Source: Ocala.com
Business was brisk as the new Captain D’s Seafood Kitchen restaurant on Southwest 27th Avenue in Ocala opened its doors on Sept. 2.
“I’m so glad it opened,” said Brenda Peace of northwest Ocala, who stopped in for lunch on Opening Day with her husband Curtis.
The couple likes the hand-battered fish and shrimp served at Captain D’s and were once customers at one of the brand’s Georgia locations.
Captain D’s began in 1969 at Mr D’s Seafood and Hamburgers in Donelson, Tennessee, and expanded to 15 locations by 1973, according to Captainds.coml.
By 1974, the restaurant began to focus on seafood and changed the name to Captain D’s, the website states. The brand now has more than 500 locations nationwide.
Captain D’s offers hand-breaded fish, chicken and shrimp; sandwiches like the Cajun Catfish and Spicy Giant Fish; fries; and seafood platters and chicken tenders.
Grilled fish fillets are available with blackened, lemon pepper or original seasoning flavors. Side orders of green beans, corn, baked potato, mac & cheese and more are available.
Kids’ meals and desserts including funnel cake stix and classic cheesecake are on the menu, as well.
The co-owners of the local franchise, Wanda Davis and Toks Achebe of Cobb County Georgia, were on hand for Opening Day. The two franchisees also operate a Captain D’s in Palatka and are set to open a location in Gainesville.
“Ocala is a very dynamic place to do business,” Achebe said. He noted the area is “growing in leaps and bounds” and he feels Captain D’s has a niche in the food service marketplace here, including Ocala’s retirement communities.
Marion County Public Schools HVAC technician Floyd Lassitter, who like the restaurant’s fish, was enjoying lunch with a party on Opening Day. Another couple who frequent the Captain D’s in Orange Park saw the curbside sign for the new Ocala eatery and came in for lunch.
The new Captain D’s is at 2510 SW 27th Ave., Ocala. It offers dine-in service for about 30 guests and also features a drive-thru window.
Co-franchisee David thanked “the people of Ocala (who) have been absolutely outstanding to work with on this project and we look forward to working with them again on future projects.”