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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Wharf Casual Seafood and the City of Clanton exchanged the final steps for the franchise’s Clanton location earlier in February with construction to start this summer. After a near four-year process from the initial idea to the final paperwork, the seafood restaurant will begin construction in late June, early July with the expectations to open by the end of the summer.

Wharf approached Clanton Mayor Jeff Mims about coming to Clanton around four years ago and liked the spot on 7th Street South between Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen and Sam Marcos Mexican Restaurant. The city broke ground on the lot on July 10, 2023, but other things had to be addressed before the building construction could begin. The State of Alabama will not allow an acceleration and deceleration point in one of the lanes on 7th Street South because cars would get stacked out onto the road after turning into the parking lot if there is a backup and cause dangerous driving conditions. The city built a road that enters from Poplar Springs Road and goes to a cul-de-sac and exits back out onto Poplar Springs Road. The road cost over $100,000, and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs paid for it through grants to the city.

Once the land was arranged and the ground breaking happened, the process of building the road and getting things in order for the building took longer than expected and extended the timeline. Also, Wharf President and CEO Noah Griggs Jr. wanted to get construction and the doors open at their Moody and Sylacauga locations before starting the Clanton location — a tactic he has used with each location Wharf has opened to ensure the business gets up and running smoothly. After a meeting earlier in February between Griggs and Mims, the final steps were completed and construction can now move forward.

“They are good people,” Mims said. “They paid us some earnest money about six months ago so we knew they were still coming. They never wavered from us, and that shows you what kind of people they are.”

There are currently 11 Wharf Seafood restaurants in operation after the recent opening of the Moody and Sylacauga locations, and the Clanton location is the next location on their plans for expansion. Wharf first opened its doors in 1986, and the franchise wants to build 20 plus locations across Alabama. Griggs said strategically, Wharf builds out their new locations from a central point – Tallassee. From there, he connects the dots and builds new locations within 30 minutes to one hour of each other so they can support one another, leading to the perfect location for the Clanton restaurant.

There are additional lots on 7th Street South where the Wharf restaurant will be located, and Mims is actively in talks with other eateries to bring more food options to residents in Clanton.