The Shuckers Story
Everyone is always looking for that special place to dine…the one where you are treated like Norm from Cheers…“the one where everyone knows your name.” We all have ever-growing expectations of individual, personalized service. We all want to be able to take our families to a place where children are treated special and the choices for their finicky needs will be plenty. We all want some place to kick back and relax with a cold beer after a hard day of work. We are in search of a place with live music without the nightclub scene. For all of these reasons and more, Shuckers Oyster Bar & Grill® was created. In 2007, Kevin and Amy Marksberry of Wake Forest, NC created “the new Shuckers.” It’s no mistake that Kevin is in the restaurant business. He comes from a long line of restaurateurs that ran high volume seafood restaurants in North Myrtle Beach, SC. It was at his dad’s restaurant, Ship’s Bounty, that Kevin got his start at a very early age. The business is in his blood. He knows great food and has a sincere passion to create incredible flavors that people can relate to. Restaurants really just fell into Amy’s lap. During college at NC State she began working in an upper scale steak house before “jumping ship” to the Carolina’s 3rd Outback Steakhouse. What a great job for someone who enjoys running around in “organized chaos,” who enjoys laughter and meeting all types of people…and all types is emphasized. While doing a new store opening in Gastonia, NC, Amy and Kevin met. He walked in to apply, got the job and a wife. Years later, Kevin and Amy have settled down in Wake Forest with their two incredibly humorous kids, Kaden and Madden. Kevin and Amy were with the Proprietors of the two Raleigh Outback Steakhouses for 13 years combined. It was there that they learned the importance of quality food, surrounding themselves with incredible people and becoming a part of the community. With that knowledge, they made the big decision in the fall of 2007 to put all of their strengths as operators into their own concept and purchase the 21 year old “tradition” of Shuckers Oyster Bar. This had been a favorite restaurant of Amy’s parents dating back to it’s creation in 1987. A great little beach bar in the, then, very little town of Wake Forest. The Shuckers tradition goes back to 1987 in Wake Forest, NC where two UNCW Alumni , Tim and Obie Martin decided to bring the tastes and feel of the Carolina coast to that little town. For 21 years, Shuckers has been the place to go for fresh oysters and seafood, ice cold beer and personalized service. The vision for Shuckers Oyster Bar & Grill® is clear. It is a concept where its operators are partnered with Kevin and Amy, share in their beliefs, uphold the standards that have been created for this new brand, and, therefor, have a personal stake in the well-being of their individual location. The food is incredible, the service very personalized and concentrated and the experience laid back, relaxed and worry-free. It is a concept that will grow at a pace that ensures consistency from one location to another. It is a fun, humorous brand partnered up with live, energetic atmospheres. It is a concept that constantly challenges itself to get better, changes as your needs change. The vision is to be your favorite place…so kick off your heels, slide on your flip flops and come in for a great SHUCK!
