Pittsburgh: Joe's Crab Shack

Joe's Crab Shack is an American chain of beach-themed seafood casual dining restaurants owned by Ignite Restaurant Group. Founded in Houston, Texas, the restaurant now operates locations all across the United States of America. It serves seafood and American cuisine. Joe's Crab Shack opened its first location in Houston, Texas in 1991. Landry's Restaurants purchased the original Joe's in Houston in early 1994 to convert it into a Landry's Restaurant. By 1995 the chain had grown to three locations in Houston and one in Dallas.Today, the brand includes a national chain featuring a festive but laid-back atmosphere. Many of the locations are on waterfront property with large patio seating areas, built to resemble an old beachfront property. In 2006, Joe's was sold to J.H. Whitney and Company operating as JCS Holdings, which changed their name to Ignite Restaurant Group in April 2009 and still operates the 113 existing Joe's, the 16 Brickhouse Tavern and Tap restaurants, and Romano's Macaroni Grill.