The Restaurant Business Plan: The Red Drum Story with Ben & Charlie

Ben Berryhill has made an impact on the Charleston culinary scene since opening Red Drum in 2005. Where shrimp and grits are the standard-bearing comfort food, Ben's comfort zone is over a flaming wood-fired grill, bridging the traditional Lowcountry cuisine with Southwestern flavors as big and audacious as his home state of Texas. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Ben's career led him back to his native Texas. In 1992, he began working in Chef Robert Del Grande's kitchen where the two worked as friends and collaborators for more than 11 years. Del Grande's Cafe Annie in Houston provided Ben the opportunity to learn and creatively expand on the notion of Southwestern Cuisine and how its intense flavors fit into the profiles of other regional cuisines.

Charlie Chance's entrepreneurial interests started while managing Pancheros while attending University of Iowa - one of the largest fast- fresh Mexican food chains in the US. Having visited the low country for vacations since childhood, he moved to Charleston to earn his MAT from the Citadel and as a self taught electric and upright Bass player he spent 2 years in a Jazz Music program at College of Charleston. He entered the Charleston Restaurant scene by bartending at Sulivan's most loved local pub, Dunleveys. It was there that he fell in love with a native, Mary Catherine Chance who is a very integral part of the Red Drum running Private Events. Being the constant student, Charlie entered the program with the Court of Masters Sommelier Program and earned his Level 1 as well as his CSW Certification through the Society of Wine Educators. He has always had a passion for music, hospitality, wine, and teaching so it's no surprise that he leads the Front of House team for Red Drum, and has set the foundation for the local community of regulars to have a place to enjoy where everybody knows their name.

The two were introduced by Kevin Ball who introduced the two with the intentions of building an upscale restaurant with consistently great food, and a local bar atmosphere where the community can gather in their favorite local spot. It was from this introduction that Red Drum was built from two strangers who had a lifetime of commonalities and a common goal. For the past 18 years, the two have built a life and community together in Mt. Pleasant South Carolina that the locals have chosen to share family dinners, special life celebrations, wedding events, and drinks with friends and strangers alike.