New comfort food restaurant to open in Carolina Forest. 2nd spot also set. Here’s where

Most people who retire take up golfing or maybe gardening. Chris Nakis decided to open a restaurant instead.

And not just one. Nakis and his partner have plans to franchise their Chuck Wagon restaurant, opening a location in Carolina Forest at 4012 Postal Way in the coming weeks, followed by others in Hilton Head, Charleston and eventually Murrells Inlet.

Nakis said the restaurant will offer comfort food, including craft burgers, hot dogs and spuds, chili and pulled pork.

Nakis operated a Chuck Wagon for nine years in Connecticut before selling it and moving to South Carolina in 2021.

“I thought we were retiring, but my son wanted a pizzeria,” Nakis said.

So the family, including Nakis’ wife and son, Antonios, opened Mulberry Street NY Pizzeria in Murrells Inlet in 2023. When his son took over the pizzeria operation, Nakis said, “I got bored.” That’s when he decided to do another Chuck Wagon.

Nakis said the Carolina Forest location is not too congested and “if people want to sit outside, they won’t have to listen to cars. It’s nice and tranquil.”

Construction has already begun in Hilton Head and Charleston, and he expects work to begin on the Murrells Inlet spot in six months.

“We’re bringing it back to life,” Nakis said of Chuck Wagon.