Shrimp-focused Fort Myers Beach waterfront restaurant announces closing

Fort Myers News-Press

Sunday, June 23, will be the last day of business for The RUDE Shrimp Co.

An announcement was made via the Fort Myers Beach restaurant’s social media pages late Tuesday afternoon.

“We’ve been getting pretty good at rolling with the punches the last two years, but this one hits hard,” the post read. “As of (Tuesday) afternoon, we were informed that our lease at Moss Marina will not be renewed.”

Hurricane Ian destroyed home, washed away restaurant

It’s been a tough two years indeed for owners Lisa Lahners and TJ Holzapfel.

Lisa Lahners, owner of The RUDE Shrimp Company on Fort Myers Beach, gets a beer for a customer on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. Lahners and her husband, TJ Holzapfel, started the business as a food truck in 2018 in Nebraska

After moving from Nebraska, they opened RUDE Shrimp in the former Edelweiss Burger joint across from the Lani Kai on Estero Boulevard in March 2022. Just six months later, Hurricane Ian destroyed their home and storm surge washed away the building that housed their restaurant.

With shipping containers from Nebraska acting as the restaurant and a food truck for a kitchen, RUDE Shrimp’s local shrimp-focused Hawaiian fusion cuisine returned to its original site on Jan. 7, 2023.

Five-plus months later, they moved to Moss Marina and opened their shipping container-anchored waterfront spot last June.

The RUDE Shrimp Company's spicy peel-and-eat shrmip is a popular item on their appetizer menu.

'This isn't goodbye forever'

A year of fresh food, cold beer and live music later, they announced their closing.

“This news comes with a heavy heart, we will be closing our doors effective June 24^th,” the post continued. “If you have any outstanding gift cards etc., please reach out to us if you can’t use them between now and (June) 23.”

Reach them at (239) 396-0246 or email therudeshrimpco@gmail.com.

In case you missed it:Popular Chicago pizza restaurant suddenly closes one of its Fort Myers locations

Hopefully, this won’t be the last of Lisa, TJ and RUDE Shrimp.

“MAHALO for all of your support over the past few years,” the post concluded. “This isn’t goodbye forever, but until we meet again (a hui hou).”

The RUDE Shrimp Co. is open at 450 Harbor Court, Unit 1 on Fort Myers Beach, from 3-9 p.m. Wednesday to Friday and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday until June 23. Follow on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.

Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyers.gannett.com