A lease-to-own deal has been finalized for Dave’s Grill & Grocery, a Couchton institution.
Owner Andrew Siders told the Aiken Standard on Tuesday that the new operator would be Mukesh Prajapati.
In the past, Siders has described Dave’s as “a convenience store with extras.”
The business is closed for renovations this week, but is scheduled to reopen Monday, said Siders, who represents District 7 on Aiken County Council and serves as the panel’s vice chairman
He said Prajapati and his family are experienced store operators.
Prajapati is “committed to keeping things the way they are as far as all the product offerings and [there will be] more,” Siders said. “Gasoline will be brought back, and there is going to be a coffee bar. I think it’s very exciting. It’s going to be good for the community.”
Siders acquired Dave’s in 2021 from Dave Golding, who owned the store, where he had a butcher shop and made sausage, for nearly 40 years.
In 2022, Dave’s chicken wings received national recognition. According to a Fox News story, the Aiken County store and five other independent businesses were “hot-wing hot spots” in the United States.
Also on the list were Booty’s in Surprise, Arizona; Double Dubs in Laramie, Wyoming; Duff’s Famous Wings in Amherst, New York; Legend Larry’s in Sheboygan, Wisconsin; and Wendell’s in Norton, Massachusetts.
Siders added chili made with his uncle A.R. Edwards’ recipe to Dave’s hotdogs. Edwards used to own City Billiards in downtown Aiken.
The variety of hot food available at Dave’s recently has included fried chicken, pork chops, barbecue, macaroni and cheese, green bean casserole, hash and rice, mashed potatoes and hamburgers.
“It’s the best thing for my family,” said Siders when asked why he decided to stop operating Dave’s.
Dave’s is at 3286 Wagener Road.
For more information, call 803-648-7751 or visit the Dave’s Grill & Grocery page on Facebook.
