Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees and Smoothies and Island Café owners and staff, and members of the Liberty County Chamber of Commerce cut a ribbon on its downtown Hinesville location on March 17.

The café and coffee shop is at 110 S. Commerce St., across from Bradwell Park.

Island Café owners Jean and Mary Dorleus welcomed the crowd to the celebration. Dorleus introduced Hinesville Mayor Allen Brown who congratulated and praised the Dorleuses, and offered support.

Chamber/CVB CEO Leah Poole also welcomed the business on behalf of the chamber board and staff.

Hinesville Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Michelle Ricketson said she was excited for the Dorleus family to open a restaurant in addition to their mobile smoothie business downtown. She added she was thrilled to see the property thriving again. It onced housed Uncommon Grounds coffee shop.

Jean Dorleus is a soldier, and his wife, Mary, runs Island Café and the Maui Wowi Southern Paradise mobile business.

“We’ve been in the area for a long time, about 13 years now,” Dorleus said. “When I was getting ready to leave…the consensus was that we were all going to leave, but my wife loves the area and this is home for her and so we went all in.”

The café offers a variety of sandwiches, smoothies and Hawaiian coffees. It is open 6 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays. Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees & Smoothies is a mobile business that services at area events, parties and helps organizations with fundraising opportunities. For more information, call 912-368-2517 or visit their website at www.mauiwowi.com/southernparadise.