New boss plans to give restaurant a PR makeover

The new general manager of the Carolinas' only AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star recipient for lodging and dining wants local residents to know this: Woodlands Inn isn't just for rich tourists or special occasions.

Casey Lavin, a former food and beverage director at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, plans to give the manicured Summerville getaway, namely its highly regarded restaurant, a public image makeover with a new menu, new prices and a new presence in the community.

"There's a certain intimidation that comes along with (the ratings)," Lavin said Wednesday. "If there's anything I'm going to do in the next six months, it's open the doors to the community so people can say, 'This is our Woodlands.' "

Lavin took over the post two weeks ago. A Lynchburg, Va., native, he most recently served as vice president of food and beverage at The Greenbrier in West Virginia.

Lavin said he hopes, eventually, to grow herbs and vegetables on the Woodlands 42-acre property and to bring schoolchildren in to learn about the process.

In the near term, within two or three weeks, he plans to announce The Dining Room's new executive chef to fill the vacancy left by Nate Whiting, who stepped down in the fall to work for Tristan in downtown Charleston.

Lavin replaces Bob Seidler as general manager.

Seidler, a former innkeeper at the Wentworth Mansion, spent a year and a half at Woodlands before departing last month. He said he joined wife Margaret's consulting firm, Seidler & Associates, to head up sales and marketing after her business boomed last year.

"The kind of consulting she does, organizational development, helping businesses manage complex issues, runs counter to normal economic cycles," Seidler said. "It's the kind of help companies need during these tough times."

That meant the ultimate reason Seidler said he left Woodlands: the opportunity for him and his wife to work together.

That means donating to local charities, cooking with Lowcountry produce and promoting quick lunches, casual dinners and family picnics. Reach Allyson Bird at 937-5594 or abird@postandcourier.com.