How I Go Columbia: Bill and Vicki Shanahan
Bill Shanahan began his career in baseball in 1984 and has more than 30 years of professional sports ownership, management, sales and operations experience. During his career, Shanahan has worked with a number of minor league affiliates of major league teams, including the Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks.
In the 1990s, Shanahan ran the Columbia Mets/Capital City Bombers at the historic Capital City Stadium. During that time, he was also an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina teaching sports administration.
In 2014, Shanahan retired from the pro side of baseball, and he and his wife, Vicki, moved back to Lexington from Mobile, Ala., where, as owners and operators of Shanahan and Co. Sports Management LLC and the Lexington County Blowfish Baseball Club, the couple has focused on Blowfish baseball and the building and marketing of the new Lexington County Baseball Stadium, which opened in May. The Blowfish Baseball Club is a member of the Coastal Plain League, which has 15 summer collegiate teams in South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. Shanahan has been operating the Blowfish franchise since its inception in 2005, and 2015 began its 10th season in the CPL. The Blowfish will wrap up its 2015 season with a home game Aug. 3.
EAT: There are some great places to eat in Lexington County, including Private Property, that serves an absolutely delicious blackened rib eye that I devour while Vicki loves the blackened pork chops. The Old Mill Brew Pub is a great place as well – great atmosphere and food – and we like to always start off with the crab pretzel appetizer. We love Lake Murray, and we enjoy looking out over the blue waters and eating fish and chips at Liberty on the Lake. Being in the game of baseball, of course we like a good hot dog. Buddy’s Saucy Dogs on Sunset Boulevard (in Lexington) has an incredible-tasting Kraut Dog, aptly named the German Shepard. The Flight Deck has a blue-plate special that is delicious and easy on your wallet. We’re hooked on the meatloaf. For dessert, you can’t beat a dip cone under the big cone at Zesto in West Columbia. Being back for just a little over a year now, there are plenty of Lexington County restaurants we have our eyes on to visit.
DRINK: Vicki and I enjoy The Haven on Main Street in Lexington for a great cup of coffee and relaxing atmosphere. It’s actually a gift store and deli all in one. A portion of everything you buy goes toward their nonprofit, Life Restored International.
LISTEN: CMC Rhythm on the River Concert Series presented by the Greater Cayce-West Columbia Chamber at the West Columbia Riverwalk Amphitheater. Admission to the series is always free, thanks to their sponsors. It’s a really intimate and beautiful setting to just kick back and listen to some great local bands from around the Midlands right along the river.
SEE: We love taking our grandchildren to the Riverbanks Zoo, enjoy Gamecock football games, and every year, we look forward to attending the South Carolina State Fair. And, of course, we love to watch Blowfish baseball.
Janet Jones Kendall, Special to Go Columbia