Bluffton Shopping: Old Town, Outlets and Thrift
Shopping in Bluffton, SC runs from Old Town’s boutiques and gift shops to the outlets on US 278 and a strong run of thrift stores.
The shops in Bluffton, SC split the same way the town does. Old Town, around Calhoun Street and the May River, has the independent stores: boutiques, gift shops, galleries and a bookshop, all within a walk of each other. Out on US 278 (Fording Island Road), between Old Town and the bridges to Hilton Head, are the two outlet centres, the shopping plazas and the supermarkets. And in between is a strong run of thrift and consignment stores. If you are staying on Hilton Head, Bluffton is where islanders come for the outlets and the big stores; for the island side, see our Hilton Head shopping guide.
Old Town Bluffton Shops
A women’s clothing boutique on Promenade Street, dresses to shoes.
An independent bookstore in a cottage on Bridge Street, with a children’s corner.
Old Town Bluffton, SC: Calhoun Street, the Heyward House, galleries, the Church of the Cross, the May River dock and restaurants, all within a short walk.
Antique and vintage stores in Bluffton, SC: Coastal Exchange and Vintage Market, with where to find cheaper old furniture and art.
Art galleries in Bluffton, SC: the Society of Bluffton Artists gallery on Church Street, pottery studios and small galleries in Old Town.
Old Town is the part of Bluffton shopping worth a trip for its own sake. The Bluffton shops here are small and owner-run: the Bluffton General Store on Church Street for Lowcountry gifts and local honey, clothing boutiques along Promenade Street, the art galleries on Calhoun Street, and the Bluffton Bookshop, the town’s independent book store, on Bridge Street. Park once and walk, and pair it with lunch in Old Town and a look at the river.
The Outlet Malls on US 278
The Hilton Head brand’s shirts, hats and gifts, at outlet prices.
Bluffton’s outlet mall is really two: Tanger Outlets Hilton Head 1 and 2, on either side of a short stretch of US 278 a few miles before the bridges. Despite the name, both are in Bluffton. Between them they hold the brand outlets people drive over for, Kate Spade, Adidas and Michael Kors among them, plus local shops such as the Salty Dog T-Shirt Factory and The Storybook Shoppe at Tanger 2. The Bluffton outlets are the easiest rainy-day outing from the island, a few minutes’ drive from the bridges, with free parking.
Gifts, Jewelry and Boutiques
Cards, gifts, toys and coastal home decor. 1008 Fording Island Road.
A family jeweler for rings and watches, with repairs and watch batteries. 1008 Fording Island Road.
The best places to buy gifts in Bluffton are in Old Town and along the plazas on US 278. Markel’s, a card and gift shop, and Golis Family Jewelers share a plaza at 1008 Fording Island Road. Belfair Towne Village, the shopping centre by the Belfair community (outside its gate), has a supermarket, restaurants and small shops, and Birdie James has a boutique at Washington Square as well as one at Shelter Cove on the island.
Thrift and Consignment Stores
Every thrift store in Bluffton, SC: two Goodwills, the Habitat ReStore, PAL Thrift, church-run shops and consignment stores, and where to donate.
Goodwill in Bluffton, SC: the Island West Park and South Bluffton stores, their hours and phone numbers, what they sell and where to donate furniture.
The Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Bluffton sells donated furniture, appliances and building materials: hours, donations, free pickup and location.
PAL Thrift in Bluffton sells donated furniture, decor and clothing to fund animal rescue: where it is, donation hours, what it takes and free pickup.
Vintage Market Bluffton is a furniture and home-goods consignment shop on Kitties Landing Road. Hours, address and what the showroom stocks.
Bluffton has more good thrift stores than most towns its size, and nearly all of them raise money for a local cause: two Goodwill stores, the Habitat ReStore for furniture and building materials, the Palmetto Animal League Thrift Store, and several church-run shops. Our Bluffton thrift stores guide has every one, the consignment shops, and where to donate.
Groceries and Everyday Shopping
Every grocery store in Bluffton, SC: Publix, Kroger, Walmart, Sam's Club, Food Lion, Aldi and local markets, with addresses, hours and a first-shop guide.
Both Publix stores in Bluffton, SC: Belfair on Baylor Drive and Buckwalter Place, with addresses, hours, phone numbers and how they differ.
Both Kroger stores in Bluffton, SC: Belfair Towne Village and the Buckwalter Place Marketplace, with addresses, hours and phone numbers.
The Bluffton Walmart Supercenter, store #6395 at 4 Bluffton Road: hours, phone and what's inside, plus other Bluffton grocery stores.
Sam's Club in Bluffton, SC: club #6582 at 14 Bluffton Road, with hours, phone, membership notes and what to buy for a rental week.
Both Food Lion stores with Bluffton addresses: Fording Island Road and Okatie Village Drive, with hours and phone numbers.
Aldi in Bluffton, SC: 1131 Fording Island Road, hours, phone, and what to bring, plus the other grocery stores in town.
Nine liquor stores in Bluffton, SC with hours, phone numbers and ratings, plus South Carolina's Sunday and 7 pm rules.
Bluffton has Publix, Kroger, Food Lion and Aldi supermarkets, a Walmart Supercenter and a Sam’s Club, but no Harris Teeter. Many visitors heading for a rental on Hilton Head do their big grocery run here on the way in, before they cross the bridges.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best shopping in Bluffton, SC?
Old Town Bluffton for independent boutiques, gift shops, galleries and the bookshop, and US 278 (Fording Island Road) for the two Tanger outlet centres, the shopping plazas and the supermarkets.
Is there an outlet mall in Bluffton?
Yes, two: Tanger Outlets Hilton Head 1 at 1256 Fording Island Road and Tanger Outlets Hilton Head 2 at 1414 Fording Island Road. Despite the name, both are in Bluffton, a few miles before the bridges to the island.
What shops are in Old Town Bluffton?
Small, owner-run shops: the Bluffton General Store on Church Street, women’s boutiques on Promenade Street, the Calhoun Street art galleries and the Bluffton Bookshop on Bridge Street.
Is there a bookstore in Bluffton?
Two: the Bluffton Bookshop, an independent bookstore at 89 Bridge Street in Old Town, and The Storybook Shoppe, a children’s bookshop at Tanger 2.
Are there thrift stores in Bluffton?
Plenty. Two Goodwill stores, the Habitat ReStore, the Palmetto Animal League Thrift Store and several church-run shops, plus consignment stores for furniture and clothing.
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