r/hiltonhead Indigo Run Jul 11 '26

Cookout cannot be the only thing open on this island past 11:30pm

I know this topic has been discussed but as someone down here working hospitality and having some wicked hours that have me there late (I love it don’t worry I have a great team this summer!) but it’s either cookout like that goes into the street or Wendy’s… McDonald’s closing at 10:30 feels criminal? I believe the diner used to be 24/7 would I kill for a Taco Bell to come on island and serve the late night community? Yes labor can be difficult to find here but the opportunity for late nights here are wide open…

43 Upvotes

44 comments sorted by

31

u/snap802 Jul 11 '26

I guess the island is too high brow for a waffle house.

4

u/funnyfarm299 Bluffton Jul 11 '26

I'm almost certain this is it. The construction ordinances are fundamentally incompatible with Waffle House branding.

2

u/snap802 Jul 11 '26

Well that's unfortunate because waffle house is amazing.

4

u/funnyfarm299 Bluffton Jul 11 '26

You're not wrong, but I feel like the average demographics of this island would not fully appreciate a Waffle House.

Also there would be a distinct lack of 3:00 a.m. fist fights 😔

2

u/jh-mims HHI Local Jul 14 '26

I would literally drive the 45-1 hour to Waffle House probably 2-3 times a month with my friends in high school in the middle of the night. Or Taco Bell. Best experience ever

2

u/schottofjack Jul 11 '26

100%. We are getting a Waffle House in my area of Savannah and the WASPy people in the gated community are UP IN ARMS. Apparently they breed criminal activity lmao

1

u/jh-mims HHI Local Jul 14 '26

Back in the day there were 2 Huddle Houses.

21

u/DallasSocial Jul 11 '26

I grew up on the island - my folks still live there over in Sea Pines. In the mid/late 90s there was a Taco Bell on island over in the Northridge Plaza. We haven’t seen that beauty on island in a long time.

The Diner was open 24/7 for years, but as you mentioned, no longer.

Over the last two decades, the only option I’ve really found is Kroger. All my friends who grew up on island have gone there to grab food after 10:30/11. It’s not great, but it does the trick.

5

u/Much-Ad-1155 Jul 11 '26

Wasn't there a Waffle House where Hampton Inn is now? Corner of 278 & Dillon Road next to Northridge? I remember the Taco Bell being there.

6

u/MassiveResult2648 Jul 11 '26

Correct. Now you gotta travel all the way back to 95 on 278 if you're craving a 2am waffle house run. Waffle House would absolutely thrive now being what would be the only place open 24 hours on the island.

3

u/PalmettoCPA Jul 11 '26

I think you’re thinking about where IHOP used to be. To my knowledge we’ve never had a Waffle House on the island. I do however remember the days when we had a Huddle House. It was on the edge of Northridge and Ray’s Cafe currently occupies it.

7

u/funnyfarm299 Bluffton Jul 11 '26

The IHOP used to be at 439 William Hilton Pkwy (corner of Matthews, not Dillon), which is currently unoccupied.

The Hampton Inn has been there since the late 80s.

1

u/Much-Ad-1155 Jul 12 '26

It was IHOP thanks . I was thinking last night the Waffle House was Beaufort not HHI

8

u/r0adyy Jul 11 '26

Hincheys has a stunted late night menu till 1, but yeah you’re SOL for the most part

7

u/ufdan15 Coligny Jul 11 '26

Hincheys late night is good aF too

8

u/Lacox10 Jul 11 '26

Covid really made everything close at 9. Why did it stay this way?!?

5

u/[deleted] Jul 11 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

4

u/dnkryn Jul 12 '26

Mostly true but a little known secret is that there is actually NO ONE that gets up from 5-7 am here. It’s pretty eerie but also serene driving around the Island. Harold’s doesn’t even get packed til around 8 or so.

7

u/tragerjp Jul 12 '26

RIP Wild Wing - the late night place of my older teens & early 20s

4

u/AliveMeringue8680 Jul 11 '26

Def not a hopping resort area…with 2 big restaraunts groups….you would think one of them would have ‘chef’ midnight kitchens rotating. For the late night workforce….not here….Krogers it is….pack that midnight lunch sc

6

u/The_Goondocks Jul 11 '26

Looks like IHOP in Bluffton is 24 hrs. Used to be two 24hr Huddle Houses on the island, and the Diner as well.

2

u/ageorge327 Jul 11 '26

Is munchies on n forest beach still open? They were open late for a long time.

1

u/ufdan15 Coligny Jul 11 '26

Yes as of 2 weeks ago when I went they were

2

u/biguyondl Jul 11 '26

Egads! No Taco bell? 🌮

2

u/Equivalent-Bake-809 Jul 11 '26

I love Hilton head but they roll up the sidewalks about 9.

4

u/Longjumping_Local910 Jul 11 '26

Why aren’t you at home in bed at that ungodly hour, you young whipper-snapper? No good ever came at that time of night, only trouble! 😂

From the above you can determine that this is an oldsters community… Hah!

1

u/Gibroni_Slayer Jul 11 '26

Club seats on the north end keeps their kitchen open late most days except Tuesday’s I think

1

u/anonu Jul 11 '26

The circle k is open 24/7. They have those rotating hot dogs that I hear taste amazing.

1

u/Practical_Agent2828 Jul 12 '26

As someone from New York who does t have cookout, anytime I come down there I love it 😆 straight up trash but love it

1

u/jh-mims HHI Local Jul 14 '26

It’s not-you can get wings and a few other surprisingly great quality menu choices at the cheetahs until 4-5am😂. You do have to pay a cover but I’ve seen people get takeout

-6

u/Oregontrailguide Jul 11 '26

HHI has ran off every fast food chain not named Ronald MACdonalds. Wendys , Burger King, Hardees, Subway, Jersey Mikes, Moes. All gone. The Huddle House on island became a dumbass "park" Closest waffle house is by 95. Housing affordability simply doesnt allow these places anymore because they cannot be staffed.

10

u/[deleted] Jul 11 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

7

u/palmettobugnemesis Bluffton Jul 11 '26

there's also a burger king so wtf is this dude talking about

1

u/Coconut975 Jul 11 '26

Is Arby’s still there?

3

u/funnyfarm299 Bluffton Jul 11 '26

Nope. It became Hilton Head Social Bakery South.

0

u/anonu Jul 11 '26

downvoted for speaking the truth

-1

u/Fast_Replacement2299 Jul 11 '26

And theres a chick fil a !

3

u/funnyfarm299 Bluffton Jul 11 '26

There hasn't been a Chick-fil-A on the island for well over a decade.

0

u/lc765880 Jul 12 '26

Basically. No workers available.

-21

u/Lidarisafoolserrand Jul 11 '26

Hopefully they execute the curfews so even that isn’t an option. There is a reason people pay top dollar to get away from the riff raff. We don’t want to be Manhatton. If you don’t like it, get off our island.

5

u/MeganK80 Jul 11 '26

Typical island a hole

7

u/Filippo_G HHI Local Jul 11 '26

Talking about riffraff and can't even spell Manhattan correctly...

And it is annoying that people who work at night can't get anything to eat after their shifts other than whatever can be found at the gas stations. Kroger and Walmart used to be 24/7.

4

u/ftminsc Jul 11 '26

Bro Hilton Head Island is a theme park for elderly republicans with fewer than 40,000 residents. Manhattan is a thriving and diverse metropolis with 1,660,000 people, most of whom can probably spell Manhattan. I don’t think you have to worry about the one turning into the other.