Island tradition is moving south to home of its own

Nov 15, 2008 (The Brunswick News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- TWX | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- For the past 15 years, people have been putting on their glad rags and dancing shoes and heading to Ziggy Mahoney's at Bennie's Red Barn on St. Simons Island on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Part institution, part social club and all fun, Ziggy's is moving to a new, larger venue in Retreat Plaza on St. Simons, starting Thursday.

A new club operated by the proprietors of Bennie's Red Barn, 5514 Frederica Road, will open next weekend in the space Ziggy Mahoney's once called home.

But before packing up and heading south on Frederica Road, owner Keenan Carter said guests will enjoy a great final weekend in the original location.

Carter took time recently to reflect on the past 15 years, the majority of which was spent with former musical partner, St. Simons Island resident Bill Owens. For the past couple of years, Carter has been a solo act, but whether performing with a duo or on his own, he said it's all been fun.

Carter said that while there have been numerous memories created within the establishment's walls, there is one in particular that stands out.

"By far the most memorable and significant event was the evening I met Monica, who became my wife," said Carter, who has been married to Monica Carter for 10 years and with whom he has three children.

Ziggy Mahoney's first night at Bennie's Red Barn was March 16, 1994, and Carter said things started off on the right note.

"Some good friends literally rolled out a red carpet in front of the stage for Bill and me," he chuckled.

Other memorable moments include what Carter referred to as Owens' quick wit.

"Bill would keep me in stitches with his clever comments, most of which will remain off the record," he said.

With 15 years of memories to process, Carter added that two other incidents stand out in his mind: the first time his daughters, Baker and Logan, then 4 and 6, sang with him on stage and another incident which could have had serious results.

"Not long ago, a customer fell on the dance floor," Carter said. "Unbeknownst to me, his leg was a prosthetic and broke off. I watched in horror as he sat on the floor laughing out loud with his leg broken in half."

And, as Ziggy's regulars know, this is a "locals" place that has been discovered by tourists and celebrities.

Carter said some celebrities who have graced the dance floor at Ziggy's include former Cincinnati Reds catcher Johnny Bench, first-daughter Jenna Bush, former Miss America Heather Whitestone, former Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Reeves and CNN news anchor Kathleen Kennedy.

Carter attributes a lot of Ziggy Mahoney's success to the family tradition of food and atmosphere at the adjacent Bennie's Red Barn.

"At Ziggy's, we have been fortunate to have appealed to and have had the support of the most fun and interesting people anywhere," Carter said, adding that his clientele, which he described as some of the most caring people he knows, varies in background and ages.

Carter, as Ziggy Mahoney, a fictious character from Carter's college days, plays a wide variety of music, but at the act's core is classic beach music for dancing the Carolina Shag. Carter said beach music reminds people of a simpler and more peaceful time and recalls a more innocent period in the nation's history.

"It's also very entertaining to watch couples spinning and twirling, in perfect unison or not," he said.

The new club, with a grand opening planned for Dec. 6, will serve food during its business hours, which will be 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

Ziggy Mahoney's will be closed Sunday, although Carter said church, community and charity groups may reserve the space on Sundays free of charge. He said it's his way of giving back to the community.

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