This Seafood Chain Used To Have Almost 150 Locations, Now It's Down To Less Than 20 - Tasting Table

"Do you have that one chain restaurant in your town that's been there for so long that it feels like a vital part of the local community? Maybe it's an Italian pizzeria or perhaps it's a backyard barbecue joint that you've been going to every Saturday afternoon for trivia or every Tuesday night for karaoke for as long as you can remember."

"During its prime in the early 2010s, Joe's Crab Shack had close to 150 locations spanning from coast to coast. Fans flocked to the restaurant for specialties like seafood boils, fried fish sandwiches, and surf and turf. But in less than a decade, that number has dwindled to less than 20 active restaurants. Several states were wiped out of their Joe's Crab Shack entirely, while others were whittled down from multiple locations across the state to just one, despite certain eateries existing for decades."

Joe's Crab Shack peaked with close to 150 locations in the early 2010s but has shrunk to fewer than 20 active restaurants nationwide. Patrons once visited for seafood boils, fried fish sandwiches, and surf and turf. Declining sales, rising seafood costs, and U.S. tariffs have increased operating expenses. Lease expirations, higher rents, and reduced foot traffic have led to silent closures of many locations, leaving several states without any restaurants. The chain's decline mirrors struggles at other seafood chains facing financial pressure and shrinking footprints across the country. Some locations closed quietly without official explanations, surprising long-time customers.

Read at Tasting Table