Replacing Pop's Southern Buffet in Palatka: Crabby Ben's Seafood & Bar
Pop's Southern Buffet closed in February, according to Facebook .
PALATKA, FL – Crabby Ben's Seafood & Bar is preparing to open later this year at 909 FL-19, Palatka, FL 32177, co-owner Donnell Goggins told Business Debut in a phone interview.
Goggins and his wife, Irie Cameron, are renovating the former Pop's Southern Buffet space. The couple, who own several other businesses, purchased the restaurant building and are completing an extensive update of the interior.
What to Expect
Crabby Ben's Seafood & Bar will operate as a full-service restaurant with complimentary valet parking. Goggins and Cameron are planning a family-oriented environment that draws diners from Palatka and nearby counties.
Menu and Vision
The concept will be centered around seafood boils with New Orleans and Creole influence. Boil offerings will include blue crab, king crab, snow crab, Dungeness crab, lobster, crawfish, whole shrimp, headless shrimp, scallops, clams, black mussels and green mussels. Guests will be able to customize combinations.
Planned sides and add-ins include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots and other vegetables. The menu will also feature rice with options such as scallop rice, crawfish rice, shrimp rice, plain rice, whole fried fish, gumbo, soups and salads. He said the goal is a broad seafood menu with Creole-style items.
A bar program is planned, but alcohol service will start about two to three months after opening while the team completes licensing steps.
Opening Timeline
Goggins said the team is targeting an opening in about two months. The owners are waiting on final regulatory approvals and finishing renovations.
Ross McWaters
