Gerald’s Pig and Shrimp returns after year-long ‘hiatus’

It’s a good thing you can google the number of days between two monumental events. I couldn’t even begin to imagine how they did it in the olden days. I mean, before google, if someone wanted to count the number of days between Valentines Day and Christmas, you’d just have to grab the insurance company calendar off of the fridge, right?

That’s how we rolled.

Today, Gerald Schantz isn’t counting. He just knows it was a really long time. “We closed the 2nd weekend in October of 2018.” He says, referring to the beginning of this long overdue renovation and expansion at Gerald’s Pig and Shrimp, Tybee Island’s Favorite BBQ Joint.

“We actually began discussing the plans for this in 2015.” Gerald says. “We just needed the extra space.” But, he admits the desire to expand goes back long before that. By the time he opens his doors to the public, it will be 2020. Nearly half a decade since they began design of the new space.

The plan was supposed to take a few months. Coinciding with Tybee’s more than slow winter season, especially if your seating is outdoors, as Gerald’s is. Days turn to weeks, weeks turned to months. The work got going, but the work was moving slowly. Then the money dried up. Contractors also more than a little difficult to find. Nothing really fell into place right away.

“We had to sort a few things out to get my loans in order.” He says. All of that took time. Meanwhile, Tybee sands continued to run through the hourglass. Before Gerald knew it, he was nowhere near finished and the busy tourist season (Summer 2019) was around the corner.

Faced with the idea of losing out on an extremely lucrative Summer, a lot of restauranteurs would panic. Meltdown perhaps. I mean, Summer is where you gather your chestnuts on the beach. Then you store some of them away for the winter. I saw Gerald more than a few times around town during his hiatus. At no point was there even the slightest concern.

“It’s coming along” or some variation of that quote was a standard response. If his patience was tested, he never once let on.

Clearly, good things come to those who wait. In August they got back to work. A walk in cooler, additional fryers and 8 taps for draft beer. There are also ground level restrooms. Yes, a major project, but it is essentially done.

Gerald’s Pig and Shrimp will re-open New Year’s Day 2020. 441 days after he closed. (Courtesy timeanddate.com)

“We are excited to expand our menu.” Gerald says, though not on day one. “The biggest difference we think will be having a walk in cooler, we can now offer someone a salad with a nice piece of grilled chicken on it.”

Yes, the BBQ is still the main gig as is Gerald’s legendary fried shrimp. If you haven’t tried it, you are required to put it on your short list. Gerald is a perfectionist. The amount of time and effort going into his fried shrimp is a story unto itself. Outstanding, it is.

“Eventually, we would like to offer chicken.” he tells me. Fried? “Yeah, maybe, but definitely smoked. My smoked chicken is one our most popular catering items.”

Yeah, Gerald is an old time caterer round these parts. Long before Georgia was known for all of the movies being made around here, Gerald famously catered more than a meal or two for the crew making “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” The movie that put this town on the map, really.

Grab a beer, ask him about it, he’d be more than happy to share.

Beyond the draft beer, not a whole lot will be different from the user perspective. Roughly 700 square feet of kitchen, he says. Outside, the space will remain Tybee quirky, all seating outdoors. Lots of quotable wisdom hanging from the rafters. The perfect spot to gather round after a long Spring or Summer day at the beach. There’s also a large sail going up to block the brutal solar beat downs in the afternoon.

Suffice to say it may be time for a new tradition on Tybee. The Polar Bear plunge is one New Year’s morning event near the pier on the beach. Hundreds of folks who’ve misplaced some marbles jump into the ocean, no matter what the temperature. High noon.

Now there is another New Year’s Day treat. Gerald is back, and very glad to be. Winter hours Thursday-Sunday. They are, however, opening on Wednesday next week because it’s New Year’s Day.

Do yourself a favor and take a winter ride to the island. You will Eat It and Like It.

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