Owner of new Beaufort hot dog shop has a mission: Fill people’s stomachs and their souls
J. Lee’s Coney Island opened in Beaufort earlier this month, and its owner hopes the diner that specializes in Detroit-style hot dogs will be more than just another place for people to eat.
Doc Johnson, who is originally from Detroit, said he felt led by a higher power to start the business.
“People say the devil was in the details, but I say it was God,” Johnson said. “God was definitely in the details.”
Johnson and his wife of three years, Alex, wanted to move to the Lowcountry to be closer to her family now that they have two young children. They had been looking for restaurant space and places to live in Greenville and Clemson with no success. But then things started to fall into place in Beaufort, from finding the space for J. Lee’s Coney Island at 2121 Boundary Street to signing a lease on an apartment the same day.
Now, the couple is working hard to get the business off the ground so they can start to give back to their community.
“The whole concept of Coney Island is a front,” Johnson said. “I’m here for the community. When we came down here, we saw something missing, and we are here to try to fill that gap. ... We haven’t even tapped into our potential yet.”
He said he sees the restaurant as a place to foster unification, where everyone is respected no matter their background or circumstances.
Opening a business on the tail end of the coronavirus pandemic hasn’t been without its challenges. And one particular day without Wi-Fi to operate the cash registers was particularly fraught. The restaurant had a soft opening and then closed for two days once Johnson realized he needed more staff and time to train them.
Now, though, he has a staff of eight people — including himself and his wife — and he’s trying to hire at least two or three more.
He’s confident those early issues are behind them and he can move forward to becoming part of the local community.
The menu
Johnson said he had families in mind when designing the menu for J. Lee’s Coney Island.
The Detroit-style coney ($3.65) is a steamed natural frank topped with beanless chili — the chili has a sweet taste to it, Johnson said — with diced onions and the slightest bit of mustard.
“If you put cheese on there, that just changes the game,” he said.
J. Lee’s Coney Island doesn’t stop with hot dogs, though. Diners also can find sandwiches, subs, burgers, quesadillas, salads, chicken strips and more on the eclectic menu.
Among the less traditional offerings: The Big J. Lee burger ($8.95) is a patty topped with corned beef, lettuce, tomato, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese. The Nacho Quesadilla ($11) uses the restaurant’s specialty chili combined with green peppers, grilled onions, tomatoes and cheese.
Alex Johnson’s homemade cake is fast becoming a fan favorite.
Breakfast sandwiches, waffles, pancakes and plates are served all day.
“The french toast is addictive,” Johnson warns with a chuckle.
“Coney Island is a place for you to make your own rules,” he said. “You can get a burger, a quesadilla and french toast ... any time of day.”
If you go
What: J. Lee’s Coney Island
Where: 2121 Boundary St. in Beaufort
Hours: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Closed Sunday. Hours are subject to change.
Phone: 843-941-1063
Website: jleesconey.com
Facebook: facebook.com/JLeesConey
