Constructed in the 1800s, this 130-year-old historic building has been integral to the development of Savannah’s community, serving the area’s iconic City Market as a cigar factory, boarding house, and antique store. Now, 27 Montgomery Street is getting a new life as The Darling Oyster Bar, an expansion of the owners’ hit restaurant on famed King Street in Charleston, SC.

Incorporating the Old into the New

The adaptive reuse and historic renovation process of this project will bring community residents and visitors a vibrant dining destination, complete with two full-service bars, a raw bar, and ample dining space with private dining options on the first and second floors.

In addition to preserving much of the building’s original brick and wood features, the main dining room will showcase a dramatic, two-story ceiling that mimics the inside of a wooden ship through high-quality carpentry. Complete restoration of the exterior includes masonry and stucco repairs, as well as new mahogany and steel storefront systems. Due to the age and inherent character of a building that has survived more than 100 years, nearly every aspect is customized to fit the existing space properly, including windows, MEP systems, flooring, and millwork.

Choate Construction began mobilization of the project in late 2021, with the project expected to be complete in the summer of 2022. The Darling Oyster Bar hopes to welcome guests in Q4 of 2022.