Happy 46th Anniversary To Us!
Chesapeake House is celebrating their 46th Anniversary and we want to share the love! After all, our success is only possible because of our awesome patrons!
Here’s some history about the Chesapeake House so you can see how it is that we got here:
The Chesapeake House story began on May 17th, 1971. Three Dog Night was bringing "Joy to the World", Nixon was president and Archie Bunker and Flip Wilson were the kings of television. Jean and Ed Cribb decided to take a leap of faith and build a seafood restaurant out on Highway 17 North. Many said it was a mistake to build that far outside of Myrtle Beach, but today there are 22 restaurants along what is now known as "Restaurant Row".
Ed grew up in Georgetown, SC and learned the restaurant business working his way up the ladder at the legendary Oliver's Lodge, Murrells Inlet's oldest and most famous restaurant. Jean grew up on the family farm in the Chestnut Hill area. Jean's seafood heritage goes back to another famous Murrells Inlet seafood restaurant, Lee's Inlet Kitchen. Here, Jean and Ed learned how to cook and serve seafood in the "Low Country” tradition made famous along the Carolina Coast. That tradition continues today at The Chesapeake House.
Originally, the restaurant seated only 180 people and customers had to "brown bag" their favorite cocktails. Since then, the restaurant has been remodeled four times, has it's own in-house bakery, and now seats over 300.
Through the years, Ed Cribb has taken his vision and experience and opened over 15 restaurants up and down the Carolina Coast – The Channel Marker, Drunken Jack’s, Market Place, Gulfstream Cafe, Pelican Point, and Buddy's Grill to name just a few. If you've been vacationing along the Grand Strand over the past 40 years, odds are you've probably dined at an Ed Cribb restaurant.
First and foremost though, The Chesapeake House is a family affair and over the years the Cribbs have raised five children and numerous grandchildren at the "Peake". Some have gone on to carry on the tradition at Lee's Inlet Kitchen and Chestnut Hill Restaurant located next door. Today, Ed's son Buddy is also carrying on that tradition with his children.