Whitey’s Fish Camp, a Fleming Island seafood restaurant founded in 1963, sold March 12 for $3.8 million, Clay County property records show.
The restaurant is at 2032 County Road 220.
Restaurant group Harry’s of America LLC through WFC1963 LLC was the buyer. WFC1963 is led by Jesse Jabot, Louis Saig and Justin Griffin.
Whitey’s Fish Camp, with its waterfront location along Doctors Lake and casual seafood menu, has served generations of Clay County residents and visitors.
The seller was Ham Trust Inc. maintained by longtime Whitey’s staffers and siblings Elaine Cassala, Lucian Lawley and William Ham III.
Saig said the new ownership group intends to preserve the restaurant’s identity while making minor improvements.
“The concept will stay the same,” Saig said. “We just want to refresh it a little bit.”
Planned updates include fresh paint and upgrades to kitchen equipment, he said.
The owners also plan to maintain Whitey’s traditional seafood offerings while introducing a limited number of dishes associated with the Harry’s brand — primarily Harry’s jambalaya, Saig said.
Saig and his brother, Greg, opened Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grille at The Jacksonville Landing in 1987. It started as an oyster bar but after hiring a chef from New Orleans it took on Cajun cuisine.
Harry’s operates restaurants across North and Central Florida, including in Gainesville, Lakeland, Ocala, St. Augustine and Tallahassee.
The company also holds ownership stakes in Salt Life Food Shack restaurants in Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine.
Whitey’s serves seafood platters, oysters and shrimp, pasta, steaks, chicken, salads and more. It offers live music and a casual atmosphere that help attract boaters and residents from across the region.
Saig said the ownership group sees the acquisition as an opportunity to maintain a well-known Northeast Florida restaurant while keeping the business competitive and appealing to longtime patrons.
“We want to keep everything people love about it,” Saig said.