Hilton Head’s South Beach Marina to undergo partial renovations. Here are the details

The South Beach Marina village, home to the iconic Salty Dog Cafe and one of the island’s most popular and active destinations, is planning major renovations that will reorganize shops and change its appearance, according to documents filed with the town of Hilton Head.

While the restaurant is not part of the project and likely won’t be affected, the South Beach Inn, several shops and parking areas are all within the area of the project. The plan details reducing the buildings’ overall footprint from about 12,500 square feet to about 10,000 square feet and adding a new vehicle drop off area near the marina.

A conceptual plan for the marina was approved by the town on July 12, according to Carolyn Grant, the island’s communications director. On May 28, the final plan was approved by the Sea Pines Architectural Review Board, according to their documents . The developer has not yet submitted a building permit application, Grant wrote in an email Tuesday. It is unclear when construction could start.

Marina owner Robert Gossett declined to answer questions about the project, as did Tim Stearns, the chief operating officer with the South Beach Management Group, who told the newspaper, “We have many plans and will detail them to who we choose to, as we see fit and when we see fit.”

The marina complex is home to the Salty Dog Cafe, Land’s End Tavern and the General Store, along with water excursions, a playground and a swimming pool. The cafe opened its doors in 1987 and has become one of the island’s most treasured destinations.

The project area is located on the northern half of the marina and will span across one of the marina’s roughly six acres, according to documents submitted to the town’s Design Review Board . The project’s description said the buildings housing South Beach Inn and Vacation Rentals, Wreck of the Salty Dog, Jake’s Cargo, and A Shore Thing “will transition to restaurant and retail uses,” suggesting that the buildings will no longer be used for lodging. The South Beach Inn and Vacation Rentals has been closed for years.

It’s mostly unclear which establishments will remain open during and after the renovations. A sign outside The Wreck of the Salty Dog said the establishment will remain closed for the 2024 season in preparation for the upgrade. The swimming pool will also be closed for the 2024 season due to village renovations, according to the Sea Pines Community Resources page.

The remainder of the complex, including the Salty Dog, Land’s End Tavern, Blue Water Tackle Shop & Harbor Master and the t-shirt shop and ice cream factory will not be affected by the project.

Once the town receives final documentation from the Palmetto Electric Cooperative, the Public Service District and Sea Pines, the town could begin issuing the permit, said a representative from the town’s community development services.

Since April of last year, Hilton Head residents and visitors have raised questions in community Facebook groups about the status of the renovation. While some speak to their excitement for the upgrade, noting the marina’s decades of operation, others have expressed concern over the marina maintaining its “southern charm.” Others ask questions about the timeline of the upgrade and about which establishments will remain open during the project.

A Shore Thing, a t-shirt and sweatshirt store established in 1986, could also be affected by the renovation. When asked about the project’s implications on the store Monday, the owner, Joe TeBrake, said he wasn’t aware of what those implications would be yet.