The newest occupant of the historic Brown's Corner building in downtown Tuscaloosa is open for business.

Half Shell Oyster House opened its doors to diners at lunch Wednesday.

The building was home to Glory Bound Mediterranean restaurant from 2012 until its owners relocated to the Strip.

Bob Taylor, the founder and president of the Half Shell Oyster House franchise, opened the first Half Shell Oyster House in Gulfport, Mississippi, in 2009.

He told The Tuscaloosa News earlier this year that his restaurant sold more than 5 million oysters at their 10 locations in Mississippi, Florida, Louisiana and Alabama in 2017.



Tuscaloosa is the franchise’s 12th location.

The building has been remodeled to match the atmosphere of other Half Shell Oyster Houses, with cypress woods, wrought iron railings, murals and more that capture the feeling of New Orleans' French Quarter.

The restaurant servers oysters and other seafood, burgers, po'boys and pastas.

The building known as Brown’s Corner was built in 1926 and was the site of Brown’s Department Store until it closed in 1978.