The "Prince" behind Shellfish, a new restaurant on Kennedy Street
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The new Shellfish restaurant at 443 Kennedy Street NW
by Ashley Cobb
In 2017, Dwayne Prince made the decision to step away from his first venture into the food industry. The cost of being in the seafood market was steadily increasing, and Dwayne, affectionately known as “Prince,” didn't want to markup the price of his $15 lobster rolls to over $20 just to keep up with the rise in prices.
In learning from his first entrepreneurial experience in the food industry working a food truck, Prince vowed that when he opened a brick-and-mortar seafood restaurant, he would choose a universal name that didn't leave him confined to specific seafood item like lobster.
Shellfish owner Dwyane Prince.
Six years later, I had the privilege of interviewing Prince in his new brick-and-mortar restaurant, Shellfish, located at the corner of 5th and Kennedy Streets in Brightwood. The restaurant name came about during a discussion with one of his friends where he reiterated his desire for a universal name. They came up with Shellfish, and thought it was fitting. It was perfect, a versatile name embodying the food he loves so much.
When I pressed him on entering another venture based on seafood, I learned Prince had not eaten red meat or pork in over 20 years and did not want to feed people food he was not personally invested in. Having a wide range of seafood options is enticing, something he wanted to share. Prince said he stopped eating red meat to be more health conscious, choosing to focus on seafood. He wants a restaurant reflective of his passion for that seafood.
Prince was enthusiastic answering the question of why open a restaurant on Kennedy Street?
He leaned back in his seat, a smile beaming on his face. He told me the story of making it as a successful adult despite many obstacles, going away to college, and becoming an entrepreneur.
He said as a youth he was faced with the being on the streets with a lot of his peers or being different and going away to college. He went to college. Many of his friends didn’t take that route, and some ended up dying or going to jail. His decision to be different prevailed.
“At one point in time, I was one of the kids hanging out on Kennedy Street,” he said. “I want to pour greatness back into the neighborhood and inspire the community. Nothing seemed more fitting than coming back to my roots.”
Check out more about Shellfish on IG @shellfishmarket
Shellfish
443 Kennedy Street NW
Hours: 1pm-9pm
No website as of publication
Shellfish Menu:
