Shuckin' Shack Expands to Downtown Wilmington; Will Offer Free Oysters for a Year to Contest Winner

Release Date: Friday, August 31st 2012

Press Release
For Immediate Release
August 31, 2012

Wilmington, NC - Wilmington Downtown, Inc. (WDI) is pleased to announce the opening of a new downtown business. Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar will open their second location in the former Green's Grille space at 109 Market Street. Operating out of Carolina Beach since 2007, Shuckin' Shack is a unique, family-friendly establishment providing fresh seafood in a relaxed atmosphere.

Co-owners Sean Cook and Matt Picinin have been looking to expand for over two years. After scouting locations spanning from Surf City to Southport, they kept coming back to downtown Wilmington.

"Downtown Wilmington was always a dream of ours, but we just couldn't find the right location until now. We knew this was our place from the moment we walked through the door," says co-owner Sean Cook. "We are also excited to be able to expand on our current menu, as the new location offers a much larger kitchen space," Cook explains. The Shuckin' Shack will likely host a downtown grand opening celebration in November 2012.

The Shuckin' Shack will be sponsoring an oyster shucking contest during the 19th Annual Pleasure Island Seafood Blues and Jazz Festival, taking place on October 13-14, 2012. The contest winner will receive free oysters for a year in the new downtown location. Conditions apply; see contest rules for details at www.pleasureislandoysterbar.com.

Tyler Pegg, a broker with Wilmington-based Coldwell Banker Commercial, and WDI President & CEO were instrumental in finalizing the 1900 square foot lease. Todd Toconis represented landlord, John Sutton, in the transaction.

"WDI is proud to assist these impressive, young and ambitious entrepreneurs. Downtown Wilmington has historically been the birth place of great food and beverage establishments. (Port City Java, Catch and Nikki's are just a few examples.) We're happy to welcome this Pleasure Island-based business into downtown," says WDI President & CEO John Hinnant.

Contact:
Sean Cook
shuckinshack@hotmail.com

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