Fuel Cantina, the former gas station turned island-inspired restaurant that earned national fame after a visit from Guy Fieri in 2012, has closed after years as a neighborhood fixture near the Medical University of South Carolina.

The closure adds another name to Charleston’s 2025 restaurant casualty list, which has claimed several established spots alongside the usual churn of newer ventures that fail to find footing.

Fuel Cantina occupied a particular niche. The converted gas station building gave it character that purpose-built restaurants lack. The island-influenced menu—jerk chicken, fish tacos, tropical drinks—offered an escape from Charleston’s more buttoned-up dining options. And the proximity to MUSC made it a reliable gathering spot for medical students and hospital staff.

The Food Network appearance on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” brought a burst of attention that introduced the restaurant to audiences beyond Charleston. For years afterward, visitors arrived clutching phones showing clips of Fieri’s segment, seeking the dishes he featured.

But television exposure eventually fades. What sustained Fuel Cantina was its role as a neighborhood restaurant—the kind of place regulars visited weekly because the food was good, the vibe was right, and the staff knew their names.

The reasons for the closure weren’t immediately detailed. Restaurant economics have grown more challenging across Charleston as costs rise while consumers pull back spending. Staffing remains difficult. Competition has intensified.

The space itself carries inherent limitations. Repurposed buildings charm some diners but create operational challenges that purpose-built restaurants avoid. Whatever comes next to the former gas station will inherit both its character and its constraints.

For the MUSC community that called Fuel Cantina home, the closure leaves a gap that won’t easily fill.