That seafood smell coming from South College Street finally has a name: The Shrimp Basket.
The Shrimp Basket is a beach-themed Seafood, Poboys and Oyster Bar located at 1651 S. College St.
Recently opened, The Shrimp Basket is enjoying the "Honeymoon Stage" so deemed by The Shrimp Basket's district manager Adam George.
For their first month in Auburn, George said the numbers have been outstanding.
"I've heard this is called the, 'Curse of College Street' I guess, but every one of my costumers has come up and said, 'I think you broke the curse,'" George said. "Everyone loves our food."
Entering the restaurant feels like you're stepping out of Auburn and onto the Gulf Shores. The mixtures of beach colors and costal decor give the Shrimp Basket a unique element.
"We did all this in one day," George said. "We signed the lease and three weeks later we got in here: painted, decorated and fully redid the kitchen. We started at 10 that night and we were done by eight the next morning."
The Shrimp Basket capitalizes on their competitive prices. Sundays and Wednesdays are all-you-can-eat shrimp; Mondays and Thursdays, all-you-can-eat fried fish; and Tuesdays all-you-can-eat raw oysters and steamed shrimp. The most expensive item on the menu is $13.99.
The all-you-can-eat shrimp, popcorn shrimp and Mahi tacos are the restaurant's top sellers.
"All of our seafood is from the Gulf," George said. "It's all top-quality seafood. We have it shipped up here every two or three days. It's always fresh."
The staff is growing and prospering, George said. At the moment, there are 50 employees, with a mix of veterans and rookies.
"It's going really good," George said. "People are picking up fast. The workers are learning quickly."
The restaurant originated in 1993 in Gulf Shores with founders Eddie Spence and Steve Cheek. Spence then partnered with David Cahoon to expand the name to 20 other locations in Florida, Alabama and Mississippi. The brand is still privately owned and operated.
George said he speaks to Spence daily and Spence manages to work with each restaurant two or three times a month.
The restaurant opened a branch in Tuscaloosa less than a year ago and the success there inspired the opening in Auburn. George said they have plans to open more restaurants.
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