2 Charleston-area seafood restaurants have abruptly closed. What's behind the closures?

A restaurant on Johns Island served its last customers on Nov. 18. In a social media post, Blu Oyster Sushi & Seafood , housed along Maybank Highway, listed “prioritizing health and family” as the reason for the recent decision.

Before serving its last customers, the restaurant offered nigiri, sushi rolls, fried fish platters, seafood pasta and a kimchi burger, among other options from the land and sea. It's vacating a space inside the same Johns Island development where businesses like KISS Cafe and Island Provisions operate. “As we approach our third anniversary, we have decided to make the very tough decision to close our doors,” ownership wrote in a post that also thanked its employees and customers.



“We only get one chance at this short life, and right now, prioritizing health and family has become our focus.” Blu Oyster brings seafood, raw and cooked, to Johns Island Rick Agius, the owner of Garage 75 and Zeppelin Pizza Co., debuted Blu Oyster about three years ago.

The restaurateur previously opened and closed Dills Camp & Sundries on Camp Road and a second Zeppelin location at 1175 Folly Road, where Ti-Ney Bangkok currently operates. One mile away from that new Thai establishment , Gillie’s Seafood has been closed for the past three months. What started as a temporary closure appears to have become a permanent one.

A "for sale" sign posted outside of Gillie's Seafood on James Island on Nov. 18, 2024. In an August social media post , ownership wrote to its customers, saying they were "working hard to get you back in here soon as possible.

" Gillie's Seafood has not reopened for lunch or dinner since. A “for lease” sign has been placed outside the beloved seafood spot, known for grilled and fried seafood platters, gumbo, she-crab soup and its sought-after soul rolls . Chef and owner Sean Mendes, who named the restaurant after his grandmother LaReese Gilliard, could not be reached after multiple requests for comment regarding the future of the 805 Folly Road space.

A real estate listing touts more than 2,000 square feet with a new roof, public parking lot and "excellent exposure with over 50,900 cars passing per day." Restaurant review: Gillie's Seafood's comforting fare is tightly rooted to the Lowcountry.