Popular Beaufort cafe & restaurant to reopen under new ownership

Photo byExplore Beaufort

Early in December 2022, Beaufort received news that a popular locally owned restaurant & cafe was closing after more than 10 years in business. Then, a few weeks later in January, Magnolia Cafe closed its doors.

It's about to return.

Under new ownership, the plan is to reopen the popular breakfast and lunch spot at the intersection of Carteret and Congress Streets in the city of Beaufort in early March, and add a great deal to it as well.

New owner, Leah McCarthy, who also owns the popular Downtown Catering Company & Deli on May River Road in Bluffton, said she hopes to have the cafe reopened on March 5th, with a whole new look.

"I've loved Magnolia over the years, and we are so excited and honored to be able to reopen the restaurant," Leah said. "We plan to pay homage to the old spot that was such a big part of the Beaufort community."

According to McCarthy, she is very hopeful to have a soft opening on March 5th, and then plans to offer breakfast and lunch to customers, Tuesdays through Saturdays from 8am until 3pm.

Some of the lunch menu options you can expect to find include a variety of salads including a crabcake salad, healthy bowls, panini sandwiches and lots more, and waffles & fruit, eggs and a variety of breakfast options in the mornings.

In addition to the seated dining area and the outside dining area in the garden atmosphere, she plans to open part of the front of the cafe to a large grab-and-go area, with boxed lunches, boxed dinners and more.

"Don't worry, we plan to include plenty of fresh pastries, too," she added, along with a "full coffee bar with a variety of drinks and espresso."

Another part of the new business will be catering and event space. Leah said that it can accommodate up to 75 people, "for rehearsal dinners, showers and more." And, being no strangers to catering after enjoying so much success in Bluffton, the new Magnolia Cafe will also offer it for local parties, events, weddings and more.

A University of South Caroina-Beaufort graduate herself, she also plans to be able to offer items that will suit the students at USCB who pass the restaurant each day on their way to and from school from the USCB housing just up the street.

Look for more information to come, and the opening of the new Magnolia Cafe on March 5th. Address: 703 Congress Street, Beaufort