A New Look at
THE OLD OYSTER FACTORY An iconic island institution gets a makeover. BY BARRY KAUFMAN
When it comes to change, there are two schools of thought. The first perspective is, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” This is the philosophy that values consistency over progress, recognizing that what came before is worth preserving and must be protected. The second perspective is, “If you’re not moving forward, you’re dying.” Those who follow this train of thought fear stagnation over everything else, always aiming for the prizes of progress. When you’re dealing with an icon as beloved as The Old Oyster Factory, you have to honor both schools of thought. On the one hand, this is a restaurant that has spent decades defining Hilton Head 12
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Island’s cuisine, with every square inch representing a treasured memory for some patron. On the other hand, even icons have room for improvement. “In my opinion, the old back deck was one of the most wasted pieces of real estate on the island,” said General Manager Andy Love. Not so much any more, where the deck which once served more or less as a holding area for those awaiting a table has been brilliantly transformed into one of the most breathtaking outdoor dining venues on the island. Amid the Broad Creek scenery that has made the restaurant such a treasure, the deck has expanded to full service, with a wide wraparound bar at its
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PHOTOS BY ROB KAUFMAN
core anchoring pure happy hour bliss. And while it’s the most visible change to have swept The Old Oyster Factory as part of its massive renovation this past spring, its certainly not the only one. “COVID kind of made us reinvent ourselves,” said Love. “It was really an opportunity to redo our entire way of thinking.” With CRAB Group taking ownership of the venerable restaurant in September of 2019, the time was ripe for a refresh. The décor was essentially stripped down to the studs, with tables and chairs that had been in place since the restaurant’s late ’80s debut being 86'd for newer furnishings. With the help of CSH Designs the old
