Angry Crab Shack Breaks into Texas with First Signed Agreement

ARLINGTON, Texas. – Angry Crab Shack, a leading full-service Cajun seafood restaurant specializing in boiled shellfish flavored with signature sauces, recently signed a franchise agreement to bring its first location to Texas—a new market for the brand. The new restaurant is on pace to open in January 2020 in Arlington, bringing tasty Cajun fare and culture to the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area.

The popular and bold brand has grown to six corporate and four franchise locations with development well underway in Atlanta, Florida and Alabama, making this Texas expansion news even more exciting for area residents craving flavorful and fresh seafood. Additional restaurants are planned for the state, underscoring an overall brand expansion plan to have 100 stores open and operating across the nation by 2023.

“We were looking for another business opportunity when our family in Arizona told us we had to try Angry Crab Shack,” said Vanessa Sheriff, who will own and operate the Arlington restaurant alongside her husband, Deric. “So, we hopped a flight to visit our family and give it a shot – we fell in love. The atmosphere is fun, the culture is inviting and it had some of the best seafood we’ve ever had. Next thing we knew, we were signing on the dotted line to bring it to our hometown.”

Vanessa and Deric Sheriff met by chance. Deric, a police officer, was bringing someone into the emergency room when he ran into Vanessa, a paramedic. The two have been partners in life and business ever since. Serial entrepreneurs, the two own and operate a Nothing Bundt Cakes and a Buttermilk Sky Pie Shop in the Greater Arlington area as well where several of their six children hold management positions. The new Arlington Angry Crab Shack will be the first of three the Sheriffs plan to open in the area.

Angry Crab Shack draws on Cajun and Asian flavors – as well as a fun food presentation and a laid-back environment – to create an unparalleled dining experience for guests. Best known for using the freshest ingredients, Angry Crab Shack sources lobster from the East Coast, Dungeness Crab from the Pacific Northwest, King Crab from Bering Strait, Snow Crab from Canadian waters, and crawfish from the Gulf of Mexico. Guests can expect a fun family experience where they can throw on a bib, roll up their sleeves, and dig in. The brand offers a variety of boils including, shrimp, crawfish, lobster, crab and more.

“We’re thrilled to have Vanessa and Deric join the Angry Crab Shack family,” said Andrew Diamond, President of Angry Crab Shack. “They’re both passionate and business-savvy, and I have no doubt they’re the perfect franchise partners to bring our culture and flavor to Texas. This first Arlington location is an exciting milestone for our brand - It validates our popularity and reputation as we continue to grow throughout the country.”

With Americans increasing their seafood intake each year, Angry Crab Shack is capitalizing on the growing seafood boil trend to bring family and friends together for a memorable and unique dining experience. Our unique real estate strategy guarantees a remarkably low cost of entry for the franchise owner. With average store sales volumes in excess of $3 million per year and demonstrated profitability we are aggressively expanding throughout the country. Fantastic sales position Angry Crab as an attractive investment opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to enter the full-service restaurant industry - initial investment ranges between $390,000 to $711,000. Targeted franchise expansion states for the remainder of 2019 include Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, as well as Utah.

About Angry Crab Shack

Founded in 2013 by Ron Lou, Angry Crab Shack is a fun, casual Cajun seafood restaurant specializing in boiled shellfish flavored with signature sauces. Headquartered in Mesa, Ariz., the seafood concept began franchising in 2017 and has since grown to six corporate locations and four franchise locations operating throughout Arizona with agreements signed to bring additional restaurants to Arizona and Atlanta, Georgia. Angry Crab Shack aims to have 100 locations open and operating by 2023.

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