COO of Joe’s Stone Crab talks success of business, unique vibe of famous seafood restaurant

The restaurant scene in South Beach is invariably changing but there s been one constant go-to spot Joe s Stone Crab After more than years the family-run eatery is more popular than ever Steve Shapiro sat down with COO Stephen Sawitz to find out the secret to their success Steve Shapiro years Where d the time go You look great by the way Stephen Sawitz Thank you thank you I was then How do you account for those years Stephen Sawitz Well I think a lot of work a lot of love great employees and a family that s committed to the business and a great location Miami Beach Miami and wonderful customers and a phenomenal product Joe s Stone Crab has long been considered one of the the majority prestigious restaurants on Miami Beach That didn t happen by accident Stephen Sawitz A lot of work a lot of tradition My mom grew up in the business and definitely my grandfather grew up in the business cause his parents were the founders Joe s has a definite feel to it that s unlike any other eatery in the area Steve Shapiro It s counter to what the South Beach vibe is How have you managed that balancing act over the years Stephen Sawitz Well we re not trying to be new cause well we re not but we re just trying to be who we are and we have our vibe our own Joe s brings in an awful lot of stone crabs to feed their fans Stephen Sawitz I m gonna say going to poundage I would say a good pounds a year or more Steve Shapiro Oh man Plenty of work goes into getting these stone crabs to your plate The process starts in the Gulf of Mexico Stephen Sawitz It takes a lot of people a lot of hands to go from the Gulf Hungry and happy diners can thank all the fishermen who catch cook and prepare the crabs before ice-filled trucks bring them to Joe s where they re sorted by size Stephen Sawitz And then we separate them between the mediums the selects the large the jumbo etc and then we divvy them out to the different locations at the restaurant Hard to believe but man does not live by stone crabs alone Steve Shapiro This is a fabulous spot You gotta eat other places Are there other places on South Beach that you like to go to Stephen Sawitz Well my family and I love Cafe Avanti We love that place and we love the subs from Publix Been to zeyzey s Wonderful restaurant in Miami Steve Shapiro Now that I got my cool bib I need a beer in a sippy cup please No visit to Joe s is complete without treating yourself to you know the desserts Steve Shapiro So after everybody finishes their gourmet meal this is what puts it over the top Jim Pastor Executive Chef This is what it s all about at the end right We have our classic key lime pie that s gonna be forever what we re known for Steve Shapiro You don t mind do ya Jim Pastor No not at all Steve Shapiro Hahaha Jim Pastor And then we have I love it And then we have our new dessert It s a Bastille Guava Cheesecake Apparently everybody loves to eat at Joe s Stone Crab Steve Shapiro Tell me the truth Jim Tell me the truth now Are you back here sampling the goods Jim Pastor I sample everything almost every day That s why I m not a skinny chef