Captain D's

Captain Ds, LLC.
Company type	Private
Industry	Fast casual restaurant
Founded	August 15, 1969; 57 years ago in Donelson, Tennessee, United States
Founder	Raymond L. Danner Sr.
Headquarters	Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Phil Greifeld (CEO)
Products	Seafood meals, platters, sandwiches; appetizers; side dishes; desserts; beverages
Owner	Centre Partners

Captain Ds, LLC. is a United States-based fast casual restaurant franchise concentrating on seafood, with its main office located in Nashville, Tennessee. Originally established as Mr. D's Seafood and Hamburgers by Raymond L. Danner Sr. on August 15, 1969, in Donelson, Tennessee, the company is presently owned by the private equity firm Centre Partners. Captain D's operates more than 500 outlets throughout the United States.

History

The inception of Mr. D's Seafood and Hamburgers took place in 1969 when entrepreneur Raymond L. Danner Sr., who owned Danner Foods and was a KFC franchise operator, faced limitations expanding his Shoney's Big Boy Restaurants franchise territory, confined to 11 states in the Southeastern region. In 1971, Danner joined forces with Shoney's co-founder Alex Schoenbaum to merge Shoney's with Danner Foods, creating Shoney’s Big Boy Enterprises. By 1975, under Danner’s leadership as president, Mr. D's transitioned to the "Captain D's" brand, shifting its focus toward seafood dishes and side items while launching a nationwide franchising initiative. At this point, the chain had expanded to 32 locations, generating annual revenues exceeding $10 million. In 1976, following the sale of the Big Boy trademark to Marriott Corporation, Captain D's was incorporated into the newly named Shoney's Inc.

During the 1970s, Captain D's experienced swift growth and introduced promotional efforts such as the Kids' Birthday Club and children's comic books. The subsequent decades of the 1980s and 1990s brought updates to its branding and restaurant aesthetics.

Phil Greifeld was named CEO on September 13, 2010.

The year 2016 marked a period of notable expansion for Captain D's, with the opening of 13 new locations and several development agreements signed. This growth broadened the brand’s footprint across states including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Michigan, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

Acquisitions

In January 2005, Sagittarius Brand, Inc. purchased Captain D's for $150 million. To generate capital, this holding company later sold Captain D's to buyout firm Sun Capital Partners, Inc. in 2010.

Following Spectrum Restaurant Group Inc.’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2006, Captain D's acquired Spectrum’s Grandy's restaurant chain as a subsidiary.

In 2013, Sun Capital Partners transferred ownership of Captain D's to its affiliate Centre Partners Management.

Centre Partners then sold the chain to Sentinel Capital Partners in 2017.

In 2022, Sentinel Capital Partners returned ownership of Captain D's to Centre Partners.

Products

Captain D's menu features fried and grilled fish along with shrimp, lobster, crab dishes, and chicken options available as meals, platters, or sandwiches. Appetizer selections include fried mozzarella sticks, jalapeño poppers, clam strips, and butterfly shrimp. Side dishes range from coleslaw and French fries to green beans, okra, broccoli, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, macaroni & cheese, and hush puppies. Dessert offerings consist of cheesecake and funnel cake sticks.

In 2019, PepsiCo became the exclusive beverage provider for Captain D's.

By 2021, Captain D's maintained relationships with approximately 60 food suppliers to ensure consistent quality and safety throughout its supply chain.

Operations

In 2020, Captain D's unveiled its Express prototype—a compact 960-square-foot design featuring only drive-thru and walk-up windows. The initial Express location was scheduled to open in College Park, Georgia in 2021. Additionally in 2021, the company introduced a double drive-thru concept at a site in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Controversies

In April 1989, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund initiated a class-action lawsuit against Danner and more than 200 executives of Shoney's Inc. The suit accused the company of discriminatory hiring and employment practices within Shoney's various brands, including Captain D's. The plaintiffs, consisting of nine former employees and job applicants, sought damages exceeding $500 million as well as a court-ordered affirmative action program. By November 1992, Captain D's was included in a $105 million settlement agreement involving Shoney's Inc., with Danner providing $65 million worth of company stock. This resolution provided compensation to over 40,000 individuals—current, former, and prospective employees—who alleged discrimination between February 1988 and April 1991.

References