Rick Spell and Christy Spell Terry have established both casual and fine dining at 10 locations in South Walton and Panama City Beach, Florida and Memphis, Tennessee. Utilizing their business backgrounds, Rick as a managing director at Raymond James and Christy as a corporate accountant with Shelby Group International, have a unique perspective on how to successfully run some of the most popular restaurants along Florida’s Gulf Coast. Rick and Christy first partnered together in 2004, purchasing Brookhaven Pub & Grill in Memphis.
Since then, they have turned Brookhaven into one of the premier sports bars and live music venues in Memphis, and recently completed a renovation which expands and beautifies the already popular patio. The success of Brookhaven led this father/daughter team to grow Spell Restaurant Group after Christy decided to leave her "day job" in 2011 to dive full time into the restaurant business. In 2015, the pair purchased George's at Alys Beach and LaCo in Seacrest Beach, followed by Saltwater Grill in Panama City Beach and La Crema Tapas & Chocolate in Rosemary Beach in 2016. In 2017, the group developed its first new concept, opening local breakfast favorite Grits & Grind in Seacrest Beach. Also, in 2017, Rick and Christy purchased Edwards Fine Food & Wine in Rosemary Beach. Each restaurant has been thoughtfully and professionally redesigned and renovated since the Spells have acquired them.
In 2019, the Spells purchased BABALU® Restaurants located in Memphis, Tennessee. BABALU® restaurants feature Latin-inspired tapas and hand-crafted cocktails in a friendly, comfortable, light-hearted atmosphere. Two Inlet Beach, Florida, eateries – Shades Bar & Grill and Shaka Sushi & Cocktail Bar - became part of the SRG family in April 2023.
Both Rick and Christy received degrees in Accounting from The University of Memphis (formerly Memphis State University) and have been heavily involved in numerous Memphis activities. Rick was named Honorary City Councilman in recognition of his “Outstanding Contribution to the City of Memphis.” He is currently a member of the University of Memphis Board of Visitors, former president of the fundraising board for the University of Memphis Athletic Department and is a lifetime Ambassador Club member representing the highest level of financial contributions to the athletic department.
Christy may now be firmly planted on the Emerald Coast with husband Drew Terry and their four pups, but their ties to Memphis and love for the University of Memphis take them back numerous times each fall for Tiger football games. Christy is a longtime member of the Highland Hundred football booster group, as well as a Lifetime Alumni member. Both Drew and Christy are active in Memphis in May and compete annually in the World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest. Since her move to Florida in 2016, Christy has become the face of the Spell restaurants and oversees the daily administration and operations of all restaurants and its nearly three hundred employees.
The continued success and growth of Spell Restaurant Group wouldn’t be possible without the support of their families. Rick has been married to his wife Sandy for over 40 years, and although they reside in Memphis, they regularly visit the Florida restaurants and enjoy their second home in Alys Beach. In April 2018, Christy married Drew Terry, who actively assists with the Spell Group restaurants. When they find some free time, they enjoy traveling, relaxing with friends at the beach or playing with their dogs.