What's in a Name?

Crystal Canterbury
What's in a Name?
Photos by Crystal Canterbury

Local restaurant gets a new look and new sign for the new season.

Ocracoke Oyster Company (formerly the Topless Oyster) is owned by George and Janille Turner, who met in 1997 when they both worked at Howard's Pub. The first two years of their working relationship was rocky – both admitting freely they disliked each other – but they eventually smoothed everything over and began dating in 1999. In 2001 the couple married, and they have been on the move since.

Janille and George moved to Alabama in 2007 and opened up the Topless Oyster Restaurant on Dauphin Island, a coastal community along the Gulf of Mexico. The restaurant was a huge success winning the Best Restaurant title four times in four years, plus earning an award for Best Decorations. George won a Best Appetizer award for his oysters on the half-shell, and the restaurant made it onto a list of outstanding eateries on the Jay Leno Show. They had a huge Bloody Mary clientelle, plus specialized in coastal cuisine. George was the chef and prepared fresh crab, oysters, and seafood daily. Business was booming until the BP oil spill in 2010.

"We were the last restaurant standing," Janille said.

New sign Installation Day! (It was a bit colder back in March.)
New sign Installation Day! (It was a bit colder back in March.)
Photo by Rob Temple

Oyster shops closed, fish houses went out of business, and in order to stay open, Janille and George had to have oysters trucked in from Florida.

"It got to where we couldn't get any seafood," Janille continued, so George moved back to Ocracoke Island with their dogs and cats and became the General Manager at The Jolly Roger. Janille joined him a few weeks later with Noah, now 6, who lovingly calls Janille "JJ" and George "Papa." About a year later they began renting the former Capt. Ben's Restaurant along Highway 12 and named it The Topless Oyster Restaurant.

The building is still there, and Janille and George are still running the restaurant, but after much discussion and debate, the duo debued a new name. Janille said, "I didn't want to name it 'Topless Oyster' to begin with." George liked the name and wanted it to stay the same, and jokingly said, "I told her 'You can change the name but I won't be here,' and she told me to leave, but I didn't have any gas!"

By mid-January 2015, the name change had been decided, but was kept a secret until just before opening day. George began working with marketing companies and Janille started plans to remodel the interior, outside seating area, and deck. Cold tempertaures over the winter caused the pipes in the restaurant to freeze and burst, adding more work to an already significant project. Once everything thawed and repairs were made, Janille snd George began revamping the building using repurposed and recycled materials.

The porch is popular!
The porch is popular!

The remodeling project was completed due to their own efforts, with help from friends and staff. The new bar area, accented by soft lighting and a mirror in the middle, was constructed from palettes and displays the liquors available. Alcoholic beverage are now being served in Mason jars; some are shot-sized, others are larger for mixed drinks. Lights hanging from the ceiling have been made from old minnow traps, electric candles, which flicker inside lamps, have been mounted on wooden supports all around the restaurant for some extra lighting. New paint was put on the walls and ceiling fans, which now have brightly colored blades, and the open deck has been enlarged. Janille also added new doors, because she's, "got a nice restaurant, so I needed nice doors!" The large yard out front allows for games such as cornhole, and there's plenty of room to run around, too.

On top of the remodeling and additions, the Ocracoke Oyster Company offers a wide array of food choices. A large variety of oyster dishes are available, plus shrimp and fish platters and baskets, burgers, Asian-inspired and Mexican-inspired menu items, New Orleans-style cuisine, and Fig wood barbeque, brisket, and ribs. Beginning Memorial Day weekend, two bars will be open, one serving as a late-night bar.

Belly up to the remodeled bar!
Belly up to the remodeled bar!

Janille and George are planning on selling their delicious homemade sauces, which you can try on a bunch of sandwiches and dishes. They also cater events and will provide barbeque, along with produce and other food items from North Carolina. The menu will see changes from time to time, and new items will be added as the restaurant continues to be successful. All kinds of live music events are scheduled for the summer several nights a week with no cover charge.

Ocracoke Oyster Company is open seven days a week to enjoy lunch and dinner, and closes for just one month during the winter. Like their Facebook page for more information and photos from Janille and George.

New, expanded deck seating.
New, expanded deck seating.
Surf's up!
Surf's up!

 

Comments powered by Disqus