Business Briefs - March 21, 2019

NEW RESTAURANT ANNOUNCED FOR HONEYCOMB CAFÉ SPACE

Daniel Island residents Andy and Allie Clay will be opening a new family-friendly restaurant in the space formerly occupied by Honeycomb Café after renovations are complete. According to a press release, Mpishi will initially offer full-service breakfast and lunch, and will later add in chef choice prix fixe dinners.

“We have some excellent restaurant choices here on DI, but we feel that there’s an empty niche for a family oriented eatery serving excellent food at a fair price” said co-owner Allie Clay, “As longtime residents of this community, Andy and I look forward to serving our neighbors in what we hope they will see as an extension of their own family’s table.”

Chef Andy Clay brings his 25 plus years of global cooking experience back to Daniel Island, continued the release. He was trained in Europe, has worked at numerous award winning restaurants and hotels throughout the world, and has cooked for the world’s elite as a private chef. Now he is looking forward to serving his own community.

“I’ve had so many great opportunities in my career,” said Andy, “but now I want to work here, where we’ve been living and raising our kids for the past eight years.”

The concept for Mpishi stems from Andy’s love of cooking for friends and family. Food options will include traditional comfort foods, more unusual ethnic foods as well as healthy options, all designed to meet the tastes of the whole family.

The name Mpishi is the Kiswahili word for “chef.” Andy and Allie met when they were both working in the Serengeti, Tanzania (Andy as a restaurant consultant and Allie as a wildlife biologist). A late April or early May opening is planned for Mpishi after completion of renovations. Updates and menus will first be made available at https://www.mpishirestaurant.com and on Facebook at Mpishi Restaurant Daniel Island.

DANIEL ISLAND SHUTTLE CELEBRATES 5TH ANNIVERSARY

The Daniel Island Shuttle is celebrating its five year anniversary by doing what it does best, transporting islanders to the airport at 4 a.m., stated a press release. Owner/operator and island resident Ben Tonon said he never thought it would turn out like this.

“It’s been pretty remarkable. Originally I bought the 12 passenger van to accommodate my four boys, 130-pound dog and sports equipment. Then one day a friend asked if I could take a group downtown for a birthday party. Since then, it has been seven days a week for five years straight.”

According to Tonon, the shuttle has provided over 15,000 rides and the company’s three vehicles, combined, have over 500,000 miles.

“Crazy when you think about it,” added Tonon, as “the island is only a couple miles wide.”

As far as expanding into other communities, Tonon said, “Right now it’s a challenge to keep up with the demand on Daniel Island. What started out as just a few rides to downtown for dinner has evolved into other requests. We take people to doctors’ appointments, college football games, concerts, school, food shopping, we will go wherever. No request is out of the ordinary anymore.”

When asked how the shuttle became so popular, Tonon said it started with his team of seven dads, coaches, grandparents, retirees and firemen who drive for the company and live on the island.

“When you have a fellow islander show up on time, provide a safe ride, charge a fair price and do it an average of 10 times a day like we do, word spreads quickly. It is a great feeling to know that we are the trusted local choice for so many Daniel Island residents.”

Daniel Island Publishing

225 Seven Farms Drive
Unit 108
Daniel Island, SC 29492 

Office Number: 843-856-1999
Fax Number: 843-856-8555

 

Breaking News Alerts

To sign up for breaking news email alerts, Click on the email address below and put "email alerts" in the subject line: sdetar@thedanielislandnews.com

Comment Here