For as long as I can remember, my parents have treated us to a summer vacation in Hilton Head Island. There are many things I love about Hilton Head. I love the island’s history, class, sophistication, and of course, its beaches. I love the decades-old family memories that return to me as I drive over the bridge onto the island. Most of all, I love the not-so-secret Salty Dog Café. In my family, a trip to the Salty Dog Café is an essential component to a successful Hilton Head vacation.

Over the years our secret has spread and the Salty Dog Café is now a favorite of my mom’s four sisters, who have started a yearly Hilton Head tradition of their own. When they gather on the island this week and take that fateful trip to the Salty Dog, I know they will all rave about the food, the legend and tradition of the café, but there is one aspect they’ve yet to agree on – merchandising.

In the south, Salty Dog Café merchandise is recognizable and a must-have among Hilton Head vacationers. A gift shop is connected to the café, selling anything from t-shirts to bandanas for dogs. However, a high demand of merchandise and small toll fee to get into Harbor Town (where the café is located) has driven the Salty Dog to open a detached merchandising outlet known as the Salty Dog T-Shirt Factory.

To some people, like my mom’s sisters, this only diminishes the authenticity and experience of the Salty Dog Café. To others, like my mother, this independent merchandising outlet is a blessing. It allows customers to buy the merchandise without driving a considerable distance, paying the toll, and rummaging through a crowded gift shop. The outlet store has been a good move for the café as it has helped spread the name far past the confines of Hilton Head Island.

I personally value the tradition inherent in the original gift shop, but I am still a loyal fan of the Salty Dog Café. The name may be recognized throughout the Carolinas, but the café will always be my family’s little-known secret.