Brand-new 650-square-foot walk-up eatery delivers high-quality fast-casual seafood to New York
NEW YORK, Dec. 12, 2025 — , the country’s top fast-casual seafood chain, has officially launched in the Northeast following its Dec. 8 grand opening at 763 E. Gunhill Road in the Bronx.
Established more than five decades ago in Tennessee, the Nashville-headquartered brand is expanding north along the Eastern Seaboard with its first New York location. This much-awaited opening features a new walk-up layout tailored for dense urban areas with limited space and heavy foot traffic. Three additional Captain D’s restaurants are currently in development for the New York City region.
The 650-square-foot Bronx eatery has a notably compact layout—no dining room or drive-thru included—serving customers on the go via a walk-up counter and takeout service. Patrons can enjoy a full menu of Captain D’s fan favorites, such as signature hand-battered fish fillets, grilled seafood, shrimp, chicken meals, homestyle sides, hushpuppies, and Southern-style sweet tea.
Shahid Raza and his development partners at FSR Group are the team bringing Captain D’s to the Northeast. They are seasoned operators with successful restaurant and franchise ventures in Maryland, Virginia Beach, and New York—including a Checkers location in the same Bronx retail strip on Gunhill Road. The group is also developing five Captain D’s sites in the Baltimore metro area.
“One of the key reasons we chose to franchise with Captain D’s is that the brand fills a gap in its target markets by pairing high-quality seafood with great value,” said Shahid Raza, franchise owner of the new Bronx Captain D’s. “No other franchise concept in New York is quite like it. This new walk-up prototype is fast, convenient, and built for the Bronx—perfectly matching the neighborhood’s need for affordable meals on the go.”
Brad Reed, Captain D’s Chief Development Officer, added: “Shahid Raza and FSR Group are ideal partners to lead our expansion in this region. They have an impressive portfolio of QSR brands and a proven track record of operating successful businesses within their local communities. This Bronx opening marks an important step in our strategic growth into the Northeast, showcasing how we can deliver on the Captain D’s brand promise in markets where space comes at a premium.”
The new Bronx restaurant will operate during standard Captain D’s hours and offers convenient takeout service.
With more than 530 restaurants across 23 states, Captain D’s is the fast-casual seafood leader and the number one seafood franchise in America ranked by average unit volume. The company is currently seeking single- and multi-unit operators to join its rapid expansion. For more information about franchise opportunities, visit or call 800-314-4819.
ABOUT CAPTAIN D’S
Headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., Captain D’s has more than 530 restaurants in 23 states. It is the nation’s leading fast-casual seafood restaurant and was named the #1 seafood chain in the QSR 50, ranked by AUV. Founded in 1969, Captain D’s has been offering customers high-quality seafood at reasonable prices in a welcoming atmosphere for over 55 years. The chain serves a wide variety of seafood, including freshly prepared entrees and its signature batter-dipped fish. Restaurants also offer premium grilled items like shrimp, salmon, and whitefish, plus hushpuppies, desserts, and freshly brewed Southern-style sweet tea—a Captain D’s favorite. For more information, please visit .
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SOURCE Captain D’s