Kevin Johnson

Years of Participation

2007-2023

It all started with a healthy dose of curiosity and a genuine love of flavors. As a child, Kevin was always enthusiastic about food and trying new cuisines, but it wasn’t until he briefly approached food as a vegetarian that he developed a true love for the art of culinary creation, authenticity of flavors and utilizing the bounty of seasonal produce. Kevin parlayed his culinary intrigue to hone his cooking skills and eventually enter the professional culinary world with true passion and expertise.

Kevin and Susan lived in The Holy City in the mid 1990s and then moved to Northern Virginia to pursue career opportunities and gain additional culinary experience with the dream of returning to Charleston in the future. While in Northern Virginia Kevin honed his skills at a small number of establishments, including the world renowned Inn at Little Washington where he served as sous chef for Patrick O'Connell. The couple always knew however that Charleston was destined to be their home and they moved back to South Carolina in 2003 with a dream of someday opening their own restaurant. In 2011, that dream finally came to fruition and The Grocery was opened. Since opening The Grocery, Kevin has earned multiple James Beard nominations, national accolades and helped shape the culinary scene in the Lowcountry.