The Shaw's Story
As a young man, Kevin Brown worked on the eastern seashore at a crab house that was to become famous with visitors and neighbors alike. A family owned business based on a tradition of fresh, quality seafood harvested from the local waters of the Chesapeake and Atlantic.
With the same commitment to quality, proprietor Kevin Brown opened his crab house on the shores of Lake Michigan in 1984. Converting the original warehouse space on Hubbard Street with a passion that tried his young wife Kristi's patience, Kevin named the place “Shaw's” after his father-in-law, Chuck Shaw. Mr. Shaw was an avid fisherman in the forties who loved nothing better than to be on his skiff with a line in the water. You'll find his picture on the wall in the elegant main dining room, plaid shirt, Lucky Strike, and rod in hand. The emotional roots of the restaurant were now planted and Shaw's grew to be a pioneer in bringing new seafood markets to Chicago.
Today at Shaw's
People love Shaw's today for the lively scene that is immediately welcoming and comfortable. It's where handsome finishes and rich hues accented by a maritime heritage create a clubby atmosphere reminiscent of the 1940's Eastern seaboard. The jazzy Oyster Bar is always bubbly with people of style and casual sophistication.
At Shaw's, something special is always in season. Their one-of-a-kind approach pairs the best of seasonally caught seafood and local produce to accentuate the flavor enhancing characteristics of both. Possessing the ability to bring the freshest, premium seafood from any market during any season, Shaw's has acquired a unique expertise which truly makes seasonal seafood their specialty. Shaw's was the first to bring Pacific coast Dungeness Crab and succulent Nantucket Cape Scallops to Chicago. Which is to say; if it's in season, it's time for Shaw's.
So for now, if you find yourself looking for a pearl in a sea of ordinary, bring your love of delicious seafood to where fresh is king, and see where Kevin's romantic past and passion have found the present.
