Leroy’s Fish Shack opens at Fishermen’s Village

After more than two years of delays and a major renovation, Leroy’s Fish Shack opened Sept. 1 at Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda. 

Owners Lee and Jamie Richardson and Mike and Keeley Wright had initially planned to open the restaurant in 2024 after taking over the former Village Fish Market space. 

But a series of setbacks repeatedly pushed back the opening, making the arrival of the restaurant’s first customers a long-awaited milestone for the owners. 

Lee Richardson, a lifelong Charlotte County resident, and partner Mike Wright have owned Leroy’s Southern Kitchen & Bar in Punta Gorda since 2015. 

Richardson said it has been his dream to open a restaurant serving fresh fish caught by local commercial fishermen. 

He finally made that dream happen, recruiting fishermen who deliver their catches directly to the restaurant. The staff fillets the fish and prepares it using a variety of original recipes created by Richardson and his chef. 

Richardson emphasized that, with some exceptions, such as conch and calamari, the seafood will be caught in the Gulf and Atlantic, packed on ice and delivered fresh within hours. 

The restaurant’s slogan is “From our boats to your table.” 

But Richardson’s dream came with a long wait. Although he planned to open Leroy’s Fish Shack in early 2024, multiple setbacks delayed the opening, including flooding caused by Hurricane Milton, mold remediation and prolonged negotiations between the then-receiver for Fishermen’s Village and its insurance company. 

The opening date kept getting pushed further out, but the owners persevered. Finally, at 11 a.m. Sept. 1, the doors opened at the Fish Shack at 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, units J33-35. 

Jamie Richardson, who handles the restaurant’s social media among her many other roles, said the catch of the day will be posted on the restaurant’s doors and eventually online. 

Commercial fishing captains are highlighted on the restaurant’s Facebook page, including captains McLaughlin and Caleb, who are pictured with their hauls. 

The seafood-heavy menu features a catch of the day prepared with diners’ choice of sauces, along with tropical grouper, seafood paella, stuffed shrimp and combinations of fried fish, shrimp, oysters and clam strips. A grouper Reuben is made with sauerkraut rather than coleslaw. 

For nonseafood diners, the menu includes ribs, chicken, filet mignon and double-boned pork chops. Desserts include three-layer Florida Orange Sunshine Cake and, fittingly for a Florida seafood restaurant, Key lime pie. 

On Aug. 29, Leroy’s Fish Shack held a “dry run,” opening for family and friends who sampled some of the full menu the public can now enjoy. 

Hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. 

Leroy’s Fish Shack is one of four new restaurants at Fishermen’s Village, three of which are now open. 

The space at Fishermen’s Village is now 100% leased, according to SVN Commercial Partners.