Shaw’s Crab House
Shaw's Crab House is a 40-year Chicago seafood restaurant operating two locations under the Lettuce Entertain You group, serving dine-in diners, private events, catering clients, and a nationwide shipping audience via Lou Malnati's Tastes of Chicago.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersSchaumburg, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Shaw’s Crab House does
Shaw's Crab House is a Chicago-based seafood restaurant operator founded in 1984 and owned by the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group. It operates two physical locations in the Chicago metropolitan area: a flagship at 21 E. Hubbard St. in River North and a second location within the Streets of Woodfield shopping area in Schaumburg, Illinois. The core product is a dual dining experience combining a casual Oyster Bar with a traditional white tablecloth Main Dining Room, alongside a sushi bar, full wine and cocktail program, and supporting services including weekday happy hour and Thursday live music.
The business generates revenue from four primary streams: dine-in service (with average checks of $40-100+ per person), private events and catering ($35-$125 per guest for groups of 10-250 guests), direct online ordering via shawscrabhouse.com and the LettuceEats mobile app, and nationwide shipping of retail products through a partnership with Lou Malnati's Tastes of Chicago. The company sources daily catches flown in from coast-to-coast via direct relationships with fishermen and farmers, including Island Creek Oysters, Pangea Shellfish, Taylor Shellfish Farms, Trident Seafoods, and Hama Hama Oysters. Technology usage is limited to standard restaurant integrations: OpenTable for reservations, LettuceEats for digital ordering and loyalty, Tripleseat for event management, and SpotHero for parking.
The customer base is fragmented, consisting of Chicago-area consumers for dine-in, individuals and organizations hosting private events, and a complementary retail audience reached through the Lou Malnati's shipping channel. The go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer across both physical locations, with premium pricing (e.g., $215 for Norwegian Red King Crab Legs, $57 for 8oz Filet Mignon) and a 3-3.5% cost-offset surcharge added to all checks. Shaw's was ranked #8 in Chicago Magazine's 50 Best Restaurants in August 2024.
Shaw’s Crab House firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shaw’s Crab House
- Legal name
- Shaw's Crab House
- Website
- https://shawscrabhouse.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Shaw's Crab House is a 40-year Chicago seafood restaurant operating two locations under the Lettuce Entertain You group, serving dine-in diners, private events, catering clients, and a nationwide shipping audience via Lou Malnati's Tastes of Chicago.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shaw’s Crab House industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Seafood Restaurant
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Restaurants and Other Eating Places (72251), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (311710)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating Places (5812), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants (THAFACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Prepared Seafood Meals (RTE/RTH) (AFANAFAB), Seafood Fast Casual (THAFABAJ), Frozen Seafood Meals & Value-Added Seafood (CRADADAG)
Keywords
Where Shaw’s Crab House is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Schaumburg
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Shaw’s Crab House business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Dine-in Service: Traditional restaurant dining revenue from two locations offering lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch services. Revenue generated through food and beverage sales with an average check size of $40-100 per person depending on menu selection.
- Private Events and Catering: Off-site catering and private dining room rentals for events ranging from 10-250 guests. Menu packages range from $35-$125 per person for plated events, with buyout options available.
- Online Ordering and Nationwide Shipping: Direct online ordering for pickup and delivery through company website and LettuceEats mobile app. Nationwide shipping partnership with Lou Malnati's Tastes of Chicago for retail products including Lobster Roll Kits, Crab Cakes, and Lobster Mac & Cheese.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dinner Menu - Market price to $215 |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Catering - Seated Dinner $90 per person |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Dinner Parties - 3-Course $63 per guest |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Lunch Parties - $35 per guest |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Happy Hour Bar Bites and Drinks |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | 3-Course Lunch - $40 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Shaw’s Crab House product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shaw's Crab House operates two seafood restaurant locations (Chicago and Schaumburg, Illinois) offering dine-in service with an Oyster Bar, Main Dining Room, and sushi bar. The company also provides private parties and event hosting, offsite catering, online ordering for pickup and delivery, and nationwide shipping of seafood products. Founded in 1984, it is part of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group.
Product overview
Shaw's Crab House is a Chicago seafood restaurant institution established in 1984 with two locations (Downtown Chicago and Schaumburg). The core product is a dual-experience restaurant combining a casual Oyster Bar (with happy hour, live music, and sushi) with a white tablecloth Main Dining Room. Add-on services include private event spaces accommodating 10-200 guests, full-service offsite catering, online ordering with nationwide shipping through Lou Malnati's Tastes of Chicago partnership, daily happy hour specials, nightly dinner specials, three-course lunch program, and an extensive wine and cocktail program. The restaurant sources daily catches flown in from coast-to-coast working directly with fishermen and farmers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Shaw's Crab House Restaurant Dining Sit-down seafood restaurant dining service at the Chicago and Schaumburg locations, featuring an Oyster Bar, Main Dining Room, sushi bar, 3-course lunch, and nightly specials for individual consumers and walk-in diners.
- Private Parties and Event Spaces Dedicated private event hosting service with customized menus and event coordination, offered to individuals and corporate event organizers booking private parties at the restaurant.
- Offsite Catering Catering service delivered off-premises for events held outside the restaurant, providing Shaw's Crab House seafood and menu items at external venues for individuals and organizations.
- Online Ordering and Nationwide Shipping Direct-to-consumer seafood ordering via the Shaw's Crab House website and LettuceEats mobile app, supporting local pickup, delivery, and nationwide shipping of seafood products to consumers outside the Chicago area.
Quantifiable outcome
- Ranked #8 of Chicago Magazine's 50 Best Restaurants in August 2024
Companies that use Shaw’s Crab House
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Shaw’s Crab House technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Shaw’s Crab House partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Lou Malnati's Tastes of ChicagocoreShaw's Crab House has partnered with Lou Malnati's (another iconic Chicago-based brand) to offer nationwide shipping of Shaw's products including Lobster Roll Kits, Crab Cakes, and Lobster Mac & Cheese. Products come with reheating instructions and can be bundled with Lou Malnati's pizzas.
- Island Creek OystersminorEast Coast seafood supplier providing fresh oysters for Shaw's Oyster Bar. Part of Shaw's network of trusted purveyors sourcing daily catches coast-to-coast.
- Pangea ShellfishminorEast Coast shellfish supplier supporting Shaw's fresh seafood sourcing operations.
- Taylor Shellfish FarmsminorWest Coast shellfish farm providing fresh seafood products to Shaw's Crab House.
- Trident SeafoodsminorSeafood supplier contributing to Shaw's coast-to-coast fresh catch sourcing network.
- Hama Hama OystersminorWest Coast oyster supplier providing fresh oysters for Shaw's Oyster Bar.
- Fish and Seafood NilesminorRegional seafood supplier supporting Shaw's daily fresh seafood operations.
- Tom's Farm MarketminorFarm supplier providing produce and farm-fresh ingredients to complement Shaw's seafood offerings.
- Goose Island Beer CompanycoreShaw's collaborated with Goose Island to create a limited edition barrel-aged stout (Shaw's Single Barrel Stout). The collaboration sold out in less than 24 hours. Goose Island's Shaw's Oyster Bar 'S.O.B.' Pilsner is also featured on draft at both locations.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Shaw’s Crab House competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Shaw’s Crab House social profiles
Digital presenceShaw’s Crab House financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shaw’s Crab House leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Shaw’s Crab House funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shaw’s Crab House M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shaw’s Crab House
What does Shaw’s Crab House do?
Shaw's Crab House operates two seafood restaurant locations (Chicago and Schaumburg, Illinois) offering dine-in service with an Oyster Bar, Main Dining Room, and sushi bar. The company also provides private parties and event hosting, offsite catering, online ordering for pickup and delivery, and nationwide shipping of seafood products. Founded in 1984, it is part of the Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group.
Is Shaw’s Crab House a public or private company?
Shaw’s Crab House is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Shaw’s Crab House founded?
Shaw’s Crab House was founded in 1984. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Shaw’s Crab House based?
Shaw’s Crab House is headquartered in Schaumburg, United States, in the North America region.
How does Shaw’s Crab House make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Dine-in Service is the primary driver. The others are private Events and Catering and online Ordering and Nationwide Shipping.
Does Shaw’s Crab House have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shaw’s Crab House.
What industry is Shaw’s Crab House in?
Shaw’s Crab House's product category is Seafood Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAE, Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants, with a secondary code of AFANAFAB, Prepared Seafood Meals (RTE/RTH). Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5812.