Charleston’s The Grocery owners to open Mount Pleasant concept

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James Beard award-nominated chef Kevin Johnson and his wife, Susan, who opened The Grocery in downtown Charleston in 2011, will open a second concept this summer.

Lola Rose will be located at The Bend at 3540 Park Avenue Blvd. in the Carolina Park neighborhood of Mount Pleasant.

Building on the same neighborhood spirit that The Grocery brought to Charleston over a decade ago, Lola Rose aims to be a gathering place for Mount Pleasant, featuring coastal Mediterranean cuisine in a relaxed, convivial setting, according to a news release. Designed by David Thompson Studio in Charleston, the interiors feature a bar, dining room with an open kitchen showcasing a custom pizza oven, and a covered patio.

Kevin Johnson will be joined in the kitchen by Hunter Conklin, who has been with The Grocery since 2021, according to the release. Johnson and Conklin have collaborated on a menu that features comforting and approachable dishes, from big, seasonal salads and wood-fired pizzas to fresh and extruded pastas, local seafood and classic mains.

Throughout his noteworthy career as a leader in the local food scene, Johnson has built lasting relationships with the Lowcountry’s best farmers, foragers, fishermen and artisans and looks forward to sharing their bounty with Lola Rose guests, the release stated

At the bar, classic favorites are served alongside seasonal spritzes, local beer and a wine list that focuses on the winemakers of Mediterranean and American coastlines.

The second act for The Johnsons is a deliberate one, the release stated. They have raised their family in north Mount Pleasant and are proud to call the area home.  As they searched for a location for a second restaurant, they realized that while the northern end of Mount Pleasant has experienced tremendous growth in the past few years, there is still room for more elevated dining experiences.

“Susan and I have long talked about where we saw ourselves opening a second concept, and are so excited to have found this spot,” said Kevin Johnson in the release. “We love our Mt. Pleasant community and feel very fortunate to be able to live, play and now work in such a beautiful and welcoming place.”

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