Author: -Ron Ladner, President and Co-Founder

Pass Christian is a small waterfront town on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. “The Pass,” as it’s called by locals, is home to one of the most beautiful harbors in the Gulf of Mexico, filled with one of the Gulf ’s largest shrimp boat fleets. The Pass is my home, and it’s also home to the first Shaggy’s. Here is the story of how Shaggy’s Harbor Bar & Grill was born.

In June 2005 I was fueling our boat at the bait shop in Pass Harbor when the shop’s owner approached me. “So you’re Ron Ladner,” he said. “I hear you’re investing in Pass Christian. We’re selling the bait shop—you should buy it.”

While trying to hide my excitement, I immediately thought about how cool it would be to add a kitchen and serve fresh seafood, burgers and cocktails—Key West style. Having been raised in nearby Long Beach, we never had a casual waterfront restaurant, so the harbor opportunity was growing on me. I never wanted to be in the restaurant business, but was suddenly very interested in the project as a real estate development.

My wife and I had moved to the Coast permanently the previous year after spending six years splitting time between Pass Christian and Atlanta. I was wrapping up a career in the software business, and we had had enough of Atlanta, so we returned to my roots and made Pass Christian “home.” Our favorite hangout in the Pass was Tigre’s, a cool restaurant and wine bar in the small downtown area. It was co-owned by Thomas Genin, an Emeril Lagasse protégé. Since we were there three to four nights a week, Thomas and his wife had no choice but to befriend us.

I had the vision for the bait shop, but needed an operator and partner—Thomas was the only person I would consider, but he was pursuing the expansion of Tigre’s and didn’t have the time. Alas, the idea just drifted around in my mind.

However, two months later, everything changed. On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina slammed Pass Christian. The bait shop was gone, Tigre’s was gone, we lost our homes, we lost our town, and for a while, we lost our spirit.

Several months later, I ran into the bait shop owners again and learned that they wanted to sell their harbor lease. I went straight to Thomas, who was now very interested in the venture, and we immediately negotiated a deal for the former bait shop spot. Thomas designed the building and we started construction in April 2007. After painting the restaurant bright red, we opened our doors three months later. Shaggy’s was open for business.

We look back now and feel that our little red place in the harbor breathed life back into our town in a time of great need. We’re often told that Shaggy’s helped many through the healing process—a place for all of us to get together, laugh, cry, eat great food and enjoy a cold one. Many customers say they feel like they’re on vacation, although they haven’t left town.

Though Shaggy’s has now grown to include four restaurants across the Gulf Coast, enjoyed by visitors from all over the country, we’re proud that our customers continue to tell us that the Shaggy’s environment is still that of a comfortable gathering place where you always feel like you’re among friends.