About Pinchers
Pinchers is a family-owned Florida seafood restaurant, not a chain. Tony Phelan opened the first Pinchers Crab Shack in Bonita Springs on October 15, 1997, with his wife Kathleen and their son Grant. The Phelan family still runs every Pinchers today.
As we say at Pinchers, you can't fake fresh.
Watch
The crab run
Ride along as Tony Phelan drives from Pinchers Bonita Springs to Island Crab Company on Pine Island, meets a local crabber at the dock and walks through the picking house where Pinchers blue crab is picked by hand.
Tony Phelan on the crab run to Pine Island. About 6 minutes.
“All the fishermen bring their catch every day up here to Island Crab.”Tony Phelan
“It’s been very beneficial for Island Crab and for Pinchers Crab Shack to have the marriage.”Tony Phelan
“Did these come from Vietnam?” “No, sir.” “You can't fake fresh, baby.”Tony Phelan and Jeff of Island Crab
From one room to ten restaurants
The first Pinchers had 12 tables and six people on staff, with Grant cooking and Tony on the floor. It opened on the first day of stone crab season, and the family has opened one restaurant at a time since.
- 1997The first Pinchers Crab Shack opens in Bonita Springs
- 2005Fort Myers Beach, on San Carlos Boulevard
- 2010Gulf Coast Town Center
- 2013Tarpon Point, Cape Coral
- 2014The Marina at Edison Ford and The Shops at Wiregrass
- 2016Marco Island
- 2017Venice
- 2022Pinchers Tin City is the first business in Tin City to reopen after Hurricane Ian
- TodayTen Pinchers on Florida's Gulf Coast, from Marco Island to Wesley Chapel
- SoonLakewood Ranch moves to St. Armands Circle, Sarasota
Where the seafood comes from
Pinchers blue crab, stone crab and fish come from local crabbers and fishermen who bring their catch to Island Crab Company on Pine Island. Pinchers started as Island Crab's smallest buyer and became its largest, and the Phelan family are part owners of the company today.
The crab is picked by hand on Pine Island, in a HACCP-inspected picking house, and goes from there to every Pinchers.
The family behind Pinchers
Pinchers is owned and run by the Phelan family through Phelan Family Brands. Read their stories.
Common questions
Is Pinchers a chain?
No. Pinchers is a family-owned Florida seafood restaurant, not a chain or a franchise.
Who owns Pinchers?
The Phelan family, through Phelan Family Brands. Tony Phelan founded it with his wife Kathleen and son Grant.
When did the first Pinchers open?
October 15, 1997, in Bonita Springs, Florida, on the opening day of stone crab season.
How many Pinchers are there?
Ten, on Florida's Gulf Coast from Marco Island to Wesley Chapel. A new Pinchers is opening soon on St. Armands Circle in Sarasota.
Come eat with us
Ten family-owned restaurants on Florida's Gulf Coast.