In 1968 a smitten Early Duggar cast his line and young Eva Thomas took the bait. The two high school sweethearts soon married and Early began working as a fisherman at his father-in-law’s 4th generation fishing business.
After several years of learning the trade, Early and Eva founded Gulf King Seafood Corporation in 1971, which grew to become one of the largest and most successful wholesale seafood businesses in the world with over 13,000 clients.
In the mid 80’s storms began to brew in the Gulf that would change Early and Eva’s lives forever. Three back-to-back hurricanes wiped out everything they had worked for and all was lost except their love for each other and their will to survive. They used all the tools in their tackle box—seafood knowledge, keen business sense, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit—to open The Wharf Seafood restaurant in Tallahassee, Florida in 1986.
The restaurant was an instant success and critically acclaimed by food critics and celebrities alike. After growing up in the family business, Early and Eva’s son, Stephen, embarked on a journey to follow in his parents’ footsteps that led him to Yale University’s Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY where he graduated with top honors in his class. Stephen returned to Tallahassee to apply his culinary skills.
After many years of success for The Wharf restaurant, father and son combined their seafood and culinary experience to create what is now known as Wharf Casual Seafood, where you happen to be standing today!
After Early was diagnosed with a brain tumor in early 2015, a succession plan was needed to help carry the family business forward. In September of 2015, Noah J. Griggs, Jr., a restaurant industry veteran, joined the Duggar family as a partner. The partnership proved to be a perfect fit. As with every challenge Early faced, his will to survive was exemplary and an inspiration to all.
After more than five years of battling cancer, we lost Early in November 2020. The entrepreneurial spirit of Early and Eva still lives today through our commitment to serving great seafood and building lasting relationships with people from all walks of life. All because two people met and fell in love, The Coast is Here!