Christy Spell Terry

March 30, 2023
Special to 30A Food & Wine

INLET BEACH – Spell Restaurant Group, led by father-daughter duo Rick Spell and Christy Spell Terry, have announced the acquisition of two Inlet Beach eateries: Shades Bar & Grill and Shaka Sushi & Cocktail Bar. Last Call Restaurant Group will turn over both businesses to Rick and Christy on April 1. The additions grow the Spell Restaurant Group’s portfolio to 10 restaurants, with seven in Florida and three in Memphis, Tenn.

“It has always been our goal to have a strong presence in the 30A-Highway 98 hospitality industry, and adding Shades and Shaka to our portfolio helps us do just that,” said Christy. “We’re not only expanding our roster, we’re expanding our geographic footprint a little further east, as well. While we have Saltwater Grill in Panama City Beach, our four other Florida restaurants are located in the Rosemary Beach and Alys Beach areas.”

While Shaka is the father-daughter team’s first Asian fusion eatery, Rick and Christy have extensive experience in managing sports bars similar to Shades. They have owned the wildly popular Brookhaven Pub & Grill in Memphis since 2004. Even still, Rick and Christy will undoubtedly rely on existing employees, all of whom will be asked to stay, to get to know the ins and outs of both establishments before April 1.

“As soon as the deal was made final, the team members at Shades and Shaka became part of our family in our eyes,” said Christy. “They, along with Greg Wakeham, the Freer brothers and Steven Sapp of Last Call Restaurant Group, have played integral roles in making these establishments what they are today and we have tremendous respect for all they’ve done. We look forward to learning from their teams and having their help in the continued success of both restaurants for years to come.”

Shades opened in 1994, spending its first 11 years in Seaside before moving to its current location at Inlet Beach Village at 10952 E. County Hwy. 30A. Shaka, which is located at 13625 U.S. Hwy. 98 E., Suite 5-6, opened in April 2019. Last Call Restaurant Group will maintain ownership of The Courtyard at Pescado and Pescado Seafood Grill & Rooftop Bar in Rosemary Beach.

In addition to the restaurants, the purchase includes Inlet Beach Village, the building that houses Shades and four other tenants: Galvas Construction, Naumann Group, 30A Luxury Vacations and Blue Title LLC.