Oops. So Much For Our Favorite Florida Restaurants

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

& they did not even notify us.

Shells Restaurant Chain Seeks To Liquidate Assets

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

So much for that limo ride.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Shells and timesharing run the same course with us, each being part of the same experience. On our first trip to Florida 20 years ago we discovered Shells on Friday and timesharing the following Monday (Yeah, a tour at Orange Lake ), and we became owners on the following Thursday (Yeah, an ugly Wastegate stepsister resort ).

Shells had a great business and business model. It was a barrel of shelled peanuts and paper boats to put them in as you wait for your table . . . and you always had to. You tossed the peanut shells on the wooden floors.

Entrees were $4.99 to $6.99 and included buttered parsley new potatoes and cole slaw with mandarin oranges, both also served in paper boats sitting in the plastic basket with your entree. Pasta entrees were served in real dishes and were a specialty from the start.

We normally got fried shrimp (the best anywhere) for $6.99 and fried clams for $4.99, a salad and a loaf of bread, for a total bill of $14 plus tax. Just the shrimp, salad and bread was plenty, and we did that a lot, for a total of $9 plus tax. Sometimes a pasta.

The salad or a small loaf of yummy bread on a wooden board with a vat of butter and a big cutting knife were 99 cents each.

They were like casual Florida beach seafood shacks without the beach.

Then, over the years someone tried to foo foo them up. The peanuts disappeared and last January the loaf of bread had disappeared. They tried to get spiffier, move into a higher price bracket, and, obviously, failed.

How disappointing to discover this two days before we head to Florida.

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

September

Back in September there was a thread over yonder about it. Originally the thread was titled something about JLB. On Sept 26, I posted a link that all but a couple were closed.

Nancy

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Look at the bright side - you now get to try something new.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I'll just use the search feature and find that.

Back in September there was a thread over yonder about it. Originally the thread was titled something about JLB. On Sept 26, I posted a link that all but a couple were closed.

Nancy

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

New is nice.

But, we are flying into St. Pete/Clearwater and golfing in Sarasota, near those locations that are still open, owned by the co-founder who says she will return to the original menu. Ah, peanut shells on the floor!!!!

Hey, maybe it will catch on and they can start a chain.

Shells2

Shells All Over

Or, since the co-founder/owner is a woman:

She Shells

Look at the bright side - you now get to try something new.

[zdxlc9p6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zdxlc9p6]

We were in Daytona Beach in early Oct. with my cousin and found the local Shells closed. We later "heard" they were closing them all. I suppose the economy and the effect on tourism was the main culprit.

[MargeS Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close MargeS]

Shells in Melbourne FL is alive and well....
at least yesterday when I passed by...

[pcgirl54 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pcgirl54]

Too bad ,I never did get to try one. Missed going to the one in Anna Maria.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

We have eaten at the one in Daytona Beach twice, Anna Maria three or four times and Melbourne once, plus many others. I can even remember the occasions that go with each visit.

The Melbourne one should be staying open as it is one of the four owned by the co-founder and not one of the corporate locations.

I have already googlemapped our dinner for Friday night, another of the four, and it is 16 minutes from where we are staying for the night.

While I was locating info on it I found another story dated 12/24 saying that some of the closed locations are re-opening after being rebranded to Stingray Grill.

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

Still open

Jim,

Which Shells are you planning to eat at? Would you like me to call and see if it is still open?

Nancy

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

That would be super dooper.

Just going from memory . . .

the one at 202 S. Dale Mabry HWY in Tampa. I have it scheduled for Friday evening as we will be overnighting in Clearwater.

We might try the one on S. 41 HWY in Sarasota.

Those are two of the four owned by the co-founder.

Thanks.

Jim,

Which Shells are you planning to eat at? Would you like me to call and see if it is still open?

Nancy

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

South Dale Mabrey Open

I called the one on South Dale Mabrey in Tampa and they are open. Hours on Friday are 11 till 11. It is not too far off of Kennedy (Route 60).

Nancy

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Gracias.

I'd invite you to stop by, but I'll have one of those Tuggers with me and it might get outta hand.

What the heck . . . wanna join us?