Retailers, restaurants and other service businesses are changing the retail and commercial landscape in Bluffton and Hilton Head. Of course, much of the business community ground to a halt for the past few months because of the pandemic, but new life is emerging slowly with seating modifications.

Here’s the latest in new construction, renovations, relocations, mergers, planned projects, closings and grand openings.

• Red Stripes Caribbean Cuisine & Lounge, 8 Pin Oak St., Bluffton. This Bluffton mainstay for eight years has opened a second location – on Hilton Head Island at 840 William Hilton Parkway. The menu is the same as its Bluffton restaurant, including jerk chicken and oxtails and sides to seafood entrees, appetizers and veggie options. Of course, the drink menu features many rum delights.

• Stein Mart, Bluffton and Hilton Head Island. This venerable clothier and home décor retailer here for many years is closing all of its doors nationwide after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. It had anchor locations at Sea Turtle Marketplace on Hilton Head and at Belfair Towne Village in Bluffton. The store has been offering huge discounts on all inventory until they close, date unknown.

• Lowcountry Fresh Market & Cafe, Washington Square, Buckwalter Parkway, Bluffton. This start-up enterprise hopes to open early next year. It plans to sell locally sourced produce, meats and seafood from Gullah farms and local fisheries and plans to be open for breakfast and lunch. The owners are associating with the Gullah Farmers Cooperative Association based in northern Beaufort County.

Openings, reopenings, ribbon cuttings and closings:

• Cinemark Theater, Berkeley Place, 106 Bluffton Parkway, Bluffton, Aug. 25. The 12-screen cineplex reopened with modifications since being closed on March 31 because of the pandemic. Face masks must be worn indoors, and there will be reduced seating capacity. A mix of older and newer movies will be offered at $8 for a matinee showing and $10 and $10.50 for non-matinee showings. Concessions will be available.

• Park Plaza Cinema, 33 Office Park Road, Suite 201, Hilton Head, Aug. 10. This three-screen independent theater near the Sea Pines main gate reopened for private screenings after a state-ordered shutdown in March due to the pandemic. It began showing newly released movies Aug. 21, with staggered show times. Face coverings are required, and a state order limits occupancy to 50 percent. Menu food, beer and wine are available. Regular ticket prices range from $7.50 to $10.50.

• Chez Georges Bistro & Bar, 37 New Orleans Road, Suite J, Hilton Head, July 26. This new French bistro has moved into the space formerly occupied by Casey’s Sports Bar and Grill. The owners renovated the interior to serve their fine dining French menu, with a twist of Southern influences.

• Spectrum Paint, 4454 Bluffton Park Crescent, Bluffton, Aug. 10. This company claims to be the largest paint dealer in the country, with 11 stores in South Carolina and 81 stores in eight states. It has a private label professional line and other sundries and specialty items. It also offers Benjamin Moore and PPG products, and a full line of architectural, commercial and industrial coatings.

Have Bluffton or Hilton Head business news to share with our readers? Send information to Dean Rowland at leaftoo@live.com. Rowland is a veteran senior editor and freelance writer.