When it comes to Southern crab shacks, Leola’s Crab Shack is taking the lead in the Tallahassee community. For the past 11 years Leola’s Crab Shack has been making its mark on the capital city with its authentic home-style seafood.
From their crab treys to their catered feasts, Leola’s is the all-around crab shack.
When Eric McKinnon moved back to Tallahassee from Tampa after the Piccadilly restaurant in which he was employed as a chief closed, he decided to give the city something it didn’t already have. That was a crab shack.
Due to Tallahassee’s location, opening this type of restaurant would be a challenge. However, McKinnon went for it. With the money his mother, Leola McKinnon, left him after her passing, McKinnon was able to start his crab shack and as an homage to her called it Leola’s Crab Shack.
When the business first opened, McKinnon kept things in the family and hired his family members as his staff. He also began the business outside under a tent where he served his customers for almost a year.
As business grew McKinnon decided to take the next step and move Leola’s Crab Shack inside, and as business grew even more he knew he had to move the business once more. He needed a location where customers could better enjoy their experience by dining in, so when the building across the street from his current location opened he knew he had to get it. In 2010 Leola’s Crab Shack opened its doors at its new location at 710c West Orange Ave. where customers now have the opportunity to dine in to enjoy their favorites.
Leola’s Crab Shack isn’t just the typical grab and go crab shack. Guests have an array of seafood options to choose from, as well as the option to choose a traditional Southern favorite — fried chicken wings in case they have a taste for something other than seafood.
Whether it’s grab and go crab treys from their food truck or a flavorful plate from a catered extravaganza, Leola’s Crab Shack has something everyone is sure to enjoy.