OCALA, FL (352today.com) – At 352today, it’s our mission to be your community connection. We’re rolling out a new feature to connect you with North Central Florida’s vibrant culinary scene. It’s called 352eats. Think of it as your weekly “reservation.”
From cozy bistros to bustling diners and innovative food trucks, this feature will help you discover the flavors that define the 352.
We go beyond the menu; 352eats digs into the stories behind the meals, spotlighting the passionate people who bring them to life.
We uncover their journeys from dining table dreams to restaurant reality. Whether it’s a family-owned gem that’s been serving generations or a bold newcomer shaking up the local scene, we’ll explore what makes each establishment unique.
Learn about their inspirations, signature dishes, and the latest additions to their menus they hope will tantalize your taste buds.
Vol. 1 – Meet Brad Harper, Owner of Shuckin’ Shack, Mellow Mushroom and Eggs Up Grill
Brad Harper has over 30 years in the restaurant industry and 20-plus years of franchising experience that began with Zaxby’s.
Harper helped start Swamp Dawg Restaurant Management Group (SDRMG LLC) with a friend and colleague, Allison Hartwig. He’s a diehard Georgia Bulldog fan and she was a Gator fan. They combined their fandom to create Swamp Dawg – one brand that specializes in fast-casual and full-service dining.
Tragically, Allison and her fiancé, Jason Cotton, died in a motorcycle wreck in 2015.
Harper could have easily scrapped the plans. Instead, he and his wife, Jessica, turned tragedy into purpose.
“We are dedicated to our employees and customers, ensuring everyone who visits our restaurants and office will feel like family- just like we always envisioned,” said Harper.
Since then, SDRMG LLC has continued to expand and grow with the help of additional partners and co-owners through the creation of Harrdy LLC.
He expanded into full-service restaurants in 2017 and now owns five full-service restaurants across three brands: Shuckin’ Shack, Mellow Mushroom, and Eggs Up Grill. And coming soon to downtown Ocala, Mooyah, featuring burgers, steaks, shakes and fries.
Dig In: Shuckin’ Shack
While we could focus on any one of Harper’s franchise brands, we felt summer would be the ideal time to learn more about his coastal- themed restaurant: Shuckin’ Shack.
As its name suggests, Shuckin’ Shack features raw bar items on its menu including oysters and clams. Or you can order a variety of shellfish – oysters, clams, shrimp, mussels and snow crab legs – steamed.
The Shuckin’ Shack franchise puts an emphasis on its restaurants being ocean friendly, saying they’re committed to protecting waterways and the animals that live there. For that reason, they ask that you “skip the straw” in your drinks. The do offer biodegradable and reusable straws if you ask for it.
Several seafood selections are intended to be shared like the Saul T Steam Pot which includes a dozen steamed oysters, dozen steamed clams, 1 pound of steamed crab legs, a half-pound of steamed shrimp, plus corn on the cob and slaw for two.
A variety of salads, sandwiches and entrees will also appeal to the seafood lover like the Greggah which is described as a lobster roll with a southern flair.
For landlubbers, burgers, wings or chicken tacos might be more your style.
We asked Harper a variety of questions and let him tell the rest of the story in his own words.
Anything happening new at Shuckin’ Shack? Changes to adapt to enhance the customer experience?
Harper: “We recently rolled out a new menu for Shuckin’ Shack that we are very excited about with more options – not just for our seafood lovers but also for the ones who may want to enjoy a flatbread or nice blackened chicken alfredo. Our new menu design and items provide something for the whole family to enjoy, and we are excited to see these new additions make our loyal customers and new customers keep coming back!”
Who is the most famous person who’s been a customer?
Harper: “Mark Richt, former (University of) Georgia head football coach, stopped into one of our stores and left me a note on a napkin. He just wanted to say, ‘Hey’ to me, a true Georgia Bull Dawg fan. John Travolta has also been around our businesses being an Ocala Florida native, and we have gotten the chance to interact a time or two!”
What do you love most about what you do?
Harper: “People. We are in the people business, and our people from the dishwasher in the back to the host in the front to every chair that gets filled by a guest sitting and dining with us are all the most important parts of what makes being in this industry and owning and operating these restaurants! I appreciate every guest we have had the pleasure of serving and every team member who makes the experience of dining at one of our restaurants so incredible, without them we wouldn’t have any of this.”
What do you do to relax?
Harper: “My biggest recharge that not only supports me but helps balance me and provides a true quality of life is my wife. She helps ground me in all moments that we may go through and reminds me I never have to do it alone!”
What’s the one thing that would surprise people about you?
Harper: You won’t ever find me without my uniform: a sun visor, shorts, tennis shoes, a t-shirt, and my sunglasses.
What else do you want people to know?
Harper: Go Dawgs!
Is there is a restaurant, bistro, bar, brunch or breakfast place you’d like to see featured on 352eats? If so, send us an email and let us know. If you’re the owner or manager of a restaurant, we invite you to tell us your story. Click here to get started.