Local Profile – Ron Hill
Thank You Goes Both Ways
By Chris Wilkerson
Twelve years ago a brash ‘young’ man came into the midst of Folly to open his first restaurant. Ron Hill was here to follow his dream, even if that meant giving up a steady job and risking his life savings with a wife and two young children at home. With support from his family and partners, the Crab Shack was born.
Ron knew he had his work cut out for him. Folly locals can be a tough crowd and winter months can be particularly hard on restaurants, “when the sand does not come to the beach.” Ron realized that running a restaurant on Folly was not going to be easy. It had to be a laid back bar and a family-friendly restaurant at the same time. He had to have the support of the locals to survive.
Luckily, Ron has the knack to make you feel that talking to you is the most important thing in the world, regardless of whatever meltdown may be happening in the kitchen. In this way, he won the hearts of the Folly locals, and the staff follows his lead.
“While looking for a new restaurant to pour my heart into, I knew there were a few specifications I needed to find,” says the Crab Shack’s new chef, Greg Fowler. “The foremost being an owner/operator that was honest, diligent, knowledgeable, personable, hard-working and willing to share ideas and concepts. I believe I have found that in Ron Hill. He has an excellent reputation for being fair and treating his employees like family, I wanted to be a part of that.”
Fowler studied under Andre Brierre of Commander’s Palace in New Orleans, before becoming the kitchen manager at The Mellow Mushroom. He stayed there for ten years before finding his new home at The Crab Shack, living on Folly Beach for five years before buying a town house on James Island.
Ron Hill’s relationship with locals extends beyond the restaurant. Both Ron and Greg are committed to using locally grown and sustainable food products.
You may notice Ron’s support of the annual October Breast Cancer Awareness Month by the large pink ribbon hung from the restaurant. Many patrons may not realize that Ron’s wife, Paige, is a two-time breast cancer survivor. All the profits from the sale of the restaurant’s She Crab Soup go to the Hollings Cancer Center.
“All good things come from God, and I believe I might be one of the most blessed people in the world,” says Hill, explaining how he managed to run a restaurant while helping his wife through her battles against cancer. “Not only have I been blessed with a wonderful staff to help fulfill my dreams, I have also been blessed to be here on Folly Beach, (a place) that has the biggest sense of community. The locals on Folly are truly the other side of this success story. Without them, I would not be here to celebrate the past ten years!”
At the Crab Shack’s annual customer appreciation party this year, Hill profusely thanked his local customers for supporting his restaurant through the winters.
“I wish for one minute, that each and every one could go inside my heart and feel the love that I have for all of you,” says Hill. “Folly truly is a very unique place; there is no place or community that is quite like it. We have people that actually care for one another, and when someone is in need, Folly locals are always there to help.”
Ron Hill recently celebrated his 12th year on Folly. At the aforementioned “Locals Only” party, the free food and drinks flowed as Ron tried to make sure he spoke to everyone who attended. Ron may think he was thanking us, but we know better. Go get a bowl of She Crab Soup at the restaurant where everyone knows your name and say thanks to Ron.
Is someone you know deserving of a local profile? The Folly Current is looking for writers and subjects for this new section. Send your suggestions and pitches to Stratton@luckydognews.com
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