Ginny Whitehead loves community.
“We are here for the community. We provide a gathering place for family and friends and we get it,” Whitehead said. “We understand that small, family-owned business is at the core of Hilton Head Island.”
Whitehead is the matriarch and owner of the Art Cafe but she does not operate alone. As with most family-run businesses, it’s all hands on deck. Three generations (including the youngest grandchildren of the Whitehead clan) work together to make the company an important small business for the Hilton Head Island community.
Storm, Breckin and Halle Jo spend an evening getting creative with paints and pottery.
The “paint your own pottery” store has been owned and operated by the Whitehead family since 2008. Located at 5 Lagoon Road, near Coligny Plaza, the Art Cafe building has an unassuming exterior but upon entry the curious decor awakens the imagination.
By design, visitors to the shop are invited to walk up an unique stairway with colorfully painted steps and railings. The staircase wall boasts a whimsical Alice in Wonderland mural highlighting familiar characters like the Cheshire Cat, Mad Hatter, and Alice. The not-so-subtle tribute to the beloved Lewis Carroll novel is seen throughout the space and evokes an undeniable feeling of whimsy, family, warmth, and community.
For Ginny and her daughters Stacey and Brittany, and her son Taylor, family and community are at the heart of their business.
Carter Ann Whitehead shows off her pumpkin plate, created with love at The Art Cafe.
“Besides working side by side with family, the vibe of family is all around,” Ginny said.
Over the 18-plus years of owning the Art Cafe, the Whitehead family is proud that their business model focuses on repeat customers that turn into extended family.
The connections formed with their customers are deep, and the Whitehead family doesn’t take those connections for granted. Pictures of past “artists” grace the back wall of the cafe. Ginny lovingly points to one of the photographs. “That’s Jack,” she said. “He was in preschool when he first came into the Art Cafe and he’s in college now. We still see his family and communicate with them often.”
The photo wall featuring beloved customers is a heartwarming representation of how the Art Cafe operates – everyone who walks in the door becomes family.
As guests sit down to paint, it is impossible not to fall in love with the kitschy atmosphere. From the 72-plus paint color options to the vast array of pottery collections, everything in the shop invites guests to create.
It is truly a wonderland of art, with whimsical curiosities throughout the space. Visitors have the opportunity to meet Claudia Monet and Arty Van Gogh, two precocious birds that exchange chirping banter from their Victorian-esque cages in the back of the shop.
Additionally, this back room is lined with colorful picnic-style art tables, creating the perfect space for children’s birthday parties. Although such parties are a popular event here, the Art Cafe hosts loads of adult events: bachelorette parties, ladies’ nights, corporate events, BYOB parties, and family reunions fill up the store’s calendar all year long.
Fired Up Fridays is the latest creative endeavor for the Cafe, with a nod to the kiln that fires the pottery, and specifically geared towards tweens and teens.
The idea stemmed from the popular spring and summer Kids Night Out event that focuses on younger children. “We’ve noticed a lack of social events in the community for tweens and teens specifically,” Stacey said.
Starting in October, middle school and high school students (sixth through 12th grades) are invited to participate in Fired Up Fridays. The evening will include one piece of pottery and dinner per student for a flat fee.
Beyond pottery, these events will host a different community organization or nonprofit to work side by side with the participants. The goal is to educate students about important and impactful community organizations.
“This endeavor has a dual purpose for our tweens and teens,” Stacey said. “They will be able to socialize in a positive environment and learn about our community at the same time.”
The first Fired Up Friday will be October 4 from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. with Turtle Trackers, a local nonprofit that assists with the preservation efforts for endangered sea turtles.
As the Whitehead family looks towards the future, they are committed to offering opportunities that encourage community involvement while holding true to their Mom-and-Pop roots. Ginny and Stacey prefer “old school” phone calls and voicemails to book parties. “We like to talk to the customer to get a feel for what they need,” Ginny said.
The Art Cafe is open daily at 11 a.m. Reservations are always recommended. For information, call (843) 785-5525 or visit artcafehhi.com
