Al’s Burger Shack, a Chapel Hill chain founded in 2013, opened its first out-of-state location at The Corner at Westcott, 9500 Dorchester Road, Summerville, replacing a former Five Guys. Owner Taylor Buford is a local returning home. Menu: burgers, hot dogs, fries, tots, milkshakes. Open daily, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Chef Raheem Sealy is opening Kaia at 186 Coming St. in late July or early August. Located in the former Sorghum & Salt space, the restaurant will feature Caribbean cuisine with Asian influences, serving small plates alongside beer, wine, and cocktails. Sealy, who currently operates three Miami restaurants, will commute to Charleston to oversee the new venture.

Joe Walker, owner of Cafe Roca and The Corner Shop, plans to open Italian restaurant Bad Bambino in August at the former Taco Bartina spot (1301 Ashley River Rd). The 35-seat, walk-in-only spot will operate 4-10 p.m. with a darker, date-night vibe. Will Cammer, formerly of Costa, will lead the kitchen, serving simplified Italian favorites, upstate New York-style square pizza, plus wine and beer.

CAVA opened its third Lowcountry location at 124 North Creek Drive in Summerville’s Cane Bay area. The Mediterranean fast-casual chain, founded 2010 in Maryland, now operates 474 U.S. stores. The spot is open daily 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Charleston restaurant 167 Raw has a new lobster ravioli on the menu.

Popular bagel shop PopUp Bagels, known for its “grip, rip, and dip” concept, will have its grand opening on Friday, July 3rd from 7-11 AM at 83 Mary St. 

Stono’s Oyster Bar, a 5,700-square-foot waterfront restaurant at 2409 Maybank Highway on Johns Island, is nearing completion and targeting a spring 2027 opening. Owned by Mike Shuler, the boater-friendly spot on the Stono River will offer 60-plus free boat slips, indoor and outdoor seating, a rooftop bar, and a hangar door. The menu centers on oysters and locally sourced seafood.

Hector Garate, owner of Palmira Barbecue (2366 Ashley River Road) and a 2026 James Beard semifinalist, competes on “Pitmasters,” a new Food Network series premiering July 13 at 9 p.m. Filmed in Utah, the show pits nine two-person teams in an open-flame showdown for up to $50,000. Garate is paired with Ruben Santana of Brooklyn’s Bark Barbecue. Fellow South Carolinians Frank Miller and Chris Williams of Roy’s Grille also compete. Episodes stream the next day on HBO Max and discovery+.

Point Break Coffee, a James Island shop, opened a second location at 49 Archdale St. downtown on June 22. The 290-square-foot spot offers smoothies, matcha, açaí bowls and gluten-free treats, with an espresso machine coming this fall. Owner Mary Ann Stisher opened the original on Folly Road in 2022. Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday through Monday, closed Wednesdays.

The new neighborhood bar and restaurant has officially opened. The new spot is located at 525 Meeting St. Check out their menu here.

The seafood restaurant in Awendaw is for sale. Owners Mary Rancourt, 90, her son Tim Penninger and his wife Stephanie listed the property in a retirement sale through National Restaurant Properties. Rancourt bought the former general store in 1960 and opened the restaurant in 1993. The restaurant will operate normally during the transition.

Mozzo Deli shared on social media that it will be opening its fourth location – the new spot will be announced in the next week or two. Mozzo currently has two locations in Mount Pleasant and one in Charleston.

The North Charleston Asian and Latin fusion restaurant on Remount Road, has permanently closed. Co-owned by Hines and chef Stephen Thompson, Dashi operated as a food truck for five years before opening its brick-and-mortar location in 2019. The Dashi Wine Bar and Emporium on Rivers Avenue, which opened last summer, will remain open.

Ally moved to Charleston last month and began working at the Folly Beach donut spot owned by Ritchie and Lesley Lewis. Hot Pursuit makes fresh donuts every morning at 27 Center Street.

The burger spot opened its third location in IOP at 1012 Ocean Blvd. Heavy’s other locations are in Charleston and Daniel Island.

The sushi spot, from the owners of seafood restaurant 167 Raw, will relocate to a bigger space at 5 Cumberland St., which was previously home to Irish bar Bumpa’s. The move is expected in the next six months.

Lewis Barbecue is now serving smoked oxtail with Marsh Hen Mill green chile grits and a Hatch red chile reduction. The new dish is available every Monday.

The Mount Pleasant brewery announced on social media that it will open its second brewery on Cannon Street in downtown Charleston. The Mount Pleasant location is at 547 Long Point Road, Suite 101.

Sonder Wine Bar + Retail Shop is now open at 90 Cannon St. in Charleston’s Cannonborough Elliottborough neighborhood. Owned by Michelle Kauczka and Jill Schenzel, it serves wine by the glass and bottle plus small plates. Hours: noon-8 p.m. Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; noon-10 p.m. Friday, Saturday. Happy hour 4-6 p.m.