Restaurant owner opening new Charleston tequila, taco bar; Summerville Publix eyes Q4 opening (2024)

The owner of Dulce Churros, Ice Cream and Cocktails has two new restaurants ready to roll out.

Yesenia Leon is busy this month, with Catrina’s Tequila & Taco Barexpected to open off Clements Ferry Road near Daniel Island in the coming weeks. The restaurant at 834 Foundation St. is in a new shopping center sandwiched between the upcoming Ye Ole Fashioned Ice Cream & Sandwich Cafeand ModernMovement Yoga. The retail center is also home to Domino’s, a future Dunkin’and Ferrara Buist Contractors.

NeighboringModern Movement Yogaalso recently opened and is already up and running with a variety of classes.

A second Catrina’s is in the works at One Nexton in Summerville, at 801 Nexton Square Drive.

Leon has a family history of running restaurants. She also owns VIVA on Daniel Island with brother Alfonso. Her late husband,Antonio Ayala, who passed away in February, ran the family's eight La Hacienda Mexican Restaurants. There are six locations in South Carolina, including Goose Creek, Mount Pleasant, Bluffton and North Charleston, and two in Georgia.

Stocking up

The Publixunder construction at 1247 Nexton Parkway is inching closer to opening.

The Florida-based supermarket chain is hosting a hiring event Oct. 11-12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Cambria Hotel at 405 Sigma Drive in Summerville. Applications can be filled out in advance atapply.publix.jobs.

Publix did not provide an opening date for what is projected to be its 70th store in South Carolina beyond saying that it would be in the fourth quarter. Rival grocery chain Harris Teeter opened a supermarket across the street from One Nexton earlier this year.

For the kids

Through the month of October, Wonder Works toy store is hosting a "Give One, Get One" event.

For every Barbie or Hot Wheels product purchased, owner Elizabeth "Schnookie" Darby will donate one to patients at the MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital.

The project was inspired by Darby's recent hospital visit with her daughter. A visitor gave her 3-year-old a Barbie as a special gift during her stay, and Darby said she clung to it for three days straight.

"So many children and families all over the region rely on the wonderful work that this hospital does," Darby said. "If Wonder Works can help bring that joy and comfort to a child during a scary time, then we want to make that kind of magic happen for them."

Barbies and Hot Wheel products can be purchased at Wonder Works' three locations on 1662 Savannah Highway in West Ashley, 188 Meeting St. in downtown Charleston and in Belle Hall Shopping Center at 624 Long Point Road in Mount Pleasant.

Round 2

The owner of women's boutique Subtle & Sass are expanding to thePoint Hopedevelopment near Daniel Island.

Renee Smith, who also heads up the original location in Mount Pleasant, is bringing her shopping experience to 116 Renaissance Lane. Her boutique offers most sizes, with options for personalized shopping. Smith also loves a good party with shopping events throughout the year and a "Giving Rack" program where she organizes donations, makeovers and fundraisers.

Wet your whistle

An adult beverage merchant will slip into the corner shop known as Spell’s Grocery. Uncle Sam Liquor has applied for a permit to allow the sale of off premises consumption of liquor at 1002 W. Richardson Ave. in Summerville.

Accepting donations

Summerville gift shopSimple to Sublimeis launching a sock drive through Oct. 19 to support victims of Hurricane Helene.

Customers can buy two pairs of socks at the Nexton Square store at 307 Front St. and donate a third to hurricane victims. The store is also accepting donations of new socks, with donors receiving 10 percent off a pair.