The Crab Shack, 2817 Dollarton Highway, 2002

Wednesday, October 27, 2010
More Black and White
The Crab Shack

The Crab Shack (Note the name on the sign on west side of roof above front door.) has been a land mark of North Vancouver since the 1950's. It is "The Place" and "The Only Place" locals buy live crab in North Vancouver.  The Crab Shop was first on the mud flats south of  Dollarton highway, then north of the highway  at 2817 Dollarton Highway across from  the bird sanctuary, and presently again south of the highway further west at #121 2455 Dollarton Highway in the Dollarton  Shopping Center (The name now listed in the phone book is The Crab Shop.)

Although there is no listing of The Crab Shack in the Building Permit Book at the North Vancouver Archives and ambiguous listings in the City Directories, two local residents gave more information.  One is Ron Westmoreland who worked for Lyttle Brothers, a branch of  L and K Lumber, when the original Crab Shack was on land leased from them and used for log storage.  Ron Westmoreland's job was to pick up the  monthly rent for The Crab Shack from the owner at that time, Mr. Dobay.  Ron thought that The Crab Shack  may have been there from the 1950's. 

Salesperson Jen White and  Owner Marcel Gregori
2817 Dollarton Highway, 2002

The other person with information on The Crab Shack was the owner since 1993, Marcel Gregori.  Marcel Gregori told this story when interviewed by Suzanne Wilson in 2002.  "Until 20 years ago The Crab Shack was down the road at the mud flats.  When the hippie's were kicked off the mud flats and the land was developed into about 20 lots with houses The Crab Shack was moved to its present location.  Marcel bought it from an old man in 1993.  The next year the old man died.  Before leasing The Crab Shack Marcel managed a fish plant.

"The land The Crab Shack is on and the treed land behind it was owned  by the Port Authority.  Marcel leased it on a 30 day lease.  For this reason improvements were kept to a minimum.  There was some talk of the Port Authority selling the land behind The Crab Shack for development.  However there was the issue of water shed to the bird sanctuary across the road."

Boat Marcel Gregori used for crab fishing, 2002
(Stored next to the shop at 2817 Dollarton Highway)

Putting the two stories together plus the information from the City Directories seems to indicate this history. That The Crab Shack started as North Vancouver Fish Supply at 2817 Dollarton Highway possibly under the proprietor ship of Martin Dobay (in some City Directories spelled Dobey) in 1961.  It continued under the name North Vancouver Fish Supply until 1982 when it became The Crab Shack  and with the proprietor being Martin Dobay.  This was when it was on the mud flats.  In 1988 when the area was developed The Crab Shack moved to 2464 on the north side of Dollarton Highway.    In 1993 Marcel Gregori bought the business from Martin Dobay. The next year Martin Dobay died.

One more move was in for The Crab Shack.  That was in 2007 when it moved into a new store and again to the south side of Dollarton Highway.  Its sign now reads the Crab Shop and it is located at #121 2455 Dollarton Highway in the Dollarton Business Park and east of Forester Street.

Crab traps behind boat next to the shop at 2817 Dollarton Highway, 2002

Appendix: List of City Directory entries on request by e mail.
Demolition: Of original Crab Shack on mud flats probably in 1988.        
Thank you: To Ron Westmoreland and Marcel Gregori for the interviews and
                        information.
Photos: Taken of Crab Shack on Dollarton Highway in 2002 by SW.  (See Demolition and Construction Project Roll # 10 at the North Vancouver
                       Archives.)