McGarvey's Wee Pub South

In this episode of the Get ’N Your Business Podcast, host Alison Shores from the Camden County Chamber of Commerce packs the studio with community champions to spotlight the impact of one powerhouse entrepreneur: Dan Black. Dan—owner of Wee Pub, Avant Catering, co-owner of Firefly Taco Cantina, and formerly Angel’s Cafe—joins Alison alongside Candace Pullum from the City of St. Marys DDA/Main Street and Jaime Foddrell from Sysco to share how collaboration, hospitality, and hometown pride are reshaping Camden County’s food and event scene.Together, they walk through Dan’s “bartender to bar owner” journey, the evolution of Wee Pub, the elevated dining and vibe at Firefly, the growth of Avant Catering and Amelia Events, and the intentional way these businesses invest back into the community—from jobs for local youth to marquee events like Taste of Camden, Cinco de Mayo 5K, weddings, and downtown experiences in St. Marys. The conversation highlights how strong partnerships between small businesses, suppliers, and city leadership are creating a thriving, welcoming destination that locals are proud to call home.Full Show Noteshttps://camdenchamber.com/getnyour-bis/mcgarveys-wee-pub-south⏱️ Chapter Markers 0:00 – Welcome & Chairman’s Circle sponsor shoutout 0:56 – Full house intro: Dan, Candace & Jaime in studio 2:00 – Bartender-to-bar-owner: The Wee Pub origin story 3:59 – Surviving highs, lows & growth at Wee Pub 5:21 – New lease, new menu, new POS: Wee Pub’s next 5 years 6:15 – Sysco & Dan: tickets, trust & a true partnership 8:02 – Candace on Dan’s role with DDA & community leadership 9:07 – Creating the catering ordinance & helping other businesses 10:16 – Taste of Camden11:18 – Introducing Firefly Taco Cantina: concept, vibe & team 13:39 – Building strong teams & why great hospitality is rare 15:48 – Avant Catering: top-tier weddings, events & service18:19 – Amelia Events: rentals, design & growth from the garage up 20:03 – Santa Maria venue: weddings, stays & a game changer for St. Marys 23:43 – Alive After Five & downtown momentum in St. Marys 26:21 – Angels Café memories & the pivot to sustainable growth 29:01 – Jaime on community, support & why Dan’s impact matters 31:03 – Dan on Camden County, his team, Rosanna & being “all in” 33:06 – Closing thoughts & subscribe reminderContact InformationMcGarvey's Wee PubDan [email protected](912) 467-4763