Retailers, restaurants and other service businesses continue to face challenges relative to the current pandemic. Still, the landscape in Bluffton and Hilton Head Island continues to evolve.

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

• Kingfisher, 18 Harbourside Lane, Hilton Head. The Town of Hilton Head Island has purchased the 1.5-acre site that formerly housed this seafood restaurant at Shelter Cove. The town paid $875,000 for the tract from real estate transfer fees and plans to raze the structures.

“The acquisition of property in the Shelter Cove Marina area opens up opportunities to enhance open space, pathway connectivity, parking and public access to the waterfront,” said Josh Gruber, deputy town manager.

In August, the town acquired two tracts of property along U.S. 278 totaling 4.58 acres. It currently owns 149 land parcels covering 1,299.21 acres on the island, having spent $177.91 million in acquisitions.

• Wright Family Park, Calhoun Street, Bluffton. The $1.6 million community park facing the May River, and across the street from Church of the Cross, is expected to open in October. It features a large central lawn, a bulkhead, crabbing dock, boardwalk and a wooden dock with a floating pier. The Squire Pope family antebellum summer home on the property, one of the 10 remaining structures that did not crumble during the burning of Bluffton in the Civil War, is being restored.

Openings, reopenings, ribbon cuttings and closings:

• Marleys Island Grille, 35 Office Park Road, Hilton Head. This popular Caribbean-style restaurant outside of the main Sea Pines gate closed Sept. 12 after 18 years in business. After renovation, the building will reopen as the SERG group’s third Giuseppi’s Pizza & Pasta parlor in the area. Marleys Shrimp and Burger Shack next door remains open.

“For almost 30 years, guests have been asking us to bring Giuseppi’s back to the south end of Hilton Head and after much discussion, we decided that the Marleys location was the perfect place to set its roots,” said Anthony Arcuri, Giuseppi’s president and SERG partner.

• River Road Café, 70 Pennington Drive, Suite 20, Sheridan Park, Bluffton. After an extensive remodel of the former Walnuts space, this new restaurant serves Louisiana Gulf Coast classics like gumbo and red beans and rice. Patrons can also enjoy eight different poboys, fried catfish, chicken and waffles and breakfast plates, among other items. All dishes are made in-house.

• The Purple Cow, 24G Palmetto Bay Road, Hilton Head. This bakery opened in 2015 and then closed its Port Royal location earlier this year. It recently reopened on the south end and offers customized homemade donuts and beverages. The menu changes daily. Patrons can enjoy patio dining.

• G-Free Spot, Main Street Village, 1511 Main St., Hilton Head. This gluten-free bakery had been operating in Coligny Plaza on the island’s south end for two years and recently moved to a larger space on the north end. Serving breakfast, lunch and desserts from both gluten-free and regular kitchens, the bakery’s offerings include muffins, cheesecake, brownies, cookies, coffee cakes, salads and special sandwiches for lunch.

Have Bluffton or Hilton Head business news to share with our readers? Send information to Dean Rowland at leaftoo@live.com.