Founded in Houston in 1991, Joe's Crab Shack grew quickly, opening three restaurants locally and another in Dallas within just four years. By 2009, the chain had changed hands, ultimately landing under the ownership of Ignite Restaurant Group, formerly known as JCS Holdings. At the time, the chain was operating 130 Joe's Crab Shack locations across the U.S. However, this would prove to be the peak of the chain's growth, with the following years bringing declining sales and restaurant closures.