Beck's Restaurant

About Beck's Seafood Restaurant
and the Birth of Calabash-Style Seafood

Amidst the inlets and marshes of our beautiful town, lies a history
that would be impossible to dream up in any modern day novel.
From the original settlers from New England and Charleston, SC
to the bright lights of today's modern technologies, Calabash is a
story best told by its people. Many of the residents today are
indeed descendants of those who carved the name of Calabash
themselves.

In the late 1800's, present-day Calabash was known as Pea
Landing, representing the growing and shipping of peanuts off
grand plantations to the ports of Wilmington, NC. Around 1883,
the villagers requested a post office and due to a requirement on
the application for a name, Calabash was selected. An Indian
name meaning 'gourd', many say Calabash was chosen because
of the gourd-like shape of the Calabash River. The true definition
of Calabash seafood was born around the 1930's when fishermen
of the then quaint fishing village would set out before dawn from
the docks off the river. Upon their arrival back to the docks, many
locals would meet them there to see what they had caught and to
purchase finds for their own families. Before long, under the
massive, meandering oaks, fresh seafood was lightly battered and
deep fried in big tubs of hot grease to serve the fishermen
and their families. 'Calabash-Style Seafood' was born. The
irresistible aromas from these outdoor picnics brought many of the
residents out to purchase the cooked seafood. These 'fish camps'
became popular among the residents and before long, among
visitors as well. These 'fish camps' also included outdoor oyster
roasts.

There's a long standing argument over which family first
started the 'fish camps', which later became the first two
restaurants in Calabash. The Beck and Coleman families have
their own version over which was first but make no mistake…it's a
family thing. The women of these families, Ruth Beck and Lucy
Coleman, were sisters and there's no argument that this family
began the tradition of the Calabash Seafood Restaurant. In fact,
their brother, Lawrence High and his wife, Ella, indisputably
opened the third restaurant in Calabash in 1950, Ella's of
Calabash. There's no question about the siblings' talent and
knack for cooking fresh seafood. All three of these establishments
have grown and have descendants of the original family successfully
operating them. The secret of their success is not one that
can be taught. It's a family tradition.

Today, the docks are still a vital part of the town. You may see
many of the elder gentlemen, past their fisherman years, hanging
near the docks, catching up on the local gossip. You may see the
shrimp boats coming in after a long, hard day at sea and have the
pleasure of watching them unload their bounties. However, you
won't see the gathering of the oldest families in town, cooking their
catch up for their fishermen or their own families any more. We're
now inside, cooking it up fresh for you and your family. While our
roads may now be paved and our floors no longer of dirt, know
that your Calabash meal is being prepared the same way our
ancestors before us have done it. After all…it's a family tradition!
Enjoy!