Georgia Shrimp Co. now open in Fayetteville

By KRISTINE FORTUNATO
kfortunato@TheCitizenNews.com

Georgia Shrimp Company, the popular seafood restaurant first established in Peachtree City, is expanding to Fayetteville, giving local residents more opportunity to sample the fresh seafood menu. The restaurant is located behind O'Charley's off Ga. Highway 85 near the Pavilion shopping center in Fayetteville.

The original Georgia Shrimp Co. was opened in July 2004 by Bruce Scott, who also owns the Famous Fish Company in The Avenue in Peachtree City. While both restaurants revolve around a menu of fresh seafood, Scott says that Famous Fish has a European style to its offerings, while Georgia Shrimp Co. is more regionalized in its cooking.

"The concept has been very well received," Scott said of Georgia Shrimp Co. "This menu appeals to a broader base of customers. It is more suited to the American market and style of eating."

Fans of the Peachtree City location will be pleased to find an identical menu at the Fayetteville restaurant, which serves up items such as traditional fish and chips, grouper sandwiches and shrimp po'boys. The seafood is delivered fresh six days a week, and there are plenty of options for diners who aren't so keen on seafood. Along with freshness, Georgia Shrimp Co.'s affordable prices are another factor in its popularity. The most expensive item on the menu is only $12.95.

One obvious difference between the two stores is the size of the new location. While still cozy, the new Georgia Shrimp Co. has an airier feel due to high exposed ceilings and the floor will seat more guests. Another marked difference is the full bar that greets patrons as they enter the restaurant and wait to be seated.

The bar was built as the focal point of the restaurant, and it has a commanding presence in the room. Shaped like the bow of a shrimp boat, the wide, polished bar juts out from the wall to sweep the restaurant.

Ben Gaxiola, president of the local architecture firm Base Retail and chief architect on the project, said the inspiration for the restaurant's design came from Bruce Scott's desire to use a shrimp theme to complement the restaurant's name and menu focus. Not knowing anything about the shrimp industry, Gaxiola took a trip to Florida and went out on a shrimp boat, taking hundreds of pictures for inspiration. "I take this job very seriously, and I wanted to create a true one of a kind restaurant," he said.

"After the trip, I got the idea to make the shrimp boat the heart of the restaurant as a way to center the restaurant's theme around shrimp," Gaxiola explained. "You will find abstract nets, cranes and sails throughout the restaurant."

Gaxiola said it was also important to the owner to make people feel comfortable in the space. An exposed brick wall and lowered light fixtures add to the intimacy of the room. The color scheme was chosen with women in mind, to create an atmosphere that ladies would feel comfortable in, especially since healthy seafood is becoming more important in women's diets.

Scott said Gaxiola has succeeded in building a cozy restaurant without making it "too fishy, with plastic lobsters and nets hanging around." Nothing in the shrimp boat theme is over the top. The atmosphere is elegant but informal, where you can feel comfortable in jeans or a business suit.

Georgia Shrimp Co. serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and dinner starting at 5 p.m. until 9:30. Saturday and Sunday the restaurant stays open all day, with extended hours on Saturday until 10 p.m.

The restaurant is located at 1360 Highway 85 North in Fayetteville, next to Moe's Southwest Grill and Ted's Montana Grill. For more information, call 770-461-6262.