Ma Daisy’s Porch holds grand opening with ribbon cutting Aug. 29

Ma Daisy’s Porch, a restaurant celebrating Gullah Geechie culture, opened Aug. 29 in Old Town Bluffton. The restaurant is located at 1255 May River in Old Town Bluffton.

A new restaurant celebrating Gullah Geechie culture, complete with a one-of-a-kind culinary and entertainment compound, recently held its grand opening Aug. 29 in Bluffton.

Ma Daisy’s Porch held the official grand opening in the heart of Old Town Bluffton. The new restaurant and compound is located at 1255 May River in Old Town Bluffton. The grand opening event featured a drum performance, live entertainment and a ribbon cutting in collaboration with the Hilton Head-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.

From fruit wines and lemon drop flights to freshly made pastries and cultural art, Ma Daisy’s Porch offers a multi-sensory experience imbued with Lowcountry charm. The venue has already created over 40 new jobs across culinary, hospitality, bakery, and artisan teams—fueling local opportunity and service excellence from the first drink flight to the first bite of creamy grits.

Ma Daisy’s Porch is a two-acre Gullah cultural compound in Old Town Bluffton combining a Gullah Cultural Heritage Center, Chef B’s Restaurant, Backus Bakery, De’ Maket open-air market, and an outdoor beer garden and entertainment pavilion. The destination is dedicated to preserving, honoring, celebrating, and promoting Gullah culture through food, art, music, education, and community.

The owners include current Town of Bluffton councilwoman and chef Bridgette Frazier and Billy Watterson, CEO of Moon King Entertainment and Watterson Brands.

Ma Daisy’s Porch is named in honor of Frazier’s grandmother, Daisy Pinckney Frazier, a descendant of a formerly enslaved African and the daughter of a sharecropper.

“This moment and the realization of a dream once deferred coming to life is a feeling of complete euphoria and wonderment,” Frazier, Founder of Ma Daisy’s Porch said. “Never has there been a place in Bluffton respectfully tailored and created to tell the awe-inspiring stories and rich heritage of a culture of people whose influence has permeated just about every corner of the planet.”

Frazier said, “the Gullah community and those who paved a way for all will now be a place to connect, learn and tell the stories of those who defied to exist, thrive, create, and sustain a culture whose presence is and will always be formidable.”

Watterson said the goal of every Moon King venue is to create more than a place to eat and drink, it will be a place to build experiences.

“The moon dictates the rise and fall of the tides, a stunningly accurate phenomenon that marks the passage of time,” he said. “People in the Lowcountry have honored this aspect of nature for years through storytelling, food traditions, music, and dance. We want to accurately sing those notes and authentically present different points of view through food and beverage experiences.”

A Cultural Destination with Something for Everyone

Ma Daisy’s Porch features multiple venues and experiences across the compound, including the Bluffton Gullah Cultural Heritage Center. This is a community anchor dedicated to preserving, educating, and celebrating the rich history, traditions, and contributions of the Gullah-Geechie people through interactive exhibits, programming and engagement.

Chef B’s Restaurant is a two-floor dining venue by culinary standout Chef Bridgette Frazier, featuring ornate décor, a masterfully crafted bar, and a  menu of elevated Southern and Gullah cuisine: shrimp & grits, Geechee wings, deviled egg flights, perloo rice, a fried sweet potato bar, pineapple bowls, and more. Cocktails and beverages nod to Bluffton juke joints and Gullah folklore.

The Backus Bakery has fresh-baked focaccia, baguettes, sourdough, assorted cookies, homemade scones, and oversized beignets (stuffed to order with Nutella, crème, or berry compote). Specialty sips include banana pudding coolatas and strawberry clouds. De’ Maket is an open-air market for artisan and craft vendors showcasing local creativity and cultural art.The Outdoor Beer Garden & Entertainment Pavilion has Adirondack and beer garden seating, fire pits, lawn games, live music, sports viewings, and flexible space for community events.