Criminal Defense Attorney inBluffton, SC

It has been one of the most talked about stories of the 2025 Winter Season. The announcement that long-time Bluffton restaurant fixture, Pour Richard’s, would be closing their doors, making way for a brand new Italian restaurant on Bluffton Parkway. The transition is nearly complete.

Radici Italian Chophouse will open their doors to the public on Thursday, March 27th. We got a first look inside at the newly renovated space.

For those who are familiar with Pour Richard’s, Richard Canestrari and Ally Rogers created a beautiful environment with their restaurant. The open kitchen remains, all operations on full display. The ‘colorful’ feel is largely gone. The look of the room is pretty much the same with something of a more sleek look.

I mean, lets be real. It’s the same restaurant. It was great to begin with, it just got a paint job and buff. It looks great.

Heading up the kitchen at Radici will be Mattia Bianchi, a native or Torino, Italy. We spoke briefly on Saturday. What I can tell you is that they are very excited to get the doors open on Thursday. We plan to have a proper chat about their vision for this restaurant-including some family style Sunday dinners-once they are up and rolling.

I’ve enjoyed their food at Hilton Head Island’s Chez Georges Bistro and Bar. The talent is obvious. This should be a great addition to Bluffton’s bubbling food scene.

We went a little more in depth about the collaboration with Chez Georges and their involvement in this project with a write up last month. You can find that here. Make no mistake, this is a family affair. We are looking forward to seeing it thrive.

More soon.

Radici Italian Chophouse4376 Bluffton ParkwayBluffton, SC 29910Tuesday/Wednesday 4:30pm-9:00pmThursday/Friday/Saturday 4:30pm-10:00pm

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BLUFFTON, SC. (WTOC) - Two new hospitals are coming to Bluffton, each of them across the street from one another.

Novant Health and Beaufort Memorial both recently received a Certificate of Need from South Carolina’s Department of Public Health.

Novant Health will build a 50-bed hospital to Bluffton, bringing along with it about 500 jobs.

“I think this facility means in an emergent situation, you have a hospital right around the corner, really from wherever you live in Bluffton,” said Joel Taylor, the Market President for Novant Health’s Hilton Head Market.

With hundreds of jobs expected, Taylor said this will not only bring better care to those living in Bluffton, but boost the local economy.

“It’s 50 beds, but it’s another 500 or so employees, and most of those employees have families, and so the economic ripple effect for our area is tremendous,” said Taylor.

This decision did not come without controversy though. In January, Beaufort Memorial attended a public hearing with Novant Health in opposition to their plans.

The battle dates back to 2018, when Beaufort Memorial wanted to bring a hospital to Bluffton. Those plans fell through after pushback from hospitals now owned by Novant Health, like Coastal Carolina Hospital and Hilton Head Medical Center.

But since that January meeting, Beaufort Memorial also received a Certificate of Need to add inpatient beds to their Bluffton facility, which is a site they’ve already started clearing.

The President and CEO writing in a statement to WTOC,

We are pleased that the state has decided to award Beaufort Memorial the Certificate of Need for the addition of inpatient beds to our Bluffton facility, being built at the corner of Buckwalter and Bluffton Parkways. The addition of inpatient beds means we can look forward to building our hospital in Bluffton as originally planned, providing patients in southern Beaufort County the same patient-first, compassionate and innovative care that they’ve come to know from Beaufort Memorial, close to home.

At this facility, Beaufort Memorial will provide both inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures in addition to emergency room and related services that support emergency medical care (imaging, lab, pathology, trauma). The multi-level facility will have four operating rooms, two endoscopy rooms, a cath lab, two emergency triage rooms, five fast track and 13 other emergency treatment rooms and a trauma room.

The third floor will house an inpatient unit with 28 beds. Site clearing for the hospital began in early February. A groundbreaking for the facility is scheduled for this spring.

Novant Health expects to open its doors in 2028, as they embark on the permitting, construction and hiring process.

“Our job, as Novant Health, is to make sure that we have a very comfortable and convenient location for patients to choose to stay close to home for their care,” said Taylor.

Copyright 2025 WTOC. All rights reserved.

Novant Health officials said March 24 it received a Certificate of Need to move forward with constructing a new hospital in Bluffton. The hospital is planned to have 50 beds and could expand to 100.

Bluffton Today

The South Carolina Department of Public Health approved Novant Health’s Certificate of Need (CON) application to build a state-of-the-art, 50-bed hospital in Bluffton, Carter Mello, Public Relations Manager for Novant in S.C. said March 24.

"This milestone marks a significant step forward in Novant Health’s commitment to expand healthcare access and deliver comprehensive medical care to the rapidly growing Lowcountry region," Mello said.

Joel Taylor, President of Hilton Head Hospital, said, "the new hospital will be a game-changer for the Lowcountry, bringing much-needed specialty care to one of South Carolina’s fastest-growing areas."

“Not only will Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center transform healthcare access, but it will also drive significant economic growth in the region, creating as many as 1,000 jobs in the Bluffton area over the next five years,” Taylor said.

Jason Bernd, Novant Health senior vice president and president of the South Carolina Region, said the approval of the certificate of need application reaffirmed Novant Health's commitment to bring world-class medical care closer to home.

“This hospital is a long-term investment in Bluffton and the surrounding communities to ensure families have access to high-quality care without having to travel great distances,” Bernd said.

The future Novant Health Bluffton Medical Center, Mello said, is designed to address the increasing healthcare demands of Beaufort and Jasper counties, where many residents currently have to travel out of town for medical care.

Mello said the new facility was designed with growth in mind and will feature a new full-service hospital with the capability to expand to 100 beds as the community's needs grow.

"The $320 million facility, anticipated to open in 2028, will offer a wide range of medical specialties, including medical, surgical, emergency and trauma services, intensive care, labor and delivery, cardiology, neurology and orthopedics," Mello said.

Novant Health also recently announced its plans to enhance outpatient care in Bluffton with a freestanding emergency department, surgery centers, imaging services, urgent care, and primary and specialty clinics.

"Novant Health is dedicated to a holistic approach to improving community health, supporting regional workforce housing initiatives and recruiting top healthcare talent," Mello said. "An on-campus workforce housing development is underway adjacent to Hilton Head Medical Center, and Novant Health donated $1 million to the Coastal Community Development Corporation to build more affordable housing in the region."

Novant Health is based in Winston-Salem, N.C., and is a part of a four-state integrated network of physician clinics, outpatients' centers and hospitals, according to the company's website. The network has more than 1,600 physicians and 29,000 employees at more than 640 locations.

Novant Health acquired East Cooper Medical Center in Charleston, Hilton Head Hospital in Hilton Head, and Coastal Carolina Hospital in Hardeeville and 27 associated physician clinics in February of last year.

Novant Health has also expanded its care network with the acquisition of 52 Doctors Care and 20 Progressive Physical Therapy clinics and recently opened Novant Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in Beaufort​.

Mello said permits from the Town of Bluffton are in progress for the hospital.

"Novant Health remains committed to working closely with community leaders, physicians and stakeholders to ensure this project meets the evolving healthcare needs of the Lowcountry," he said.

Despite being one of the smaller states in the country, South Carolina has plenty of distinct golf destinations: Myrtle Beach, Kiawah Island and Charleston are all worth their own trips. And then there’s Hilton Head Island, which in many ways is a fusion of all the other Palmetto State golf destinations.

The island is best known for the historic Sea Pines Resort, with its three top courses including Harbour Town, host of the PGA Tour’s RBC Heritage. You can also find courses with decent value on the island and just off, in the neighboring town of Bluffton. Combine the solid golf with the island’s relaxing vibe, great seafood and miles of beaches, and it's one of the best destinations for a golf trip.

Scroll on for the complete list of the best public golf courses in Hilton Head, and be sure to click through to each individual course page for bonus photography and reviews from our course panelists. We also encourage you to leave your own ratings on the courses you’ve played … so you can make your case for why a course should be higher or lower on our rankings.

The best public golf courses in Hilton Head Island

Explore Golf Digest's new Course Reviews section where you can submit a star rating and evaluation on all the courses you’ve played. We've collected tens of thousands of reviews from our course-ranking panelists to deliver a premium experience, which includes course rankings, experts' opinions, bonus course photography, videos and much more. Check it out here!

Opening in the summer of 2025, the Bluffton Gullah Cultural Heritage Center on May River Road will become an educational and community engagement center, with the goal of cultivating experiences that promote learning about Bluffton’s distinctive Gullah heritage through programs, events, and exhibitions.

A key initiative for the upcoming Center is the development of an interactive facility with interior and exterior exhibits that will immerse visitors in the rich history of the contributions of Black Americans to Bluffton’s history while also highlighting the significant impact Gullah Geechee history and traditions have had and continue to have in Bluffton and the surrounding areas.

The Center also plans to unveil two massive twin bottle trees, standing at 15 feet tall with 75 limbs on each tree. These were designed by renowned Gullah artisan Julian Williams, a fifth-generation Gullah descendant and former apprentice of legendary blacksmith Philip Simmons. Julian has been featured on PBS, Travel & Leisure, Charleston Magazine, and other esteemed media outlets for his work in preserving Gullah ironwork traditions.

This twin bottle tree project is the largest of its kind in America, reinforcing the enduring presence of Gullah artistry. Bottle trees according to Gullah beliefs serve as a protectant against evil spirits. The Center is set to make history with the unveiling of the tallest and largest custom bottle tree ever crafted in the United States as part of the lead-up to the grand opening.

“For the first time, Bluffton will have a place respectfully tailored to tell the awe-inspiring stories of a people whose influence has shaped the world,” said Bridgette Frazier, Founder of the Bluffton Gullah Culture Heritage Center and fifth generation Gullah descendant.

“These magnificent bottle trees are not just art; they are symbols of resilience, culture, and history—rooted in the West African traditions that birthed Gullah/Geechee culture,” she added.

“They will now stand just a short distance from where Secession Oak once stood, a site where the Confederacy declared its intent to fight for the institution of slavery. The significance of this moment cannot be overstated.”

The Center was founded in 2021 as a non-profit organization with Bridgette Frazier, Founder and CEO, Queen Marquetta Goodwine, Chieftess of the Gullah-Geechee Nation as Vice Chairwoman, and Executive Director Giovanni Glover. Rounding out the organization staff are Dr. Amir Toure, Nathaniel Pringle, Christine Wrobel, and Lisa Sulka, former Mayor of Bluffton.

According to its website, the Center’s creation has been aided by the support of Watterson Brands, a $550,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to expand programming and capacity, a $12,000 contribution from the Palmetto Electric Co-op “Operation Round-Up” grant, and the many individuals, businesses, and community partners committed to ensuring that the formidable stories of Bluffton Gullah are hidden no more.

As part of the celebration, the community is invited to leave their mark on this historic exhibit by purchasing a commemorative indigo blue bottle to be placed on the twin bottle tree. Only 150 bottles are available for purchase, and you can visit here for more information.

The Center will be located at 1255 May River Road in Bluffton.