Aiken, South Carolina, August 14, 2025
Aiken, South Carolina — Upcoming Restaurants and Openings
This guide lists the notable upcoming dining and retail openings in Aiken, South Carolina, including anticipated opening windows, addresses, and available details. Phone numbers and exact opening dates are provided where available; otherwise they are noted as To Be Announced. This is a purely informational summary of planned developments in the city.
1. Olive Garden
Anticipated Opening: Fall 2025
Location: 2265 Whiskey Road, Aiken, SC
Phone: To Be Announced
Details: The new Olive Garden will occupy a newly constructed building on the south side of the city. The restaurant is designed as a 7,805-square-foot facility with approximately 235 seats and 117 parking spaces. Exterior finishes include stone and brick elements. The concept will offer full-service Italian-style dining and is intended to serve both residents and visitors to the area.
2. Chicken Salad Chick
Anticipated Opening: To Be Announced
Location: Aiken Towne Park, Aiken, SC
Phone: To Be Announced
Details: This fast-casual concept focuses on a variety of chicken-salad flavors and accompaniments. It is planned as one of several tenants in a multi-building redevelopment project in Aiken Towne Park, contributing a quick-service lunch and takeout option to the site.
3. Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Anticipated Opening: To Be Announced
Location: Aiken Towne Park, Aiken, SC
Phone: To Be Announced
Details: Planned as a health-focused counter-serve cafe, this location will offer smoothies, bowls, and light sandwich options. It is intended to serve diners seeking quicker, health-oriented meals within the Towne Park development.
4. Melty
Anticipated Opening: To Be Announced
Location: Aiken Towne Park, Aiken, SC
Phone: To Be Announced
Details: Melty is a small-format eatery focused on gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches and comfort-food concepts. It will join other new dining options in the redevelopment area and target customers looking for casual, affordable meals.
5. EyeMart Express (Retail Tenant)
Anticipated Opening: To Be Announced
Location: Aiken Towne Park, Aiken, SC
Phone: To Be Announced
Details: Although primarily an eyewear and vision retail tenant rather than a restaurant, this store is part of the same development cluster and will add to the site’s range of services and amenities for visitors and shoppers.
6. Unnamed Fast-Casual Restaurant (3,000 sq ft)
Anticipated Opening: To Be Announced
Location: Aiken Towne Park, Aiken, SC
Phone: To Be Announced
Details: A lease has been announced for a 3,000-square-foot fast-casual restaurant space within one of the new buildings at Aiken Towne Park. Specific concept details and opening timeline are pending. This addition is expected to broaden the variety of quick-serve and dine-in options at the site.
Note on timing and contact information: Several of these openings are part of a larger redevelopment of the Towne Park area. Precise opening dates, phone numbers, and operational details have not been finalized for many tenants; monitor official local business listings or the property management for the most current updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Olive Garden open in Aiken?
Olive Garden is anticipated to open in Fall 2025. Exact dates and reservation details will be confirmed closer to opening.
Where is Aiken Towne Park and which new restaurants are planned there?
Aiken Towne Park is a redevelopment site in Aiken that will host multiple new tenants. Planned dining tenants include Chicken Salad Chick, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, Melty, and an unnamed 3,000‑square‑foot fast‑casual restaurant. Several other retail and service businesses are planned for the same development.
How can I find the latest opening dates or contact numbers?
Phone numbers and specific opening dates are listed as To Be Announced for many tenants. The most reliable sources for updates are official business pages, local business directories, or the management of the redevelopment property.
Will there be parking available at these new locations?
Parking provisions vary by site. The Olive Garden location has a planned allocation of approximately 117 parking spaces. Parking at Aiken Towne Park will be provided as part of the overall site design; exact counts depend on final site plans.
Will these restaurants offer takeout and delivery?
Most fast-casual and cafe concepts typically offer takeout and many also participate in delivery services, though final service options will depend on each tenant’s operational decisions at opening.
Key Features at a Glance
| Concept | Anticipated Opening | Location | Size (sq ft) | Seating (approx.) | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olive Garden | Fall 2025 | 2265 Whiskey Road | 7,805 | 235 | To Be Announced |
| Chicken Salad Chick | To Be Announced | Aiken Towne Park | To Be Announced | To Be Announced | To Be Announced |
| Tropical Smoothie Cafe | To Be Announced | Aiken Towne Park | To Be Announced | To Be Announced | To Be Announced |
| Melty | To Be Announced | Aiken Towne Park | To Be Announced | To Be Announced | To Be Announced |
| EyeMart Express (Retail) | To Be Announced | Aiken Towne Park | To Be Announced | N/A | To Be Announced |
| Unnamed Fast-Casual (3,000 sq ft) | To Be Announced | Aiken Towne Park | 3,000 | To Be Announced | To Be Announced |
Tip: For up-to-date opening announcements and contact information, check local business registries or the property development updates in Aiken when planning a visit.
Author: STAFF HERE AIKEN
The AIKEN STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREAiken.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Aiken, Aiken County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Aiken Horse Show, Aiken Bluegrass Festival, and polo matches at Whitney Field. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Aiken Chamber of Commerce and the Aiken County Historical Museum, plus leading businesses in manufacturing and tourism that power the local economy such as Bridgestone and the Aiken County Visitors Center. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAiken.com, HEREBeaufort.com, HEREChapin.com, HERECharleston.com, HEREClinton.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGeorgetown.com, HEREGreenwood.com, HEREGreenville.com, HEREHiltonHead.com, HEREIrmo.com, HEREMyrtleBeach.com, HERENewberry.com, HERERockHill.com, and HERESpartanburg.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.
