News Summary

Hilton Head is commencing the demolition of the former Aunt Chilada’s Easy Street Cafe site to create public parking, enhancing access to Coligny Beach and Lowcountry Celebration Park. The town bought the site for $2.9 million and aims to open the new parking area by Memorial Day weekend 2025, while making improvements such as lighting and signage. Additional parking from the Wild Wing Cafe property has also been acquired. Free parking will be available, with a future transition to paid beach parking planned for March 2025.

Hilton Head Begins Demolition at Former Aunt Chilada’s Site for Public Parking

Hilton Head is taking steps to transform the former Aunt Chilada’s Easy Street Cafe site into public parking. The popular restaurant closed its doors in September 2024 after 36 years of service.

Key Details:

• Purchase Price: The town acquired the site for $2.9 million in October 2024.
• Parking Development: The location will support public parking, leveraging its close proximity to Coligny Beach and Lowcountry Celebration Park.
• Additional Parking: The town has also purchased the former Wild Wing Cafe across the street for more parking options.

Parking Timeline and Features:

• Opening Date: Beachgoers can park at the Aunt Chilada’s site by Memorial Day weekend 2025.
• Current Status: This year, no new spaces will be added. Instead, the town will seal and restripe the 89 existing spaces.
• Improvements: Plans include adding lighting, signage, and cameras to enhance the parking area.

Capacity Estimates:

• The former Aunt Chilada’s site may accommodate between 115 to 130 parking spaces.
• The Wild Wing Cafe property could provide 110 to 140 parking spots.

Ongoing Studies and Committees:

• An “ad-hoc working group” has been established to assess the parking challenges in the Coligny Beach/Pope Avenue area.
• The group’s final report is expected by September 30, 2025.

Additional Context:

While public parking is accessible on the former Aunt Chilada’s property, users are advised to avoid the adjacent retail parking area, which is reserved for retail customers. This parking will be free.

Starting March 1, 2025, paid parking will be introduced for the island’s beaches, but Coligny Beach lots will remain exempt from fees for the time being. The ordinance classifies Coligny Beach Park as a “paid parking area.”

The future of the site remains uncertain until the completion of the parking study. Meanwhile, nearby, Amigos Cafe Y Cantina continues to operate and offer traditional Tex-Mex cuisine, while Aunt Chilada’s owners are planning to open a new restaurant at Reilley’s Plaza at 1 Greenwood Dr #7A.

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Additional Resources

• Island Packet: Hilton Head Demolition News
• AOL: Hilton Head Developments
• What Now: Aunt Chilada’s Closures
• Wikipedia: Hilton Head Island
• Island Packet: Beaufort Community News
• Encyclopedia Britannica: South Carolina