

Captain Woody's has moved to Target Rd. just off Palmetto Bay Rd. to the location that once was Rider's Lounge (and many other identities). (3/13)

The Art Café has moved to 14 Greenwood Dr., in the Gallery of shops. (3/13)

Chef Michael Cirafese has opened Ombra Cucina Rustica, an Italian restaurant, with his former mentor chef Nunzio Patruno. It's where Antonio's was in the Village at Wexford. (4/13)

Other Businesses

The bike paths between Sea Pines Circle and the beach have been moved away from the street and now incorporate boardwalks across the lagoons.

New bike paths have been constructed along Mathews Drive from Hgwy. 278 to Marshland Rd. 11/10

The Batter's Box, an indoor baseball and softball training facility has opened on Southwood Park Dr. , near the St. Francis gift shop.11/10

The Hilton Ocean Front Resort was purchased by Omni Hotels, so is now the OMNI. (04/12)

The Holiday Inn Oceanfront has been purchased by Integrated Capital Investments and renamed The Beach House, a Holiday Inn Resort. (04/12)

A number if island hotels have received major refurbishment: The Inn at Harbourtown, the Crown Plaza (now Sonesta Resort), The Westin, the Hampton Inn, the Hilton (now the Omni), and the holiday Inn Oceanfront (now The Beach House).

Morris & Whiteside Galleries has moved to 220 Cordillo Parkway.

Zipline Hilton Head opened. Located at the Broad Creek marina, they offer a 2½ hour tour over the Live oaks. More "adventures" will be added over the summer.  843-682-6000. (04/12)

The Crown Plaza hotel has been renovated and is now the Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island.


Real Estate News

MLS reports for Hilton Head Island:

  Change 2005 Change  2006 Change 2007 Change 2008 Change 2009 Change 2010 Change 2011 Change 2012 Change
Homes sold +25.8% 1314 +10.8% 758 -42.3% 694 -8.4% 538 -22.5% 550 +2.2% 611 +11% 671 +9.8% 768 +14.5%
Average price +12% $927,752 + 22% $999,051 +7.7% $1,018,686   +2% $852,501 -16.3% $725,504 -14.9% $669,689 -7.7% $654,525 -2.3% $632,342 -3.4%
Days on¹ market   94   103   128   161   233   161   179   162  
                                   
Villas sold +26.8% 1954 +13.2% 791 -59.5% 627 -20.7% 476 -24% 510 +7.1% 725 +42% 747 +2.3% 896 +20%
Average price +4.8% $349,583 +25.4% $398,854 +14.1% $395,179 -1.0% $402,573² +2%² $261,202 -35.1%² $230,090 -11.9% $220,030 -4.4% $226,232 +2.8%
Days on¹ market   61   95   118   147   239   152   163   160  
                                   
Lots
Sold
+61.7% 370 -14% 196 -47.0% 73 -62.8% 34 -53% 47   83 +77% 103 +24% 122 +18.4%
Average price +19.3% $439,756 +32.8% $515,836 +17.3% $515,938 0% $438,244 -15.1% $434,755 -0.8% $204,834 -52.9% $216,698 +5.8% $219,352 +12.2%
Days on market   82   93¹   133   189   346   226   222   264  

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.

Prices continue to decline in 2011, but volume shows a slight uptick, perhaps indicating prices have found a natural level.

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.

In 2012 180 foreclosed and short sale homes sold in Hilton Head, compare with 167 in 2011. Currently there are 51 on the market.

*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.

A report by a consulting firm studying growth in this area estimated Hilton Head Island population at 37,099 at the 2010 census. It has not changed much in recent years.

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.

New Traffic Laws

South Carolina has passed a law allowing police to stop and ticket any driver with any 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.

 This page Updated 05/12/2013

 

 

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