Parker's store in Port Royal to be torn down

Beaufort County This Week

****STORY 1*****

Fast-growing gas station and convenience store chain Parker’s Kitchen is opening new stores right and left as part of an ambitious expansion. That’s why a demolition of a Parker’s at the busy intersection at Ribaut Road and Lady’s Island Drive in Port Royal is turning heads. The town of Port Royal issued the demolition permit to a contractor for Drayton-Parker Companies LLC, which develops Parker’s Kitchen stores, to tear down the building and heavy equipment operators have been on the scene these week.

Parker’s Kitchen issued this statement about the closure:

“We recently made the difficult decision to close our store at 1451 Ribaut Road in Port Royal, which did not meet our brand standards,” the statement says, “and hope that future development at this site will serve the community’s needs in Port Royal.”

Now the property is listed for sale, meaning a new use will be coming to the highly visible location eventually.

Parker’s is expanding into new markets including Myrtle Beach, Columbia and Jacksonville, Fla. The company employs 1,600 people in Georgia and South Carolina.

Last month alone, the Savannah-based company celebrated the opening of two new stores — a 200,000 square-foot store at Beaufort Station, the new Beaufort shopping center at 311 Robert Smalls Pkwy. in Beaufort, and at Moncks Corner, which is north of Charleston in Berkeley County.

The new stores were the company’s 95th and 96th stores overall and the 44th and 45th in South Carolina. There are 17 stores in Beaufort County.

****STORY 2******

It’s time for some food, music and fun on Paris Avenue in Port Royal with the 2025 Bands Brews and BBQ festival. The event, in its 14th year now, is bringing two days of food, music and fun with wings, barbecue, craft beers and live music on Friday and Saturday, February 14th & 15th.

The official South Carolina Barbecue Association sanctioned event benefits The Zonta Club of Beaufort and is always a fun time for foodies of all ages.

Friday night, February 14th is the Wing Throw Down from 6 to 9pm where you can sample wing recipes from participating cookers while enjoying live music from the Parris Island Marine Band, and Chris Jones.

Saturday is all about the BBQ as BBQ tasting day runs from 11am to 4pm with more than a dozen cook teams from across the Southeast serving their award-winning wings and butts. Local bands will be providing the entertainment for the day and there will also be food trucks on site serving up other fare.

The sampling of wings Friday night and BBQ Saturday will be available by purchasing tickets for $1. Beer, soda and wine will also be available for purchase and the event always takes place rain or shine.

For more information about Bands Brews & BBQ in Port Royal, and its many volunteer opportunities, go to ZontaClubofBeaufort.org.

***STORY 3****

Bluffton High School had five athletes, all football players, put pen to paper on National Signing Day on Feb. 5 in the Bluffton High School auditorium.

Gavin Carrick signed to play in the Sun Belt conference at Coastal Carolina as a long snapper.

“I’m going to be playing with the best competition, and I like it that way,” said Carrick. “I’m going to be able to get out there and prove myself.

Other Bobcats that signed to play at the next level include Ethan Cartmel with Presbyterian and Jayden Jefferies with Erskine college.

Finally, Sebastian Tollefson and Kaleb Gadson will remain teammates at the next level at Limestone University.

Congrats to all signees from Bluffton.