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Shells restaurant chain closing Fort Myers eatery, 7 others
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Shells Seafood Restaurants has closed eight of its remaining 22 outlets in Florida and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The Shells Seafood Restaurant at 4606 South Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers (view map) is among the eight to close.
The Tampa-based chain announced the moves Wednesday as it struggles to become profitable again. Shells lost $12 million in the past two years. New management that arrived three months ago says it hopes to nurse the chain back to health with a new menu and maybe even a new name.
Shells' story is the latest in a series of failed turnaround stories in the stressed casual restaurant industry.
The shuttered Shells restaurants are in Orlando, Winter Park, Kissimmee, Ocala, Winter Haven, St. Petersburg, Holmes Beach and Fort Myers.
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best clam chowder around...and inexpensive comparatively speaking.
#1 Posted by mothernature on September 4, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I ate at Shells in Lauderdale many years ago. I ate at Shells in Ft. Myers years ago. Always good food, but just too far away to justificate driving there for good food.
#2 Posted by eaglebeak on September 4, 2008 at 10:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It was a pretty decent place with great prices. Sorry to see them closing. I had eaten at them in St Pete and Daytona.
The economy is killing a lot of good businesses.
#3 Posted by swfl_ff on September 4, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is a place called Steamers on Pine Ridge Road in the plaza beside Linens and Things, next to Einstein Bagels. The best seafood, fried clams, and onion rings anywhere within a two hour drive. I haven't been in a while, I think I might pop in.
#4 Posted by kneejerk on September 4, 2008 at 2:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The economy is not killing the good businesses, its weeding out the poorly managed, bad businesses.
In tough times, the cream will always rise to the top.
#5 Posted by Cblank on September 4, 2008 at 2:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can see why. They advertise shells as upscale, when really its no more than a red lobster with a different name. I also agree with #5, Steamers is good. So is the mexican food next door. The name escapes me right now, but the food is great and inexpensive.
#6 Posted by nunyobizness on September 4, 2008 at 3:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
#2 Mother, Grouper & Chips (across from NCH north and downtown has good seafood chowder.
In fact, Grouper & Chips has great food. Crab cakes are good. Fish is fresh, fresh, fresh.
I dislike driving to Ft. Myers to eat as well.
BoneFish grill is good, but pricey. Chilean Sea Bass is around $26, or was that price last time we were there. They have now opened a restaraunt over where Boat Haven used to be--if anyone remembers where that was...
#7 Posted by mikesgirl on September 4, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Looking for the best Ipswich clams? - The Dock has them. Just wondering if anyone knows of any place else offering them.
On a side note - as to the small non-chain places - Pastrami Dan's, although not a restaurant, has THE best sandwhiches and has been around for a long time.Quality does speak for itself
#8 Posted by realityck on September 4, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yep, La Bamba. They have another one over at Miromar Outlets.
Steamers is good also. I used to eat there once in a while when I was working off of Naples Blvd.
#9 Posted by jim09091 on September 5, 2008 at 12:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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