Tybee Island, Georgia has been home to The Sugar
Shack for more than 30 years. From its humble beginnings as a
summertime walk-up ice cream stand, to its current status as a
year-round full-menu restaurant, The Sugar Shack has grown and changed
almost as much as its four owners!
The four Grosse brothers, Russell, Ian, Louis, and
Bruce, already had a name for themselves as "The Peanut Boys" when they
acquired The Sugar Shack in 1971.
For several years, they had been
walking up and down the beach each summer selling boiled peanuts to
sunbathers and beachcombers, and they used the money saved from that
venture to purchase The Sugar Shack. The brothers ran the ice cream
stand themselves, and since the oldest was only 14 at the time, it was
certainly a sight to see!
Since that humble (and messy!) beginning, The Sugar Shack has undergone many changes. The building gradually grew, as a front room, dining room, porch, and second story apartments were added over the years. The restaurant, initially only open during the summer, evolved into staying open year-round, and for longer hours. The "ice cream only" menu underwent extensive changes, as well, as fast food, and then a full range of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items were added on.
Today, the restaurant is still run by an original brother or two, and their mom, Mary, keeps everyone in line. Most of the folks working there are family (or feel like family, anyway), and now some of the grandkids are helping to keep the place running!
So, we have seen a lot of changes in the building and the family, and we look forward to even more in the future! We'd love to have you come share the experience with us, so be sure to stop in whenever you are on the island!
Please note: some parts of our website are still under construction. Keep checking back for new developments!