Meet Don Deas! He’s the owner of Low Country Shrimper located at 105 East Butler Road in Mauldin. Don moved from Florence to the Golden Strip area in 1991 to play baseball at Spartanburg Methodist. He then later moved to Norfolk, Virginia and attended Norfolk State University. Then in 1996, he returned to the Upstate. Don and his wife Samantha have been married for 22 years and they have two daughters, ages 20 and 13.
We’d like to thank Don for sharing his story with us along with his delicious food.
Q: What inspired you or led you to your current career as a Restaurant Owner?
A: I realized that the Upstate was missing a fresh locally owned mom and pop type of seafood restaurant like I had back home. You don’t see franchise seafood restaurants in places like Buford and Charleston. For years I would write down ideas and work on the concept of opening my own restaurant but I wasn’t ready to pull the trigger. I guess there was a little bit of fear on going on out my own. One day I went to my job and I was let go. I went back to my notes again and put my head down and got to work on a name for the restaurant and the menu portion of it. I’ve never been a cook but I come from a family that cooks. I just didn’t realize how much of that I picked up over the years from them, and as I started to think about different things they cooked, I thought, “I can do that! I can do this too!” So before I knew it, I had put together my menu. Everything was made in house so just to test out what other people thought we did a soft opening with some friends and church members . We had them taste our homemade fish batter and tartar and cocktail sauces and listened to their feedback. We made a couple adjustments until we felt we got it right and then we took the chance and opened. So far, so good.
Q: How long have you owned Low Country Shrimper?
A: Four Years.
Q: What do you enjoy most about what you do?
A: Interacting with customers. I enjoy meeting people and learning their stories. I want it to be like that show Cheers where everyone is on a first name basis.
Q: Describe the strangest or funniest incident you’ve experienced in your business?
A: One day a customer came in that was a painter. He mentioned that I should have a painting that represented the Low Country. I told him that I had been wanting a painting that reminded me of my childhood. He said, “Say no more!” After about a month, he returned with the finished product and hung it on my wall. I looked at it, and it kind of struck me as funny but I didn’t say anything. I immediately took a picture of it and texted it to my mom in Florence. Probably a minute later my Mom texted me back and asked me where did I get that picture of my Dad from? I said to myself, “I thought that looked like my Dad in that picture!” My Dad had passed away in 2011. It was just so eerie because that picture is the exact memory of me fishing and casting a net with my Dad. It’s just like my Dad from the shirt, to his khaki pants , and how he’s standing in the boat. That man had never seen my Dad before and it’s so strikingly like him that my Mom thought I had given that picture to the artist to reproduce.
Q: What did you do prior to this career?
A: I worked at BMW for 14 years as a robot operator.
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in the Golden Strip, and what do you love there?
A: I don’t really eat out much. Maybe Zaxby’s?
Q: How long have you lived or worked in the Golden Strip area?
A: 25 Years
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in the Golden Strip area ?
A: L.S. Green. He’s the former Mayor of Mauldin and he’s 99 years old. He’s such an interesting person.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: I’d love to go back to the Bahamas again because we really had a great time there. Or maybe Clearwater, Florida.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Shawshank Redemption
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: Talk to other people. Find out your commonalities instead of looking and focusing on your differences. You’d be surprised how much we all really do have in common.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: I don’t really have one for myself. I would just like to see my daughters’ happiness.
Q: What is your favorite music/ 3 bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and Motown.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about the Golden Strip area?
A: I’m just amazed at how large and prosperous it has become.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
A: Hopefully having more free time with my family to enjoy the fruit of my labor. It’s hard to take much time away from the business while still trying to grow it.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: That I am a Sports Massage Therapist. I have an office by Henry’s Smokehouse on Wade Hampton Blvd.
Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: Peace, Happiness, Togetherness.
Q: If you had a full time staff member that was fully paid for, who would you choose? Chef, Housekeeper, Driver, Coach, Physical Fitness Trainer, or Nanny?
A: Housekeeper.
Q: Do you have a charity or organization that you are passionate about?
A: Yes, I like to support school fundraisers, book fairs, and donate food.
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
A: Play golf. My favorite course is at Fox Run,
Q: Do you have any pets or cute pet stories to share?
A: We currently have a boxer and a poodle. There is a funny story about a yellow Lab we used to have named Sandy. My wife and I had an Anniversary so to surprise my wife I brought home dinner from Fazzoli’s and some roses. We had some candlelight and some music. After fixing our plates, we decided to dance to a song that was playing. We were really in the moment and then looked over to see our dog Sandy on the table eating our dinner.
Q: Who else would you like to see nominated as a Face of the Golden Strip?
A: Robinson’s Jewelers. They are a friendly family owned business and have been around for over 30 years.
