Two Iconic 30A Restaurants Now Under New Ownership

By Maggie Jackson

and the surrounding areas are home to some of the best restaurants in the region, and two of them, Shades Bar & Grill and Shaka Sushi & Cocktail Bar, have recently undergone an ownership change.

On April 1, Spell Restaurant Group, led by father-daughter duo Rick Spell and Christy Spell Terry, acquired Shades and Shaka from Last Call Restaurant Group, headed by Joe Freer.

“It has always been our goal to have a strong presence in the 30A hospitality industry and adding Shades and Shaka to our portfolio helps us do just that,” Spell Terry said. “We are not only expanding our roster, but we’re also expanding our geographic footprint a little further east, as well. While we have Saltwater Grill in Panama City Beach, our four other Florida restaurants are located in the Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach areas.”

Shades opened in 1994, spending its first 11 years in Seaside before moving to its current location at Inlet Beach Village located at 10952 E. County Hwy. 30A. Shaka, which is located at 13625 U.S. Hwy. 98 E., Suite 5-6, opened in April 2019.

“The memories [of Shades and Shaka] will last a lifetime,” Freer said. “June would have been 30 years [of Last Call Restaurant Group] owning Shades. Seeing this area grow and prosper has really been crazy. Most folks thought we were insane leaving Seaside and moving to Inlet Beach and it proved to be a defining moment for us. It has been a great ride for a long time. It hasn’t been without its ups and downs, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

While the ownership of Shades and Shaka may have changed, the menu offerings will mostly stay the same.

Shades features a chef-driven menu, which results in the dishes being so much more than traditional bar food one might expect. Shades also offers more than a dozen rotating beer selections on tap, 20 TVs as well as a projector screen, making it a great spot to watch a game or just hang out, Spell Terry explained.

Shaka Sushi & Cocktail Bar is located less than a mile from Shades at the Shoppes at Inlet and is named after the Hawaiian hand gesture the shaka, which translates to “hang loose.” It is open for dinner nightly beginning at 4 pm and is led by the legendary Chef, James Sargent. “Chef James and his culinary team receive fresh fish daily, which is what makes the food here so delicious,” Spell Terry said. “Chef James and his team serve up everything from sushi rolls and sashimi to ramen bowls and seared tuna in a laid-back atmosphere. It is important to mention Chef James’ in-home private dinners and the restaurant’s custom catering offerings, as well. Both are wildly popular.”

While Shaka is the father-daughter team’s first Asian fusion eatery, Spell and Spell Terry have extensive experience in managing sports bars similar to Shades. They have owned the wildly popular Brookhaven Pub & Grill in Memphis since 2004. Even still, Spell and Spell Terry have relied on existing employees, all of whom will be asked to stay, to get to know the ins and outs of both establishments before both restaurants officially transferred ownership on April 1.

“As soon as the deal was made final, the team members at Shades and Shaka became part of our family in our eyes,” Spell Terry said. “They, along with Greg Wakeham, the Freer brothers and Steven Sapp of Last Call Restaurant Group, have played integral roles in making these establishments what they are today, and we have tremendous respect for all they’ve done. We look forward to learning from their teams and having their help in the continued success of both restaurants for years to come.”

Spell Terry also added that the staff at both Shades and Shaka are the backbone to the establishments and are part of the reason why locals and tourists love to visit.

“I know both Shades and Shaka have a lot of repeat business from locals and those who vacation in the area multiple times a year,” Spell Terry said. “Like with the staff at both restaurants, I’m really looking forward to getting to know the regulars, too. Without them, our restaurants wouldn’t be what they are today, so we’re grateful for their continued, year-round support and appreciate their feedback.”

Last Call Restaurant Group will maintain ownership of The Courtyard at Pescado and Pescado Seafood Grill & Rooftop Bar in Rosemary Beach.

“We will be keeping Pescado in Rosemary Beach. I love this area and definitely won’t be going anywhere. We will miss our amazing staff and all the friends we have made throughout the years,” Freer said.