When Doug Allison, Jason Marques, and Travis Glen decided to open up a new Mexican joint in West Ashley at 2447 Ashley River Road they had a few things in mind. “Our three main focuses are quality, cleanliness, and service,” says Marques.
This is evident at the eatery. 3 Matadors is made up of three main spaces: an outdoor patio connected to the inside of the restaurant by a large garage door, a large bar housing over 70 different types of tequila, and a dining area with tables and booths scattered throughout. According to Allison, there will soon be a large mural depicting a bull charging through the wall and knocking over liquor bottles. The artist contracted to paint the mural has been backed up with work, but they’re expecting him to start the project within the upcoming weeks. The rest of the walls, holding shelves that showcase Mexican trinkets and artifacts, are painted neutral shades of peach and blue.
Their menu features a lengthy section of a la carte tacos and burritos, and an even lengthier selection of specialty drinks. They also feature a variety of salads with dressings that are made from scratch. One unique aspect of the menu is the shrimp, which are caught by Marques’ father, a local shrimper. “The product is right off the boat,” says Marques. “We also buy top-end meats. We really focus on the food and flavors.”
When the three amigos bought the property, which once housed an Italian restaurant, they gutted and remodeled the whole place in the span of 12 weeks. They opened on May 3, just in time for Cinco de Mayo. Currently, they are working on fixing up the back end of the building and turning it into a banquet room where booths and televisions will line both walls. It will be available for event rental once completed.
“We are very hands-on owners,” says Marques. “We’re working every day to make this place better. I haven’t taken one day off since we’ve opened.”
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