All but four Shells restaurants close

Shells Seafood Restaurants Inc., a Tampa Bay mainstay, closed its 10 remaining restaurants Wednesday and told the courts that it plans to permanently shutter the once iconic chain.

The company abandoned Chapter 11 restructuring plans announced early this month, opting instead to close after "exhausting its potential options," according to bankruptcy filings made Wednesday. Unable to secure enough cash and credit to stay open, the company on Wednesday filed for Chapter 7 liquidation.

Restaurants in St. Pete Beach, Brandon, Clearwater and Redington Shores were among those closed Wednesday. Four Shells restaurants that are independently owned, including two original branches in Tampa and another in Sarasota, are not part of the corporate bankruptcy and will remain open.

The chain, which once had 45 restaurants throughout the United States, suffered a steep decline this year. Revenue dived 22 percent in the quarter ending June 29, and the company said in August that there were questions about its ability "to continue as a going concern."

Company officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday. A note on the door of the closed Brandon location thanked guests for their patronage and advised employees with questions about their paychecks to call company headquarters.

Co-founder and owner Deborah Christen opened the first restaurant in 1985 with her then-husband John Christen, a Swiss gourmet chef. Shells earned a following with no-frills restaurants, bare tables and simple, fresh seafood dishes. The couple opened a second location in Tampa and a third in Sarasota.

Shells Seafood Restaurants Inc. took the concept public in 1993, expanding into the Midwest.

Deborah Christen said she's looking forward to taking the restaurant "back to where we began," and plans to unveil a new menu in November.

Times staff writers Mark Albright and Jan Wesner and Times researcher John Martin contributed to this report. Asjylyn Loder can be reached at aloder@sptimes.com or (813) 225-3117.

.Fast facts

Still Shells, and still open

Four Shells locations are independently owned and not part of the corporate bankruptcy, including one in Melbourne and the three original locations in Tampa and Sarasota. Deborah Christen, owner and co-founder of the three original stores, said the remaining stores will soon restore signature favorites.

• South Tampa Shells, 202 S Dale Mabry Highway, (813) 875-3467.

• North Tampa Shells, 11010 N 30th St., (813) 977-8456.

• Sarasota Shells, 7253 S Tamiami Trail, (941) 924-2568.

Comments on this article

by rebecca	Sep 29, 2008 3:13 PM
awwww...the swig :-(

by Laura	Sep 29, 2008 1:19 PM
RE-OPEN THE SWIG!!!

by rover	Sep 28, 2008 7:03 PM
a pound of pasta and two shrimp equals a closed restaurant. Terrible on day one, can't say about other days, I learn fast.

by rover	Sep 28, 2008 6:59 PM
very hard pressed to ever call shells a seafood restaurant.

by ralph	Sep 28, 2008 1:31 PM
Keep beating up those snowbirds and there will be a lot more things closing in Florida! You can't bite the hand that feeds you and expect to keep eating! Unless the tax distribution system is reformed and made fair "Florida really will be over" (Very soon!)

by Eileen	Sep 28, 2008 12:44 PM
Dining out is no longer a choice with the economy in such sad shape. Sorry to hear about Shells. The store in Pembroke Pines, will that close also?

by Kenny	Sep 26, 2008 9:49 PM
Many years ago the food was great. Then it became so-so. Then it got worse with the fancy dishes that I didn't want. haven't been there in years. Ditto Ded Lobster. Carrabas. Olive Garden. They all are WAY over priced for the quality.

by Shells Lover	Sep 26, 2008 3:59 PM
For the Love of God, Walston, give it a break, not everything is someone else's fault, not everything gets to be on top forever. Put a sock inyour politics.

by Jack	Sep 26, 2008 3:58 PM
No, Patty, sadly YOU are clueless, quit trying to blame others for the world not keeping everything exactly the same year after year. New food trends come along, you make me sick trying to blame this on individual candidates. Shame on you.

by Gina	Sep 26, 2008 3:58 PM
Shells was not that great, sorry you people complaining did not go eat there more often, you could have kept it going.

by Dow	Sep 26, 2008 3:58 PM
Walston: Get a life, what a pathetic loser to blame a politician everytime you get a hangnail.

by Tennis	Sep 26, 2008 3:31 PM
I hope the remaining locations make it. Shells has always been one of my favorites.

by walston	Sep 26, 2008 3:30 PM
Mare is correct...John McCain said the fundamentals of the economy ...For doubters, why has this country survived so long? - because of the economy...If the gov't will keep their noses out of business, things would be even better

by tigerpaw	Sep 26, 2008 2:36 PM
like many others, it expanded and lost its' original flavor and menu, sadly....hope the originals can get back to the basics they started with.

by Dominator	Sep 26, 2008 1:58 PM
The Redington Shores resturant was an absolute pig stye, this is the best new's of the day, everytime I walked by there my wife or myself would or were able to see rats everywhere...disgusting!!!

by me2	Sep 26, 2008 1:52 PM
This makes me totally sick. I have been eating at Shells since I was a little girl in SoFla. Very sad. Looks like MARE below is a wee bit confused. Open a newspaper or a newswebsite, sweetie.

by Beach Chick	Sep 26, 2008 1:43 PM
www.swigwam.com Closed.. so so sad :(

by Local St P Beach	Sep 26, 2008 1:43 PM
The Swigwam is closed, the snootys at Silver Sands should be happy now.

by MARE	Sep 26, 2008 1:38 PM
PATTY- LEARN TO READ OR LISTEN, MCCAIN DID not SAY THE ECONOMY WAS STRONG. HE SAID (AS BILL GATES SAID THIS MORNING) THE FUNDEMENTALS OF THE ECONOMY ARE STRONG. GET OUT YOUR DICTIONARY, I KNOW YOU'LL NEED IT!

by Bill	Sep 26, 2008 11:37 AM
I can tell you we're going to miss the Shells at Redington Shores! They had a great outdoor area on the intercoastal and their employees were the best!

by Jeff	Sep 26, 2008 11:37 AM
Is the swigwam still open? thats my main concern.

by jen	Sep 26, 2008 11:37 AM
Well, my guess is those couple of remaining restaurants will see an increase in business. I will drive the extra distance to get that langostinos pasta.

by Carrie	Sep 26, 2008 11:37 AM
I worked at Shells on St. Pete Beach 2 years ago. Disgusting!!!! A server dropped oyesters on the ground in the nasty kitchen and PICKED THEM UP and PUT THEM BACK ON THE PLATE! UGH!

by tim	Sep 26, 2008 11:36 AM
Shells, Bennigans, Arigato, The Tampa Bay Rays - none of them advertise. You think Carrabbas food is any better? I wonder why the first 4 don't have any customers?

by MIke	Sep 26, 2008 11:36 AM
I'm just sick over losing the Swigwam! Rob and Alice your the best, hopfully someone will reopen the swigwam, best drinks and bartenders on the beach! It will be missed.

by Chris	Sep 26, 2008 11:36 AM
Best place for oysters in S. Tampa

by Bill	Sep 25, 2008 6:23 PM
Used to have great onion rings. Last time there, no longer on menue. Lost me as a customer.

by Beach Chick	Sep 25, 2008 6:23 PM
THE SWIG IS CLOSED?????

by Don	Sep 25, 2008 6:21 PM
They were great until they sold out to the damn idiots who remodeled and changed the menu. Just like everything else. Manage growth properly corporate America. Stop being so damn greedy!

by Mike	Sep 25, 2008 6:17 PM
Since this began people have been saying they would miss the shrimp pasta. Crabby Bill's has great shrimp pasta. So does PJ's on St. Pete Beach.

by beaches	Sep 25, 2008 4:22 PM
The food never was anything to write home about...and as for cleanliness, ugh....they were dirty restaurants! Not surprised to see this chain shut down!

by Jim	Sep 25, 2008 4:21 PM
Shells was popular circa 1993. Other chains and local joints have taken their place.

by rg	Sep 25, 2008 2:48 PM
I worked there about 7 years ago for 2 months.....they weren't very sanitary so glad to see this dump go

by d	Sep 25, 2008 2:48 PM
reopen the swigwam

by bud	Sep 25, 2008 1:29 PM
Anyone know where I can get the recipe for Shells' chowder and blackened shrimp pasta? I'm gonna miss those!!!