Downtown Deli & Catering named South Carolina Small Business of the Year

Downtown Deli & Catering of Bluffton has been named South Carolina Small Business of the Year, an award announced April 30 during Small Business Day in Columbia.

The award recognizes achievement, growth, leadership and community impact among small businesses across the state.

The Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce nominated the company after Downtown Deli & Catering received the 2025 Legacy Award at the chamber’s Golden Oyster Awards in February. The Legacy Award recognizes longstanding excellence, sustained growth and community impact.

“Downtown Deli & Catering represents the very best of South Carolina’s small business community,” said Natalie Osterman, chief executive officer of the Greater Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.

“Ryan and Leah McCarthy have built more than a successful company,” Osterman said. “They have built a culture of care, resilience, and impact. Their commitment to their team, their customers, and our community is unmatched, and we are incredibly proud to see them recognized at the state level.”

Founded more than 23 years ago, Downtown Deli & Catering has expanded from a sandwich shop into a restaurant, catering company and event venue that employs more than 100 people, according to the chamber.

The company also expanded recently through the acquisition and revitalization of Magnolia Café in Beaufort.

The chamber said the business demonstrated leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic through the Hungry Hearts Restaurant Relief Fund, which raised more than $135,000 for hospitality workers and local restaurants.

Downtown Deli & Catering also partners with nonprofit organizations, hosts fundraising events and contributes to initiatives supporting families, children and people in need, according to the announcement.

The chamber said the statewide recognition also reflects the broader Bluffton business community.

“While this recognition highlights Downtown Deli & Catering, it also reflects the strength, resilience, and collaborative spirit of the entire Bluffton business community,” the chamber said in the announcement.
The South Carolina Small Business of the Year award recognizes the role small businesses play in economic growth and community development across the state, according to the announcement.