Anne & Shawn’s Crab Shack

Once upon a time, on a Monday afternoon, in the spring of 2009, Shawn was hammering in the nails that held a large sign that said “Going Out of Business”. Anne was inside the restaurant cleaning and putting old food and dishes into boxes. Anne and Shawn’s Crab Shack was going out of business. The restaurant, known for its SmithIsland cakes, fried and grilled shrimp, rockfish, oysters, and flounder, sat on a large dock bordering the Chesapeake Bay, where the water is as brown as Anne’s dark eyes. The small shack was made of white boards and a silver roof made of tin. It was surrounded by huge stalks of wild rice that animals such as, Mallard, Wood Duck, American Black Duck, Canada Goose, Bobolink, Black Sora, Song Sparrow, Fish Crow, Northern Bobwhite, and Red-winged Blackbirds frequently devoured. Shawn walked outside and stared at the shack that he called home.

“Well, I’m really going to miss this place”.Anne tiptoed outside and watched her husband say his goodbye’s to the old restaurant that contained so many memories.

Tyler Town was very quiet and empty. The business started in 2000 and had many tourists and visitors stop by. It was a great success. Around 2003, a rumor started that the fish being cooked in their restaurant were unsanitary and polluted. Everyday, less people came to eat, and the shack was losing their business. The day of May 10th came, and Anne and Shawn got the letter that said the restaurant was finished, and they had to be out in two days. As they were packing up, three kids walked in the door. A young boy, probably 17, stepped in front of his two friends.

“Hey, I’m Aaron. My friends and I heard the Shack was going out of business and we have come here for a long time. So, we decided to put up signs and start cleaning the bay. Maybe, we could get enough money raised to start the business up again”, he said excitedly.

Anne spoke up. “Oh, that sounds great! Thank you guys so much for doing this”.“Oh, no problem, we love this place and hate to see it go”, said the young girl

behind Aaron, “By the way, I’m Alice”.“Alright, well we will be back around Noon tomorrow to start putting up signs

and all that”, said the other young girl.“Okay, see you then!” Shawn said thankfully.

The sky was getting darker while Anne and Shawn were still packing up. They finally loaded the truck and pulled out of the little parking lot.

The next morning, they drove back to the restaurant to meet the kids. The three of them were outside making posters. Anne hopped out of the truck.

“Hey, how are you guys?” she asked.“We’re good, just trying to finish up the signs”, said Aaron.“Alright, well let’s get this done. The quicker, the better”, said Shawn.

The group got to work. Around 3:30, they had finished all the posters and set them up around the town. Many people spoke about the signs and why they were being put up. After about 5:00 more and more people started to join in on the act.

Two weeks later, they had raised $5,000. They were amazed by how many people donated money to the cause. They started to clean around the bay and on the beaches, and after they were done with the outside, they began to move to the water. About five months later, they had raised $15,000. By the spring of 2010, they were ready to start the business again. Anne and Shawn were so excited. They had hired many future workers to help with the restaurant. Everything had happened so quickly. Shawn pulled the nails out of the sign that said “Going out of Business” and painted over it. It then said “Now in Business.”