Wrightsville Beach says no to Joe’s Crab Shack

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Joe’s Crab Shack possibly coming to Wrightsville Beach has been a hot topic for a couple of months in the town. Tonight, the Board of Aldermen met at Town Hall while Joe’s Crab Shack pitched its plans to build near Johnnie Mercer’s Pier. The result: Joe’s Crab Shack will not open a location at the pier.

The restaurant would have held 270 guests. That means it would have to provide more than 80 parking spots in what residents say is an already crowded area.

“I don’t have a concern about them here,” Wrightsville Beach resident Nelson Britto said. “What I have a concern about is specifying designated spaces for the crab house. Eighty-five is almost a whole block up and down both sides of East Salisbury Streets.”

The company’s Director of Real Estate said Joe’s would not need parking to operate the restaurant. Other Joe’s Crab Shacks have run efficiently without parking. The restaurant planned to offer 30 parking spots for employees near Kohl’s and Landfall, but residents said those are miles away from the beach and would make it tough for employees.

“It is not an easy walk for employees in the rain, cold,” Britto said. “That doesn’t sound very practical to me quite frankly.”

There are nine requirements the restaurant needed to meet to operate with a conditional use permit and a parking exception. Joe’s Crab Shack just did not make the cut.