Dawn and Kevin Powers are no strangers to the restaurant business. With decades of combined experience in hospitality and management, the couple was drawn to Shuckin' Shack, a brand that felt more like a local hangout than a traditional franchise. Inspired by their son’s time working at the Shuckin' Shack location in Carolina Beach, the Powers saw an opportunity to bring the same laid-back atmosphere and neighborhood feel to their community in Charlotte, North Carolina.
After spending years in the restaurant industry, Dawn’s experience and Kevin’s background in both bartending and the railroad industry gave them the confidence to take on their first business venture together. The couple appreciated that Shuckin' Shack offered the backing of a strong franchise without sacrificing that authentic, local bar atmosphere. Now, they’re excited to introduce the Shuckin' Shack experience to Charlotte and hope to expand further as a family business with their children on board.
1851 spoke to Kevin and Dawn Powers about their franchise journey with Shuckin’ Shack and their plans for the future.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Kevin Powers: Before getting into franchising, I started with the railroad in 1996, and before that, I was a bartender at a nightclub for about a year and a half, where I had always wanted to open my own bar. During a visit to Carolina Beach, my son worked at Shuckin’ Shack and I saw they had a solid business model and a great system in place, which really caught my attention.
Dawn Powers: I’ve been in the restaurant industry all my life. My uncle owned restaurants and I’ve done just about everything in the business — it’s my wheelhouse. I also worked as an office manager for a chiropractor. At my last company, I started as a server and bartender while in a boot for a broken foot and, within six months, I became their [general manager]. That experience taught me a lot about what to do and what not to do in business and management. When my son, Andrew, told us how much he loved Shuckin’ Shack, I saw it as something we always kept in our back pocket. One day, I told my husband, “Let’s do this,” and we pulled the trigger.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Kevin: I don't think we would have done a franchise other than this. This is a franchise, but their bars do not have that franchise feel. They're more of a local bar than a franchise.
Dawn: A lot of our friends were saying, “Wow, we're surprised that you're franchising.” But we're first time business owners; it's giving us the backing and the business platform is amazing. When we first went in and met with the team, it was the most laid-back feel. And I said, “Kevin, We're doing the right thing. This is what we want. We want a neighborhood feel, but with the backing and the support of the franchise.”
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Kevin: We lived outside Carolina Beach for a year when my son worked there, and I liked their business model. We lived in Charlotte for three years, and a lot of people from Charlotte vacation in Carolina Beach. So even though there isn’t a Shuckin’ Shack in Charlotte, a lot of people who vacation out there have been to it.
Dawn: My husband is a huge hockey fan, and they always had the hockey package and games on. We’d have a few drinks and watch the games, which was something other bars didn’t offer. We had no idea Shuckin' Shack was a franchise — it felt like a local bar. Then my son mentioned, "Oh no, they franchise." When we decided what we wanted to do, we knew Shuckin' Shack was the right choice. It’s small and manageable — not like an Applebee’s or LongHorn — which felt right for us as first-time business owners.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Dawn: We hope that we can be one of the top five stores, and we would eventually like to be able to open a second or third location.
1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?
Dawn: We’re doing this as a family. Our daughter is in the medical field, but she's interested in learning the business. The other day, she told me, "Mom, I think I’d be really good at bartending," and I agreed — she has a great personality for it. She’s seen both of us work hard in the bar and restaurant industry her whole life, and she told me she's proud that this business is going to be ours. Our son is also planning to join us, learning both the front and back of the house, with the goal of taking over our first location someday. This way, we can grow and expand together as a family.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?
Kevin: Find a franchise that fits what you’re looking for — it’s more than just the brand. For us, we wouldn’t have pursued franchising if it weren’t for this opportunity. The support they offer doesn’t have that massive corporate feel; instead, it genuinely feels like they want you to succeed and be part of a family. It’s a completely different experience compared to what we’d expect from a larger, more corporate franchise like McDonald’s.
ABOUT SHUCKIN’ SHACK:
Offering a “lifestyle experience,” Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar creates an environment that encourages guests to grab a seat, relax and take their taste buds on a trip to the coast; after all, life is too short for bland drinks and boring bars! The original Carolina Beach, NC Shack, which was just 900-square-feet, was launched in 2007 with a plan to become the go-to local hangout for people of all ages. A place where friends and family can enjoy fresh, delicious meals, cold beer, and craft cocktails in an environment that exudes fun and relaxation, Shuckin’ Shack offers exceptional seafood and creative drinks that will make guests question why they ever settled for ordinary bar offerings.
Thanks to its bold flavors and impeccable vibes, Shuckin’ Shack has continued to grow. In 2014, the brand began franchising and has since expanded to 18 units across six states. To learn more about Shuckin’ Shack, visit http://www.theshuckinshack.com.
Shuckin' Shack
Drawing from extensive hospitality experience, Kevin and Dawn Powers are aiming to bring a local bar feel to their Shuckin’ Shack franchise in Charlotte and grow it as a family business.
Dawn and Kevin Powers are no strangers to the restaurant business. With decades of combined experience in hospitality and management, the couple was drawn to Shuckin' Shack, a brand that felt more like a local hangout than a traditional franchise. Inspired by their son’s time working at the Shuckin' Shack location in Carolina Beach, the Powers saw an opportunity to bring the same laid-back atmosphere and neighborhood feel to their community in Charlotte, North Carolina.
After spending years in the restaurant industry, Dawn’s experience and Kevin’s background in both bartending and the railroad industry gave them the confidence to take on their first business venture together. The couple appreciated that Shuckin' Shack offered the backing of a strong franchise without sacrificing that authentic, local bar atmosphere. Now, they’re excited to introduce the Shuckin' Shack experience to Charlotte and hope to expand further as a family business with their children on board.
1851 spoke to Kevin and Dawn Powers about their franchise journey with Shuckin’ Shack and their plans for the future.
1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?
Kevin Powers: Before getting into franchising, I started with the railroad in 1996, and before that, I was a bartender at a nightclub for about a year and a half, where I had always wanted to open my own bar. During a visit to Carolina Beach, my son worked at Shuckin’ Shack and I saw they had a solid business model and a great system in place, which really caught my attention.
Dawn Powers: I’ve been in the restaurant industry all my life. My uncle owned restaurants and I’ve done just about everything in the business — it’s my wheelhouse. I also worked as an office manager for a chiropractor. At my last company, I started as a server and bartender while in a boot for a broken foot and, within six months, I became their [general manager]. That experience taught me a lot about what to do and what not to do in business and management. When my son, Andrew, told us how much he loved Shuckin’ Shack, I saw it as something we always kept in our back pocket. One day, I told my husband, “Let’s do this,” and we pulled the trigger.
1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?
Kevin: I don't think we would have done a franchise other than this. This is a franchise, but their bars do not have that franchise feel. They're more of a local bar than a franchise.
Dawn: A lot of our friends were saying, “Wow, we're surprised that you're franchising.” But we're first time business owners; it's giving us the backing and the business platform is amazing. When we first went in and met with the team, it was the most laid-back feel. And I said, “Kevin, We're doing the right thing. This is what we want. We want a neighborhood feel, but with the backing and the support of the franchise.”
1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?
Kevin: We lived outside Carolina Beach for a year when my son worked there, and I liked their business model. We lived in Charlotte for three years, and a lot of people from Charlotte vacation in Carolina Beach. So even though there isn’t a Shuckin’ Shack in Charlotte, a lot of people who vacation out there have been to it.
Dawn: My husband is a huge hockey fan, and they always had the hockey package and games on. We’d have a few drinks and watch the games, which was something other bars didn’t offer. We had no idea Shuckin' Shack was a franchise — it felt like a local bar. Then my son mentioned, "Oh no, they franchise." When we decided what we wanted to do, we knew Shuckin' Shack was the right choice. It’s small and manageable — not like an Applebee’s or LongHorn — which felt right for us as first-time business owners.
1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?
Dawn: We hope that we can be one of the top five stores, and we would eventually like to be able to open a second or third location.
1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?
Dawn: We’re doing this as a family. Our daughter is in the medical field, but she's interested in learning the business. The other day, she told me, "Mom, I think I’d be really good at bartending," and I agreed — she has a great personality for it. She’s seen both of us work hard in the bar and restaurant industry her whole life, and she told me she's proud that this business is going to be ours. Our son is also planning to join us, learning both the front and back of the house, with the goal of taking over our first location someday. This way, we can grow and expand together as a family.
1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?
Kevin: Find a franchise that fits what you’re looking for — it’s more than just the brand. For us, we wouldn’t have pursued franchising if it weren’t for this opportunity. The support they offer doesn’t have that massive corporate feel; instead, it genuinely feels like they want you to succeed and be part of a family. It’s a completely different experience compared to what we’d expect from a larger, more corporate franchise like McDonald’s.
ABOUT SHUCKIN’ SHACK:
Offering a “lifestyle experience,” Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar creates an environment that encourages guests to grab a seat, relax and take their taste buds on a trip to the coast; after all, life is too short for bland drinks and boring bars! The original Carolina Beach, NC Shack, which was just 900-square-feet, was launched in 2007 with a plan to become the go-to local hangout for people of all ages. A place where friends and family can enjoy fresh, delicious meals, cold beer, and craft cocktails in an environment that exudes fun and relaxation, Shuckin’ Shack offers exceptional seafood and creative drinks that will make guests question why they ever settled for ordinary bar offerings.
Thanks to its bold flavors and impeccable vibes, Shuckin’ Shack has continued to grow. In 2014, the brand began franchising and has since expanded to 18 units across six states. To learn more about Shuckin’ Shack, visit http://www.theshuckinshack.com.
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