As throngs of heavy traffic, busy commuters and casual passers-by converge on downtown Columbia, right on Main Street there is a haven filled with the smells of fine cuisine and the murmuring sound of contented patrons. A renowned dining establishment in the heart of downtown, Hennessy's Restaurant & Lounge has a long history of providing Columbians with a favorite spot to pass the time with some good wine, good company and good food.
A New Recipe When Sharon May found out the restaurant was available in 1983, she realized an opportunity to fulfill her dream and create a profitable business at the same time. The restaurant needed a face lift and a "new attitude" but Sharon knew that the quaint location, once a downtown hardware store, lent the establishment a historical appeal and convenient locale that was sure to bring success. Now, 23 years later, Hennessy's is a downtown dining icon and has been a noted favorite of the city center. The restaurant offers spacious dining facilities including an upstairs lounge that boasts spectacular views of downtown streets. For meetings, luncheons, parties and rehearsal dinners, special rooms are available upon request. Sharon created an atmosphere that is best described as "upscale casual" with the intent that events from typical business lunches to upscale dinners would all feel welcome. Menu favorites include Maryland Crab Cakes, Mandarin Duck and Maple Bourbon Pork Tenderloin along with distinct local flavors such as Carolina Shrimp Creole and Shellfish and Grits. Another hands-down Hennessy's favorite request is the house salad dressing, a vinaigrette with a unique flair that has garnered much acclaim. The salad dressing was so popular, in fact, that Sharon decided to promote it on a national scale. A Key Ingredient After deciding to take her specialty dressing to retail venues, Sharon realized that a national marketing campaign was a tremendous task, and she wondered where to even begin. Sharon received the answer she was searching for at a monthly dinner meeting Hennessy's hosted for the Columbia area National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). At the meeting, Sharon was talking with Haidee Stith, the Executive Director of the South Carolina Women's Business Center (SCWBC), regarding her intent to take Mays Unique Vinaigrette to the national market when Haidee offered business advisory and marketing assistance services from the SCWBC in launching the project. The Perfect Combination SCWBC immediately recognized its partner, the South Carolina Export Consortium (SCEC), particularly Dorette Coetsee and Maureen Taylor, were the right resources to help Sharon implement a product launch, first regionally then nationally, by tapping contacts and resources first in South Carolina, Florida and Georgia and then expanding marketing scope nationwide from there. New labels have been especially designed and created for the dressing bottles, and Sharon is currently working on gaining product placements in upscale specialty food stores. Sharon anticipates that the new bottles of vinaigrette will be on the shelves by Thanksgiving. "I am excited about the national launch of Mays Unique Vinaigrette," said Sharon. "The success we've realized to date along with the extensive national campaign going forward would never have been possible without SCWBC. Its assistance and resources are, and will continue to be, a critical component in the success of our product." Going forward, Sharon plans to continue promoting the launch of her vinaigrette as well as gain shelf space in some of the finest specialty food stores throughout America. Hennessy’s Restaurant & Lounge 1649 Main Street, Columbia, SC 803-799-8280 (T) 803-254-6276 (F)
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Success Stories 
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