Roofing Contractor in Beaufort, SC

A new chapter in Bluffton’s dining scene is set to begin as Radici Italian Chophouse prepares to welcome guests this spring.

Located in Parkway Commons at the former Pour Richard’s site, 4376 Bluffton Parkway, the restaurant aims to deliver an elevated Italian dining experience.

The staff, a team of seasoned culinary professionals with backgrounds in Michelin-star establishments, are ready to bring this new dining experience to the Lowcountry.

The word “radici” in Italian translates to “roots” in English, and the team is planting its roots right here in Bluffton.

Radici is the brainchild of Executive Chef Mattia Bianchi, Chef Giandomenco Prestopino and Manager Camila Eula.

When moving to South Carolina from Italy, they had a shared aspiration to create something that felt like a culmination of their careers’ work.

Together, this team collaborated with George and Piero Casalicchio (owners of Chez Georges Bistro & Bar) to bring their vision to life. Now, this team of five is ready to share authentic Italian cuisine to the Lowcountry.

“Radici represents our connection to tradition and our passion for quality ingredients,” said Executive Chef Mattia Bianchi. “Every dish we serve reflects the rich history and diverse flavors of Italian cuisine while also offering a fresh and modern approach.”

Bianchi honed his skills in international locations, including London and Italy, before stepping into instructor and management roles.

Radici’s menu is a carefully curated selection of Italian classics reimagined with contemporary flair. This select menu includes four starters, four pastas, three salads, four main dishes and a tasting menu.

Dishes including the beef carpaccio, tajarin pasta and cacciucco are particularly special to the team, as they highlight the diversity and depth of Italian flavors.

The pasta offerings will all be made fresh and in-house using imported Italian flour to give diners a truly authentic meal.

“Pasta is our craft and our talent,” Bianchi said. “But we’re looking to dive into other flavors and cuisine, too.”

For those seeking an immersive experience, Radici offers seating in the main dining area as well as at the chef’s table, where guests can observe the culinary team in action.

But for the Radici team, the restaurant will offer more than a delicious plate of food.

“When people think of Italian cuisine, I want them to think not only about the way it tasted, but about the memory that dish carries with it,” Bianchi said.

The new restaurant takes over the location of the beloved Pour Richard’s, a local institution that announced its sale in November. In collaboration with Chez Georges Bistro & Bar, the Radici team has undertaken a complete transformation of the space.

“We’ve restyled the entire layout: expanding the bar, redesigning the kitchen and reimagining the dining room to create an entirely new atmosphere,” Bianchi said.

With 50 seats available, Radici aims to provide a personal yet vibrant dining experience.

“We wanted to create a space that feels both intimate and inviting,” Bianchi said. “The changes we’ve made allow us to provide a unique experience that blends warmth, sophistication and a deep appreciation for Italian cuisine.”

The restaurant is still hiring, seeking chefs and line cooks to round out their team.

Bluffton is known for its appreciation of quality dining, which made the decision to open in this location a natural one for the team.

“We just fell in love with this area,” Bianchi said. “It’s a dream city … everyone is friendly, and it’s a great place to introduce new flavors and culinary techniques.”

While the focus is currently on the Bluffton location, the team hopes to expand in the future, bringing their blend of tradition and innovation to a broader audience.

“This town has a fantastic food culture, and we knew it would be the perfect place to share our passion for Italian cuisine,” Bianchi said.

Radici Italian Chophouse is on track to open during the first week of April, if not sooner.

“We’re ready to open our doors,” Bianchi said.

Dinner service will be available from 4:30 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday and from 4:30 until 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday.

Lunch is also available from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday through Sunday. They are closed on Mondays.

Reservations can be made via www.radicibluffton.com, on Resy or by calling 843-707-1200.

From back-of-house operations to the artistry of plating every dish, more information on Radici Italian Chophouse can be found @radicibluffton on Instagram or Radici Bluffton on Facebook.

This story was originally published March 14, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

The Island Packet

(843) 626-0211

Anna Claire Miller is the Service Journalism Reporter for The Island Packet. Originally from Georgia, she has experience in magazine writing, non-profit communications and city government. Anna Claire has a bachelor’s degree in journalism, legal studies and English from High Point University.

Every Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m., a group of men gather for breakfast at Blackstone’s Cafe on Scott Street in Beaufort, South Carolina. They range in age—Steve Lanier just entered his eighties, while Ray Stocks is 100 years old. Many of the men have served in the military; the group spans all wars from World War II to present. Combined, they have 980 years of life experience.

And those are stories worth sharing.

That’s the heart behind “Breakfast in Beaufort: Journeys Through Life,” a new short documentary film produced and directed by Raymond Smith of Modos Media alongside his son, Andrew, the film’s editor and Director of Photography.

“Breakfast in Beaufort: Journeys Through Life” opens with the group of men enjoying company together each week—a continuation of small-town tradition, Robert DeLoach, 98, shares on camera, where men used to gather and talk over a cup of coffee. Their breakfast club covers all kinds of topics, providing a bit of “a history lesson” from the elders to the younger men in the group.

“We share a culture of respect, of learning—you can share who you are and help them grow, but much more importantly, you grow yourself by listening to them,” Lanier, 80, shares in the film.

Eleven men are featured in “Breakfast in Beaufort: Journeys Through Life,” each with their own words of wisdom as interviewed in their homes: W.R. “Skeet” von Harten, Pat Garrett, Guy McSweeney, Steve Lanier, Mike Keyserling, Merle Mulvaney, Ray Stocks, Carter Swenson, Robert DeLoach, Daryl Fergusen, and Tom Mikell. They speak on themes and life lessons they remember from their own parents, including advocacy, kindness, responsibility, and hard work.

The film is airing at the 19th annual Beaufort International Film Festival, which runs through February 23, 2025 at the University of South Carolina Beaufort Center for the Arts. With its local connection and timely message of turning a listening ear to elders, the film’s screening—happening Saturday, February 22—is already sold out.

“This film is about elders, not a phrase often used in our society—some see older people as past their ‘sell-by date’ or irrelevant,” Smith shared with Southern Living. “In this film, we see a combined 980 years of experience, learning, and wisdom of a group of older men who join each other each week to share breakfast and their stories and thoughts. We see their energy, humor and care for us all.”

As reported by The Island Packet, Smith clarified that while the documentary features many veterans, it is not just focused on wartime experiences. The idea was first brought to Smith by the film’s executive producer, Richard Sribnick—a doctor who lives part-time just northeast of Beaufort on Lady’s Island.

After coming across the men at Blackstone’s one Wednesday, Sribnick approached Raymond and Andrew with the original idea to share stories of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. To Smith, there was a greater opportunity to unearth wisdom from around the breakfast table.

“[Our elders] encourage us to be better toward each other and show that small gestures can bring about surprising impact, sometimes even on a global scale,” Smith told SL. “So next time you see an older person sitting alone, just say hello and you may be surprised by what you will learn.”

This ties into one key lesson that the men themselves share in the film. “Pay attention,” says 92-year-old W.R. “Skeet” von Harten on screen. “Enjoy what you’ve got. Be kind to others. Be kind to yourself. If you get tired, sit down and rest. If you want to go, go…Be happy, be kind, be productive, and don’t complain. That’s what this 92-year-old says.”

The director is also working on sharing the short documentary film on SCETV, the state’s public educational broadcast network.

It's a good reminder—whether you're able to catch the screening or not—to cherish the words and memories that are so quickly lost from generation to generation, with thoughtful questions and intentional listening. You may want to digitize some of your old family photos to go along with Nana and Grandpa's stories, as well.

With South Carolina quickly becoming one of the top spots for moving and Beaufort County ranked in the top five best counties to raise a family, it’s important to know some of the basics of living in a new place.

Although not the most exciting aspect of moving, waste collection is a critical function for any city.

Here’s everything you need to know about trash pick-up, convenience centers and trash burn laws for areas within Beaufort County.

For the City of Beaufort, Capital Waste Services provides residents with weekly household trash collection.

They also provide once per week yard waste collection, every other week mixed recyclables collection and bulk item collection by appointment, which you can schedule by phone or online.

For the unincorporated areas of Beaufort County and contracted curbside locations, the following companies provide trash pick-up:

For Beaufort County residents of apartments and condominiums, your complex may provide bulk pick-up from a complex dumpster, but recycling collection may not be offered.

Beaufort County offers convenience centers for residents to dispose of their residential trash. Four of these locations offer recycling options.

To use the Beaufort County convenience centers, you must have a recycling decal and solid waste pass. You can register for one or both online here.

All nine centers are open 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., but different centers are open on different days:

When it comes to burning trash, the state of South Carolina bans burning residential and household trash items.

Open burning can pose environmental and safety risks, according to the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services. In addition to causing brush, residential and forest fires, open burning can release toxic pollutants into the air and produce ash containing toxic metals.

These toxic materials can then be inhaled, ingested by children in contaminated soil or absorbed by produce through soil, resulting in potential health risks.

In South Carolina, it’s illegal to burn:

However, Beaufort County does permit residents to burn certain items.

According to the City of Beaufort Fire Department, these items include natural vegetation, yard debris, limbs, leaves and other natural items.

It is recommended that before you burn any natural vegetation items, you request a permit by calling the burn request line at 843-525-7032 on each day on which burning will be conducted.

For first-time burns, the permit holder must have their property and burn area inspected by a fire official before the permit is issued.

Beaufort County states that all burning must be done before 3 p.m. and that there must be a nearby water source.

However, certain requirements, contact numbers and burn ordinances vary by municipality, so it’s important to check with your nearest fire department for those protocols.

For additional information about burn permits and requirements in Beaufort County, refer to the burn ordinances or contact the City of Beaufort Fire Marshal’s office at 843-525-7055.

This story was originally published January 28, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

As the Lowcountry continues to grow, more fan-favorite food options are beginning to pop up all over town.

Now, Beaufort County residents are about to indulge in delicious Midwestern cuisine and treats like frozen custard, cheese curds and the iconic ButterBurgers from the Culver’s chain restaurant that’s on its way to Bluffton.

The City of Bluffton Planning Commission approved a brand new Culver’s location to be built between Buckwalter Place Boulevard and Innovation Drive at the roundabout, across the street from Station 300.

While this new location hasn’t broken ground just yet, Bluffton project managers and Culver’s owners are looking forward to seeing what this new restaurant can bring to the community (other than great food).

Another Culver’s location also appears to be in the works for the city of Beaufort and is set to be located at 2338 Boundary Street.

Culver’s is a hybrid drive-through and sit-down chain restaurant that originally began in Sauk City, Wisconsin.

Known for what is referred to as “fast-casual” dining, Culver’s aims to get its customers from the order speaker to the window in under 50 seconds.

Culver’s restaurant chain states on its website that they use fresh beef and white meat chicken from American family farms. With its Wisconsin roots, farm-fresh dairy is used for its custard with cheese coming from Wisconsin farms to ensure fresh food is always served to customers.

With over 900 locations nationwide, Culver’s is known for its creamy custard, fresh chicken and crinkle fries. You can view their full menu here.

There are currently locations in Pooler and Savannah, Georgia.

But that’s not all, it looks like the city of Beaufort is also expected to get not one … but two new Starbucks locations.

That’s right, you can get your pumpkin spice, matcha, cold brews and all things in between soon.

The two locations are:

These projects have been in the works for some time now, especially the location on Lady’s Island, but an updated timeline shows that they are expected to be completed around March of 2026.

Carolina Retail Experts, a Charleston-based retail company, represented Starbucks in helping them secure this new location on Lady’s Island.

While all of these projects are in the early stages of development, check back for updates and progress.

This story was originally published January 25, 2025 at 6:00 AM.

BEAUFORT — It's been nearly two days since several inches of frozen precipitation started to fall across Beaufort County. With daytime temperatures hovering in the 30s over the intervening days, the hard-packed snow and ice remains stubbornly in place on the region's roads, prompting schools, businesses and government offices to announce their intentions to remain closed Jan. 24.

"After consultation with Emergency Management regarding current and expected road conditions impacted by ice, frozen sleet, and snow, there will be no school or E-learning tomorrow, Friday, January 24, 2025, and district buildings will be closed," wrote Beaufort County School District spokesperson Candace Bruder in an email, adding that all extracurricular activities planned through Jan. 26 will be rescheduled.

Classes are expected to resume Jan. 27.

Across the border in Jasper County, schools will have an e-learning day Jan. 24 and all evening activities will be rescheduled.

Beaufort, Bluffton, Hilton Head and Port Royal municipal offices will all be closed, as will county government offices.

"After consultation with Emergency Management regarding tonight's forecast and road conditions, county offices will remain closed on Friday, January 24, 2025. This includes the convenience centers," wrote Beaufort County spokesperson Hannah Nichols in an email to The Post and Courier.

Ferry service to Daufuskie Island is expected to resume Jan. 24, though that could change depending up weather conditions. Due to accumulations of ice, both Hilton Head Island Airport and Beaufort Executive Airport remain closed, and travelers are encouraged to check with their respective carriers for more information.

Hours for warming shelters in Beaufort County have been extended as a result of the unusually long cold spell.

In Beaufort, Sea Island Presbyterian Church, located at 81 Lady’s Island Drive, opened its cold weather shelter at 5 p.m. Jan. 19. The shelter will operate from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. through the morning of Jan. 25. Service animals are allowed, but pets are not permitted.

On Hilton Head Island, Christ Lutheran Church, 829 William Hilton Parkway, opened a cold weather shelter Jan. 20. It will remain open through the morning of Jan. 24 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. Service animal are allowed, but pets are not permitted.

The National Weather Service reported that 2 to 4 inches of snow and sleet fell over the county overnight Jan. 21 into the early morning Jan. 22. Temperatures rose above freezing Jan. 22, but plummeted with nightfall, leaving new layers of dangerous ice on county roads.

Any number of public safety agencies have issued warnings about the potential for the formation of black ice as melting ice refreezes when overnight temperatures drop. The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office issued a statement Jan. 23 requesting that drivers stay off the roads unless travel cannot be avoided. Travel on primary roads like U.S. 278 and S.C. 170, the advisory said, is improving, but some hazards remain. However, travel on secondary, rural and private roads remains hazardous.

"Please keep in mind, that regardless of conditions improving on certain roads, shaded areas could potentially still be frozen," read the advisory in part.

Up to this point, residents appear to be heeding the warnings and staying off the roads. The Bluffton Township Fire District reported that it had only received a single call for an auto accident since the winter storm set in during then evening of Jan. 21. North of the Broad River, the Beaufort/Port Royal Fire Depart responded to a single multivehicle accident with injuries and two noninjury auto accidents.

"Thankfully, residents are listening to public safety officials and staying off the road," said Stephen Combs, public information officer for the Bluffton Township Fire District.

The National Weather Service has advised that the cold weather that has gripped the area in recent days will likely continue through the weekend, though daytime highs will begin to creep up. The warming trend is expected to continue into next week, when highs in the 60s are forecast.