OUR STORY

Where do we begin?

Our restaurant was established by Gerald King and two classmates in 1975 in an old bait shop on a pier in a small beach town called Gulf Shores, Alabama. Later that year, David Bodenhamer replaced the other two original members and became partners with Gerald King. We started with a passion for fresh seafood and wanted to build a restaurant that felt like home for the few people who drove down Beach Blvd. We wanted a place people could come back to time after time and sit down with a cold drink, a plate of fresh oysters and chat about family memories or good times with old friends.

In September 1979, the original Sea-N-Suds was completely destroyed by Hurricane Frederic. Following the construction of the new building, which we’re still in today, Nancy Peyer became a partner and the daily manager of the restaurant.

David Bodenhamer and Gerald King’s love for fresh seafood, a great view, and family tradition is the reason we are in business today. Our restaurant stretches over the sugar-white sand and sits just a couple of feet away from the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. We offer true beach-front dining! Enjoy an Alabama sunset and listen to the waves crash to the shore on our outside deck.

Sea n Suds Restaurant, Gulf Shores, Alabama
Sea n Suds Restaurant, Gulf Shores, Alabama

Fast forward a few decades later

And here we are, in the heart of a now bustling beach town. The city may have changed, but our restaurant has not. We are still serving up the same seafood using the same recipes we have for generations. We have watched families change, children grow, and endless sunsets on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico. We still open the doors to the sound of the waves crashing to the shore and greet every person with a smile! If it’s tradition you want and amazing seafood, Sea-N-Suds is the place for you!

We are Gulf seafood enthusiasts and pride ourselves in offering dishes passed down for generations on our menu. Our famous “Shrimp Sandwich” and “Fried Crab Claws” are just a couple fan favorites we offer.

Our gumbo

If you love our gumbo you can thank Nona Sellers, aka Grandma Sellers, David Bodenhamer’s grandmother. The recipe has been passed down through the family for over 200 years and has been a staple recipe at Sea-N-Suds since the beginning.

Our gumbo is something we take pride in and just like our restaurant, family tradition runs strong in every pot we make. 

Sea n Suds Restaurant, Gulf Shores, Alabama

We are Sea-N-Suds and we are a family tradition.

P.S. We love and miss you Nancy Peyer.

You were and are a Gulf Shores icon. In loving memory 1952-2018.

Our customers, our family

Our customers have become family over the years and our restaurant is home to many of them. We love hearing stories about their memories made in our four walls and have laughed, cried, and drank a cold one with them. From first time visits to 44 years of visits, we have loved every single moment and are excited to continue offering great seafood and warm memories for another 44 years!