Shrimp Basket has closed six restaurants across Alabama and Florida as parent company Artistry Restaurants shifts its focus toward coastal markets.
The closures, effective Sunday, include the Warrington location in Pensacola, Florida, along with restaurants in Bay Minette, Cullman, Gardendale, Tuscaloosa, and Auburn, Alabama.
The move leaves Shrimp Basket with 12 restaurants, all in beach and coastal markets that Artistry believes offer the strongest opportunities for long-term success.
Artistry CEO Bryan Lockwood said the decision followed a reevaluation of the seafood chain’s positioning and its connection to the coastal communities where it established its identity.
“While never an easy decision, it is our responsibility to the team and our guests to ensure the continued strength of the Shimp Basket brand. Upon re-evaluation and reflection, we decided that our strength comes from our origins as a true coastal seafood restaurant and that returning to our roots as a brand, while directing our resources and future investments towards our beach and coastal locations, will best serve our teams and guests,” Lockwood said in a statement.
The company cited different factors behind the closures in each state. In the Pensacola area, the proximity of existing Shrimp Basket restaurants influenced the decision. In Alabama, the closures targeted inland locations across the northern and central portions of the state.
Artistry said concentrating resources on the remaining restaurants will allow the company to provide greater operational support, invest in the guest experience, and position Shrimp Basket for future profitability and growth.
The closures come more than six years after Artistry acquired Shrimp Basket in May 2020. Since then, the company has introduced several initiatives designed to strengthen the brand, including its Gulf to Guest program, family meal offerings, menu updates, and expanded marketing and social media efforts.
Artistry also launched the Big Catch Award, an employee recognition program intended to support restaurant teams.
The company said Shrimp Basket is in a stronger market position today than when it was acquired, but its latest decision reflects a renewed emphasis on the brand’s coastal roots.
The closures also follow a similar restructuring at another Artistry-owned concept, Hickory Tavern.
Earlier this year, Artistry closed four Hickory Tavern restaurants in North Carolina and South Carolina, so it could concentrate resources on locations with stronger long-term prospects. Those closures reduced Hickory Tavern’s footprint to 16 restaurants across the Carolinas.
As with Shrimp Basket, Artistry pointed to restaurant proximity and the opportunity to redirect investment, team resources, and operational support toward its remaining locations.
Artistry acquired Hickory Tavern in January 2025 and subsequently introduced menu updates, restaurant redesigns, new operating standards, and supplier partnerships as part of a broader effort to strengthen the nearly three-decade-old brand.
The company is also looking to retain employees affected by Shrimp Basket’s closures. Artistry said it plans to work with those team members to identify potential transfer opportunities at other restaurants.
“This renewed focus on what made Shrimp Basket a beloved favorite among locals and visitors alike, will support Shrimp Basket’s long-term plan and strength as a brand,” Lockwood said.
