CRABBY BILLS
Crabby Bill’s and JD’s Restaurant & Lounge Come Together as Family Two Legendary Restaurants From Florida’s West Coast Are Now Part Of The Same Ownership Group
The Original Crabby Bill’s Indian Rocks Beach, established in 1983.
Crabby Bill and Dolores always believed in family and good seafood at reasonable prices served in a friendly atmosphere. We still continue this tradition today as we always look for quality products that we can affordably serve to our guests to put a smile on their faces — and not upset their wallets either.
JD’s Restaurant and Lounge, established in 1985.
Q: Congratulations on this deal! Crabby Bill’s and JD’s have been friendly competitors for more than 30 years. How did you decide to purchase this business from JD’s owners?
Over 39 years we’ve had the opportunity to understand this community and the privilege to operate within it. Down the street, JD’s was also building a legacy family business and operating successfully in our market. In recent years we expressed if they were ever interested in selling, we’d be interested in buying. Then the opportunity finally came.
Q: Are you planning to make, or have you already made, many changes to JD’s and are you going to keep the restaurant’s name? Our intention from the beginning was to preserve as much of what makes JD’s special as we could. We’ve made some minor replacements and upgrades where they were necessary and will continue to do so as we would at any of our other locations. However, when customers come to JD’s for their annual trips, we want them to feel like it’s still the same place they’ve come to love over the last 36 years. In fact, the Downing family had other offers for their restaurant and chose to sell it to us because they knew we would treat it the same way they would want it treated. 22
SUMMER 2022
Q: How do the employees at JD’s feel about the new ownership?
Well, we sure hope we’ve done right by them. The goal was to hold on to just about anyone that was willing to stay and we are lucky to have accomplished that. The feedback from our team is always important and we always do our best to be sure we are open to their input and react accordingly. It is a great group of people there and we are lucky to work alongside them.
Q: Have your guests been pleased with the new arrangement?
So far the feedback has been positive. Our message to the public from the beginning was that we would keep all things in place that makes JD’s special; from the live music, dancing and staff. We feel extremely fortunate we have the opportunity to carry this business forward. It’s everything we hoped it would be, and then some.
FLORIDA RESTAUR ANT & LOD GING A S SO CIATION
PHOTO BY BADAHOS / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
For the past 37 years JD’s Restaurant and Lounge in Indian Rocks Beach has been a family-run business and an important part of the community. The business the Downing family has built, created memories and a life’s story that is evident in their restaurant. The team that has contributed to more than three decades of JD’s operations, as well as the numerous guests over the years, is a testament to the success of their hard work and spirit.
