Cru Catering expanding in Charleston County following café closure

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The owners of a popular downtown Charleston restaurant that recently announced closure said they are expanding their catering company to a new location in Charleston County.

Cru Catering acquired the ‘Old Wide Awake’ property in Hollywood with the aspiration to offer a full-service event space to customers. The company is spearheaded by owner and executive chef John Zucker and his business partner Justin Broome.

“We feel truly fortunate to be the stewards of an estate with such deep roots,” Zucker said. “To us, Old Wide Awake is more than just an event space – we feel privileged to now carry on its tradition of creating unforgettable memories.” 

Both Zucker and Broome want to preserve the property next to the Stono River and say they intend to maintain their existing partnerships with the venue’s caterers and vendors.

“Our goal is to create events that don’t just celebrate moments but rather elevate them,” Broome explains. “We want our guests to leave here with memories that they’ll talk about at their grandkids’ weddings.” 

Zucker announced the closure of his Pinckney Street Cru Café nearly a week ago, and the doors closed on Sept. 28.

He posted on Facebook, “It’s a hard thing to close the doors of a place that’s been part of your life for 23 years. But it’s also the right thing. Cru Catering, our sister business, is flourishing—and it’s time for me to focus my energy on that, on my family, and on the future.”