Before - The Westendorff

The Westendorff, St. Philip St., Charleston, S.C.

The Westendorff building has been empty as long as I remember it and it has seemed a shame. I took pictures back in 2010 when there was talk of turning it into a hardware store themed restaurant but that never happened. This time it looks like it will be completed. I am sure construction is further along than when I took these pictures. I was fascinated by the writing on the walls that I had never noticed before. Can't wait to see what they do with it.

From Eater Charleston site: During the process of approvals and construction, owner of upcoming The Westendorff (at 114 St. Philip St.) has had some time to think about his establishment's concept. What started out as a diner-type eatery, will now be a brunch every day place and switch into dinner service in the evenings.

 

 

The Hardest Working Outdoor Caterer in Charleston

Charleston Outdoor Catering, Charleston, S.C.

Hold your hand up if you live in the Lowcountry and have never been at an event catered by the hardest working man in outdoor catering - Jamie Westendorf.

No one, right?

He does have a recent Facebook fan site but I can't tell that he even has a web site of his own. Probably doesn't need one. He is everywhere, at every oyster roast, lowcountry boil and pig picking working in background in the steam and heat under the oak trees.

They aren't exactly vegetarian events. He lays out the whole delicious pig, head and all. A few gals at the recent BBQ celebration he catered for our hospital had to turn their heads and let someone fill their plate for them.

Jamie won a Jefferson Award earlier this year and I snitched this piece from the Post & Courier's report:

Westendorff, owner of Charleston Outdoor Catering in West Ashley, has been giving to those in need for two decades. His business turns a small profit, he drives a broken-down truck and wears raggedy jeans. He jokes about being overdrawn at the bank. "All I do is donate, donate, donate. I find it's easier to bite the bullet than turn people down," he said.

He's known as the guy who cooks for the Lowcountry. Sometimes the food that Westendorff cooks is donated or discounted; he pays for it out of his pocket in many cases. He serves his popular Frogmore stew and tasty coleslaw at just as many charitable events as he does for profit.

His munificence sometimes strains his bank account, but that doesn't slow down his charity work. He has fed the multitudes at the American Lung Association's Camp Puff 'n Stuff to the tune of thousands of dollars out of his pocket.

Cooking for merely a couple of hundred people at weddings and social events pays the bills, but when he voluntarily feeds sometimes thousands at a time, be it kids with cancer or hurricane victims — that's what excites him. After Hurricane Hugo tore through the state in 1989, Westendorff set up his grills in Marion Square and fed about 20,000 to 30,000 people.

Might as well be a facebook fan. He is going to cook for you sooner or later.

Before......Westendorff building

40 Warren St., Charleston, S.C.

The old Westendorff & Son Hardware store building on the corner of St. Philip and Warren has been empty as long as I remember. This morning there was a glossy postcard on my porch announcing plans to renovate it to be a neighborhood restaurant that will resemble an old timey hardware store. Coolness!

This is good news. It has been a shame to watch such a great building sit abandoned. The new owners are offering refreshments and a sneak preview of what is planned on Wednesday evening, 7/14 from 5:45 - 7 p.m. The architect's presentation is at 6:15 p.m.

I've stayed in my house long enough that one by one all the cool things are landing in my part of town.

Before and After - Jamie Westendorff

Jamie Westendorff, After!

I get a lot of hits looking for Jamie so this photo is my gift to those of you who want to make sure he is okay. Jamie was seriously burned in an accident with his cooker earlier this year. He was burned so badly on his hands and face that they flew him to the burn unit in Augusta, Georgia and had to use pig skin to repair his face. Here is the Post & Courier article about his accident.

I was at a meeting for volunteer manager's at James Island County Park last month and was delighted to find Jamie back on the job making our lunch. He insisted on posing with the same cooker that burned him and took me to his truck to show me the gruesome photo album documenting his accident and recovery. I got kinda emotional seeing that the very first picture in the album, the "before" picture was one I had taken as well.

What a miracle!

The Westendorff

The Westendorff, St. Philips St., Charleston, SC 

I cared a lot more when I lived in the neighborhood but I am still happy to see this old hardware store being renovated into a restaurant. Here are past entries on the same topic. Maybe next time I walk downtown lights will be on and there will he happy chaos and tasty treats being served.

Jamie's Crew

Charleston Outdoor Catering, West Ashley, Charleston, S.C.

I've had a lot of hits on my blog lately from people looking for news about Jamie Westendorff. They land here because I had done an entry about Jamie and his catering business.

Jamie was in an cooking related accident recently and had to be air lifted to Augusta, Georgia to treat burns on his arms and face. His daughter has posted on her facebook page that he is now home and recovering well from pig skin grafts.

Jamie's crew cooked a BBQ lunch for us the other day and although they did a great job (yum, yum) it didn't feel right. I asked his crew to pose for me to prove that they were keeping up the pace without him. They are actually standing in front of the cooker that blew up on him.

Here is the link to the Post & Courier article after the accident. It mentions some of the incredible charity work he does regularly.

Get well messages are being left on daughter Jaime Starr Westendorff's Facebook page and her most recent update states: "I AM AMAZED WHAT SOME ANTIBIOTICS, STEROIDS, PIG SKIN AND PRAYERS CAN DO FOR A MAN. IT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN A WEEK AND HE ALREADY LOOKS LIKE MY DADDY AGAIN!"

Speedy recovery Jamie! There are lot of prayers being said on your behalf. This is a picture I took at the last event I saw him at.