A North Charleston restaurant's wine club membership has grown so popular it inspired the owners to open a wine bar.
Dashi Wine Bar and Emporium, a new venture by the owners of Dashi, is set to open this summer at 5660 Rivers Ave., about two miles away from the flagship Asian and Latin fusion eatery that opened in 2019 on Remount Road.
The new concept will offer Spanish, Portuguese, Central and South American wines by the glass and by the bottle at retail with smaller Spanish-style pintxo snacks from the nearby Dashi kitchen.
The club costs $40 per month and includes two bottles of wine, access to monthly tastings and a discounts off retail prices that extend to beer and sake.
“The wine club has grown to about 150 people,” said co-owner Oscar Hines. “On Saturday for a wine tasting, we'll have about 80 folks come out.”
Hines said the wine bar was a good fit for the restaurant’s second brick-and-mortar location after finding success from a Latin and Asian fusion food truck.
“We've been thinking more about opening another restaurant, but it is just so expensive in Charleston,” Hines said. “We're going to leverage the kitchen at Dashi to provide food at the wine bar and it was a more economical way to broaden our footprint."
Arrivederci
A West Ashley Italian restaurant has a new name but the same Naples-inspired cuisine.
La Fontana at 1759 Savannah Highway is now Ciao Bella, which is open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday. It remains family-owned, run by Sarina Langevin and Maria Langevin, daughters of veteran Charleston-area restaurant owner and chef Gary Langevin.
Langevin first opened La Fontana in 2011. He had previously operated Bella Napoli on Ashley River Road and in North Charleston and Cuoco Pazzo in Mount Pleasant. He owns three other Ciao Bella restaurants in Florida.
A three-month dining room remodel and refresh added a pizza oven.
Storm recovery
Arby's can officially declare "We have the meats" once again in Moncks Corner.
The fast-food chain is back in its Moncks Corner location less than a year after sustaining heavy damage following a tornado strike believed to have spawned from Tropical Storm Debby.
The National Weather Service confirmed the Aug 6 tornado, stating that numerous windows were blown out at the Arby's building on both the west and east-facing sides. The rooftop air-conditioning unit was also blown into the parking lot.
Vespas at your service
Charleston’s first concierge scooter rental service is rolling in the Lowcountry.
Mount Pleasant-based Chucktown Scooters said it offers “white-glove delivery and pickup” of Vespas across the Lowcountry to vacation rentals, hotels and more.
A full tank of gas, two helmets, a Bluetooth speaker and phone charger are included with each rental. Customers leave the scooters when they're done, and the company will arrange pick up.
Lilly part 3
Lilly Pulitzer is officially open in Mount Pleasant Towne Centre selling its signature bold, floral women’s apparel.
The East Cooper shop in the former Peloton space marks the 69th location for the brand that blossomed from a 1960s boutique in Palm Beach, Fla.
Charleston’s other Lilly Pulitzer shops are at 251 King St. and Freshfields Village on Kiawah Island.
Wild Blue yonder
After 10 years, Wild Blue Ropes Adventure Park on James Island has closed.
Wild Blue Ropes Adventure Park offered outdoor ropes courses on James Island for 10 years.
The high-flying obstacle course at 1595 Highland Ave. featured 70 elements in the skyline just off Folly Road. The site hosted corporate teambuilding events, kids nights, special events and more.
Owner Hugh Corcoran posted about the closing on his LinkedIn page in January stating it was "time to flex some muscle memory and take on new challenges.”
Cane Bay car wash
Autobell Car Wash has opened at 1768 State Road in the Cane Bay community offering all the typical vehicle cleaning services.
The Charlotte-based business made its debut in the Charleston area in 2016. It now has six locations in Summerville, North Charleston, and Johns and James islands.