Land, Ho! Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar Sails Inland
CAROLINA BEACH, N.C., July 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- After successfully opening five franchise units in 2015 and early 2016, Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar has their eyes fixed on expansion in the Carolinas and Tennessee. The Carolina Beach NC based franchise prides itself on a "lean business model" – a one page menu, low labor expenditures, and a smaller footprint than traditional restaurants. With locations in Carolina Beach NC, Wilmington NC, Summerville SC, Surf City NC, Frederick MD, Greenville SC, and Cary NC, and soon opening in Salisbury NC and Morehead City NC, Shuckin' Shack has stuck to a sustainable growth model. "We view success as a long-term achievement," says CEO Jonathan Weathington, "we don't have interest in hundreds of unit sales in a short amount of time – we have full intentions of opening every single unit to which we commit."
At the heart of the Shuckin' Shack's success has been their franchisees – with varied backgrounds, buying into a restaurant concept is often a challenging decision. Brad Barbour, a franchisee in Cary and Raleigh NC states, "Two common mistakes in the restaurant industry are excessive occupancy costs and mismanaging labor. The Shuckin' Shack model addresses both of these from day one by selecting and designing an efficient space with lower than average occupancy costs and allowing for a leaner labor model. Lower costs result in higher returns and the ability to reinvest those returns back into the business to fuel growth."
With fueled growth in mind, all of the new Shuckin' Shack locations have exceeded projections. "Our restaurants speak for themselves. Delicious, high-quality seafood, top-shelf cocktails, and great service, all at a reasonable price – it's a simple formula," says Weathington. By the end of 2016, Shuckin' Shack plans to open four to five additional units – Salisbury NC, Morehead City NC, Johnson City TN, Kingsport TN, and Durham NC. The year 2017 will feature a focus on Eastern Tennessee and two of the larger southern markets – Savannah GA and Jacksonville FL.
The new Charlotte, Western North Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee area developer, Mike Wiemers, is a 36 year veteran in the restaurant industry. He served 10 years with Wendy's and 17 years with Huddle House, where he was Sr. VP of Operations during their major growth period. Mike also currently owns franchises for two national brands. "We were looking for a brand with fresh, great tasting food and a killer environment. We found that brand in Shuckin' Shack! The food is fabulous; the steam pots are killer, as are the "You Shuck" and "We Shuck" fresh oysters. You just can't find that around here. Shuckin' Shack's environment is fresh, friendly, and lively. A place to have a cozy dinner or even a large gathering for family and friends." He continues, "We are excited to be on board. Jonathan and Matt [Piccinin] (Chief of Operations) have put some great systems and tools together to make it easy for a veteran or rookie, alike, to open and operate. We look forward to opening up quite a few of these in the upcoming years."
Whether Coastal or Inland, be on the lookout for Shuckin' Shack making an impact in the food scene in your town!
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160720/391518
SOURCE Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar
Share this article