Atlantic Station to Get City’s First Angry Crab Shack Franchise

Angry Crab Shack, a full-service restaurant specializing in seafood and boils with Asian-Cajun flavors, Tuesday announced its latest restaurant opening slated for early Q4 of 2022 in Atlanta.

Coming to Atlantic Station, at 1380 Atlantic Drive NW, the milestone opening will bring the first Angry Crab Shack location to the Peach State, kickstarting additional expansion plans for the region while introducing the brand to the area.

Behind the Atlanta development is a family of entrepreneurs: Mia Scott, and Darlene and Gregory Morris. Mia is Darlene’s daughter and Gregory is Darlene’s nephew. Gregory will use his experience working in the hospitality industry to run the day-to-day operations of the new Angry Crab Shack location. Darlene will use her years as a lifelong educator to organize the restaurant’s financials, as well as manage its charitable initiatives and outreach in Atlanta. Mia is an entertainment business attorney and will be overseeing the location’s long-term growth strategy.

“Coming together to start a family business was an unexpected dream for the three that blossomed during the COVID lockdowns,” according to a press release. “They are excited to open this popular seafood franchise in Atlanta and are aiming to hire up to 50 employees at the Atlantic Station location.”

“We are overjoyed to come together as a family to open this unique, fun seafood restaurant that is known for its delicious food, charitable endeavors and family-friendly dining experience,” Darlene Morris said. “Great food, bringing families together, and giving back – these were our main priorities for us when we looked at different businesses to invest in. Given its strong profit margins and steady growth nationwide, the Angry Crab Shack brand is the perfect fit for our first family business.”

Angry Crab Shack has expanded to 18 locations — five corporate and thirteen franchised — with signed agreements in various stages of development in Washington, Utah and Texas. The group plans to include additional restaurants for other areas along the East Coast, underscoring an overall brand expansion plan to have 100 stores open and operating by 2025.

“Darlene, Gregory and Mia are a strong team who are enthusiastic to give back to their community and passionate to start their own restaurant business,” Andy Diamond, President of Angry Crab Shack, said. These are traits we look for in our franchise partners. I’m thrilled to help them make our brand’s launch in Atlanta a successful one. With its diverse dining scene, the Atlanta area is an ideal market for an Angry Crab Shack, allowing its residents the opportunity to experience and enjoy our endless combinations of Cajun and Asian flavored seafood boils. We’re already looking for more opportunities to grow throughout the state.”

Angry Crab Shack sources lobster from the East Coast, Dungeness Crab from the Pacific Northwest, King Crab from the Bering Strait, Snow Crab from Canadian waters, and crawfish from the Gulf of Mexico. The brand offers a variety of boils including, shrimp, crawfish, lobster, crab and more.

“As a family-friendly neighborhood restaurant, Angry Crab Shack is a great addition to our lineup of restaurants at Atlantic Station,” Phil Purdom, Director of southeast retail real estate for Hines, Atlantic Station’s owner, said. “Angry Crab brings a unique dining experience with its Asian-Cajun flavors and interactive style. Whatever our guests are looking for, Atlantic Station will continue to offer a diversified culinary mix that satisfies every taste bud.”