Spotlight on McKenzie’s on Potter’s Cay

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Meet Kenneth McKenzie Owner of the infamous McKenzie’s Restaurant on Potter’s Cay. He’s got more than 40 years in the conch business. 

In our one on one interview McKenzie reflected on his journey from a young teenager who sold conch to vendors for 10-20 cents each at that time. 

He tells me when he was about 18 years old, he began diving for the beloved Bahamian delicacy. 

And like many other seaman, McKenzie was not exempt from the rite of passage from getting caught in bad weather and even getting lost at sea. 

But despite the rough moments, McKenzie told me about an epiphany that led to his great success. One day he observed vendors on the shoreline and realized it was time to open a stall of his own. 

Although material possessions were not willed to him, McKenzie says it was his mother who equipped him with something more valuable. She taught him how to throw down in the kitchen. And it’s her recipes that helped build his authentic Bahamian food menu; the foundation of his restaurant. 

And next to McKenzie, conch is the star of the show. 

If you’ve ever tried to get a conch out of its shell, then you know its much like a tug of war so before we left, I got a lesson in pulling one out of its shell.