Fifi Bell-Clanton & Gwen Woods

Fifi Bell-Clanton and Gwendolyn Woods made bold career transitions to become co-owners of The Crabby Shack, a popular seafood eatery in Brooklyn that attracts both tourists and locals. In late 2013, Fifi approached Gwen with the idea of opening a crab restaurant in Brooklyn, recognizing the lack of crab-focused eateries in New York. They seized the opportunity and ventured into the restaurant industry, despite neither having prior experience in the field.

Fifi, a former stylist with a clientele that included Alicia Keys, Usher, and The Cheetah Girls, and Gwen, who had spent 20 years in artist and repertoire at Bad Boy Records, the iconic hip-hop label founded by Sean Combs, combined their creative talents and business acumen to launch The Crabby Shack in 2014.

Their vision was to create a small, crab-focused takeout spot that made customers feel as if they were transported to a seaside destination. The menu is centered around their signature crab dishes, including the famous Crab Roll, Crab Mac and Cheese, Alaskan Crab Legs in a special beer sauce, and their unique Clobster Roll — a half crab, half lobster creation.

Over the years, they have expanded their reach, running concessions at major events like the Barclays Center and the US Open. Their newest concept, Side Piece, a chicken-focused brand, debuted at the US Open last season.

Fifi and Gwen continue to adapt to the ever-changing economy and evolving customer demands. They are now focusing on a direct-to-consumer model, developing products for nationwide supermarket distribution. Their Lemon Pepper Hot Sauce has been a major hit, selling over 50,000 units.