Kelsey Halm
Poogan’s Hospitality today announced that Poogan’s Southern Kitchen at Nexton Square will transition to Poogan’s Smokehouse, bringing the restaurant group’s established barbecue concept to Summerville while preserving a selection of Poogan’s Southern Kitchen favorites guests have come to know over nearly six years.
The transition will give Poogan’s Smokehouse two locations: its original restaurant on East Bay Street in downtown Charleston and the new Nexton Square location.
Poogan’s Southern Kitchen will serve guests through September 27, then close briefly beginning September 28 while the restaurant undergoes branding, menu and cosmetic updates. It will reopen as Poogan’s Smokehouse at Nexton Square on Monday, October 5.
The change grew from an opportunity Poogan’s Hospitality saw in the immediate Nexton market, where dedicated barbecue options are limited, as well as a strong response from guests who had the chance to experience the Smokehouse menu firsthand.
In August, Poogan’s Southern Kitchen hosted a Poogan’s Smokehouse takeover, bringing selections from the original East Bay Street restaurant to Nexton for a limited engagement. Guest response exceeded expectations and gave the team a clear indication that the concept could resonate beyond downtown Charleston.
Rather than introducing an entirely new brand to the neighborhood, the transition pairs a concept with a decade-long track record with the guest relationships Poogan’s Southern Kitchen has built since opening at Nexton Square in 2020.
“Poogan’s Southern Kitchen has been part of the Nexton community for nearly six years, and that time has given us a real understanding of our guests and what they enjoy,” said Cameron O’Toole, Director of Sales & Marketing. “When we brought the Smokehouse menu to Nexton in August, the response was immediate. We saw both a genuine appetite for what we were serving and an opportunity to fill a gap in the area’s dining options. Bringing Poogan’s Smokehouse to Nexton allows us to build on a concept that has been successful for us for more than a decade, while keeping some of the Southern Kitchen dishes our guests have made part of their routines.”
Beginning October 5, the Nexton menu will shift its focus to barbecue, with many of the dishes associated with the downtown Smokehouse joining a rotating daily slate of Poogan’s Southern Kitchen favorites. Those daily specials will include Meatloaf on Mondays, Southern Fish & Chips on Tuesdays, Smash Burger & Fries on Wednesdays, Atlantic Salmon on Thursdays, Shrimp & Grits on Fridays, Fried Chicken on Saturdays and Chicken & Waffles on Sundays.
On weekends, guests can also enjoy a curated selection of brunch favorites from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Nexton location will also offer weekday Happy Hour from 4 to 6 p.m., featuring half-price guacamole, half-price nachos and $2 sliders, along with BOGO pulled pork sandwiches to-go on Tuesdays. Kids 12 and younger will eat free on Fridays after 3 p.m. with the purchase of an adult meal, and military members, veterans and first responders will continue to receive a dine-in discount.
Additional menu details and reopening information will be shared in the weeks leading up to the transition.