Shrimp Basket Closes Bay Minette, Pensacola-Area and Four Inland Alabama Restaurants, Affecting About 100 Employees
Artistry Restaurants closed six Shrimp Basket locations on Nov. 1, including Bay Minette and Warrington, and will focus on the chain's 12 remaining beach and coastal restaurants.
BAY MINETTE, Ala. — A seafood brand born on the Alabama coast is pulling back toward the beach.
Artistry Restaurants, which owns Shrimp Basket, has closed six of the chain’s restaurants, including its locations in Bay Minette and the Warrington area of Pensacola. The closures also affect Cullman, Gardendale, Tuscaloosa and Auburn. All six took effect Sunday, Nov. 1, according to the company.
The closures affect approximately 100 employees, the company said. Four salaried employees were laid off along with hourly team members, and all affected workers have reportedly been offered the chance to transfer within the company. Some have already been reassigned.
Why the company says it is closing the restaurants
Artistry said it plans to direct its resources and future investment toward the 12 remaining Shrimp Basket locations in beach and coastal markets. In Alabama, the closures were limited to inland restaurants, while the company said the close proximity of several Pensacola-area locations contributed to the decision to close Warrington.
“While never an easy decision, it is our responsibility to the team and our guests to ensure the continued strength of the Shrimp Basket brand,” Artistry Restaurants CEO Bryan Lockwood said in a statement.
“Upon re-evaluation and reflection, we decided that our strength comes from our origins as a true coastal seafood restaurant and that returning to our roots as a brand, while directing our resources and future investments towards our beach and coastal locations, will best serve our teams and guests,” Lockwood said.
Lockwood added that the renewed focus “on what made Shrimp Baskets a beloved favorite among locals and visitors alike” will support the brand’s long-term plan and strength.
What remains in Alabama
The closures leave four Shrimp Basket restaurants in Alabama, according to reports on the company’s announcement: Foley, Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Evergreen. Diners in north and central Alabama who have come to know the chain’s smoked mahi dip and Boom Boom shrimp will now have to travel south for them.
At its peak, the brand had 18 locations. The six closures bring that number to 12.
Help for affected employees
The company said it plans to work with affected employees to identify transfer opportunities at other Shrimp Basket locations. Artistry has also created a resource sheet for each affected worker, including links to local sources of assistance.
From a Gulf Shores restaurant to a Southeast chain
Shrimp Basket traces its beginnings to Gulf Shores in 1993, when, according to the company’s history, two local residents opened a casual, family-focused seafood restaurant. The brand later expanded beyond the beach to serve customers across the Southeast.
Artistry Restaurants, a Florida-based restaurant group, acquired Shrimp Basket in May 2020. The group says its portfolio includes seven brands with locations across the Southeast.
For Baldwin County, the closing of the Bay Minette restaurant removes the chain’s presence from the county seat while its restaurants in the county’s beach and coastal communities remain open under the company’s new strategy.
