The Blue Parrot began as a tiny beer and hot dog stand in the 1980’s. At that time it was called S.O. Beach. Rick and Kay Rucker later became the owners and being passionate Jimmy Buffet Fans changed the name to The Blue Parrot.
Steve Rash bought the Blue Parrot in 1996 and in less than a year Nic and Missey McCuen joined Steve as managing partners. The restaurant expanded 3 times in the following years to accommodate the growing number of seafood hungry vacationers and locals.
The McCuen’s had a successful decade at the Parrot and in 2006 retired and sold their interest to George Joanos. George is the current managing partner and has a restaurant gene inherited from his parents. George grew up in his fathers restaurant in Tallahassee. George moved the family restaurant to north Tallahassee where he operated it for 10 years before coming to the Blue Parrot.
Steve Rash and George Joanos grew up together in Tallahassee. Both now live with their families on St. George Island. Steve moved to the island in 1984 to operate a wholesale seafood business. He has owned and operated Water Street Seafood in Apalachicola for 26 years. The Blue Parrot gets all its seafood from Water Street Seafood. Almost all of the seafood is locally caught and it is all hand-picked to provide our guests with the freshest, highest quality seafood possible.
