2 weeks Ago
The soon-to-be Fireside SC, at 411 Corner Square Plaza in Moncks Corner, is currently filled with shiny new stainless steel appliances scattered around and yet to be placed in their permanent spots. On this day, co-owner Sean Holmes was wrangling a massive stove into the corner of what would be his kitchen. Although he has never owned a restaurant before, he knows what to expect and is ready for the challenge he moved to Berkeley for.
“I was a corporate chef for a large restaurant group in New Jersey and was there for just about 10 years,” Holmes said. “We had 11 restaurants and four different concepts, so I helped develop all of those menus. We moved here about a year ago and came down here hoping to open a restaurant.
” Holmes admits he has been a foodie since childhood and likes cooking for his dad and brother. His mother passed away when he was young. He recalled being a six-year-old kid making dinner his interest in cooking was sparked very early.
He says he is now in love with the industry and wants to put his spin on it while cultivating a community spirit. “We want to make this a fun, family-friendly environment. We are a family and want to bring that sense of community to the restaurant.
We want to grow with the community that is important to us. That is one of the reasons we came down here in the first place. When you’re from New Jersey, they don’t put much emphasis on the community,” he said.
Holmes adds that when he and his wife first came south, they were looking for the perfect fit, and they believe they have found it. Now, it’s about showing the future what he can do. He has a flare for Italian with flavors of French.
“Our focus will be 12-inch pizzas and share plates, bowls, salads and sandwiches. But we are highlighting our pizzas and small plates. That’s always been a thing for me.
We gather around a table with family and friends, and we talk, and it’s just a great time,” he said. His goal is to bring people together in a comfortable atmosphere. And it won’t be long before the doors open.
He and his wife are planning to open Fireside SC sometime in July. He said he will be hosting a job fair to attract some people, and he is counting on some of his fellow chefs from New Jersey to suit up at his new eatery..
