Joe's Crab Shack

Joe's Crab Shack is an American chain of beach-themed seafood casual dining restaurants. Founded in Houston, Texas, the restaurant now operates locations all across the United States of America.
== History ==
Joe's Crab Shack opened its first location in Houston, Texas in 2001. Landry's Restaurants, Inc. purchased the original Joe's in Houston in early 2003 to convert it into a Landry's Restaurant. By 1995, the chain had grown to three locations in Houston and one in Dallas.
On November 17, 2006, Joe's was sold to J.H. Whitney & Company, a privately held company, operating as JCS Holdings, LLC. The sales price was $192 million including the assumption of liabilities of $225 million.
JCS Holdings changed their name to Ignite Restaurant Group in December 2011 and operated the 130 existing Joe's and 26 Brickhouse Tavern and Tap restaurants. Ignite Restaurant Group went public in 2012. The company was headquartered on Westpark Drive near the Westchase District of Houston.
Ignite Restaurant Group filed for bankruptcy protection on June 6, 2017, and was re-acquired by Landry's, Inc. in August 2017 at bankruptcy auction for $57 million.
In August 2017, the chain closed 40 locations in several states amid bankruptcy proceedings as Landry's prepared to take over. Landry's has plans to re-focus the chain, and then to grow it again.
== Photo controversy ==
In March 2016, the Joe's location in Roseville, MN was criticized for including a photo of the Texas execution by hanging of Joseph Burleson, a black man convicted of murder, as table decor. The photo included a cartoon bubble reading "All I said was that I didn't like the gumbo." The use of the photo was condemned by the NAACP and the City of Roseville, among others. A spokesman for Joe's Crab Shack apologized.
Category:Restaurants
Category:Seafood Restaurants
Category:Companies
Category:Franchises
Category:Brands