CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Neally Currie and Jenna Shinn only recently became friends, but they’ve accomplished a lot together in a little time.
They met three years ago at the Pilot House where they both worked. Later, both had ideas to begin their own businesses although they shared the same interest.
They decided on serving Islanders food from their truck Street Eats.
They were parked on Grafton Street all of last summer, serving food to customers on the go, while others picnicked by their truck.
This May, they’ll be serving tapas and seafood from their new restaurant on the Charlottetown waterfront, Salt and Sol.
“We really sold ourselves on social media and engaging people in the community,” Shinn said.
“And converting people too, like Islanders weren’t used to food trucks, so it was something different,” said Currie. “Hopefully we can get Islanders to come eat by the harbor as well.”
Shinn said owning a restaurant is tough, although their previous experience helps.
“We did learn a lot about food costs with the truck.”
Currie said the name of the restaurant signifies its identity. The salt relates to the salt of the sea, or seafood, and the Sol, which is sun in Spanish, relates to the view of the sun at the marina.
Currie and Shinn both have business degrees from UPEI.
They said they plan to keep their restaurant local and small, for now.
“We are focusing on making this one successful so we will see where this goes from here,” Currie said.
Salt and Sol P.E.I. will open May 24 and is located at 2 Pownal St.
For more information visit www.saltandsolpei.ca.
