By Will Estell
If you’re a local, it’s safe to say you know about AJ’s. And if you know AJ’s, then you know a thing or two about its brand of great seafood, live music, majestic coastal views and big fun. From humble beginnings dating back to 1984, AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar continues to operate with the philosophy that great seafood, raw oysters, coastal libations and live music are the keys to creating happy patrons who keep coming back year-after-year.
Now celebrating its 40th year in business, AJ’s serves Northwest Florida’s locals, and millions of annual tourists alike, from four locations along the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast: AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar on Destin Harbor (original location), AJ’s Oyster Shanty on Okaloosa Island, AJ’s On the Bayou at the foot of the Cinco Bayou Bridge in Fort Walton Beach and AJ’s Grayton Beach, smack dab in the middle of 30A.
Some locals might remember the now World-Famous AJ’s Destin from way back in the day when they shucked oysters off the deck behind a small trailer right on Destin Harbor. That’s where the magic all began and has continued to flourish over the years. AJ’s commitment to consistently good food, attentive and friendly service, the best in live entertainment daily, and that unique atmosphere and vibe that is synonymous with the AJ’s brand, have brought a longevity that few restaurants have experienced across our coastal paradise—and a popularity that shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.
During a recent conversation, I asked AJ’s founder, Alan Laird, how he and his team have managed to maintain the modern coastal vibe, attention to great live music and consistency to great food over all these years. Laird simply answered, “My philosophy has always been, you’ve got to have enough to make people want to go there, to eat there, to stay there, to come back there and to tell their friends to go there.”
I, for one, think he’s certainly figured out that magical formula, and it shows with each visit to any of his four AJ’s locations.
AJ’S Supports Destin’s Unique History
Most locals would agree that no matter how much our area changes, the true culture of our area can still be found in its fishing community and the businesses that support that history. A longstanding staple of “The World’s Luckiest Fishing Village,” AJ’s has gone to painstaking efforts to preserve Destin’s culture and what it stands for. AJ’s Destin is covered with buoys, antique outboards, nets, floats, paddles and hundreds of other pieces of local fishing memorabilia. AJ’s Seafood & Oyster Bar is also the headquarters, and forever home, of the famous weigh-ins for The Destin Fishing Rodeo each October. For an entire month, seven days a week, boats full of anglers from around the world pull up behind AJ’s, for a chance to have their catch make it onto the leaderboard, grab a photo with Miss Destin, and relish in the culture that make AJ’s and Destin icons of sportfishing. You can’t love fishing in Destin and not love AJ’s!
AJ’s Brings Live Music All Year ‘Round
I have been to my fair share of great restaurants and beach bars over my two plus decades writing about coastal tourism across this great country. I’ve seen everything from one-man acoustic shows to duos to full out touring bands and national cover acts taking local stages in the Destin, Fort Walton Beach, PCB and 30A area, but I can’t think of another place, anywhere in any state, where I’ve watched live entertainment of such unique variety and talent that it keeps me going back for 25 years. Somehow AJ’s has managed to keep its finger on that often hard to define pulse of knowing what people want to see, hear and feel for longer than any single establishment I’ve personally visited.
Get Ready for National AJ’s Day- September 27th
Mark your calendars for Friday, September 27, when Destin and Northwest Florida will celebrate “National AJ’s Day” as part of AJ’s BIG 40th anniversary month!
The festivities include live music throughout the day, featuring a fantastic lineup of artists and bands, both upstairs and downstairs of AJ’s Destin location, including live acts on the outdoor Tiki Village, as well as AJ’s large outdoor Jumbotron Stage.
Headlining the party will be multi-Grammy nominee, Fastball, who captured the spotlight with their platinum album, All the Pain Money Can Buy, dominating Billboard’s charts for an entire year back in the nostalgic 90’s. You likely remember their well-known hits “The Way” and “Out of My Head” and now you can party with them firsthand this September.
As part of the day of celebration, AJ’s will also be introducing hourly .40-cent specials, enabling you to indulge in delectable offerings showcasing AJ’s menu, while allowing you to savor the flavors that keep locals and vacationers alike coming back for decades.
Whether you’re a local and longtime AJ’s patron or seasonal or vacationing guest and new to the experience, this is the perfect opportunity to party where the locals know and go, and celebrate four decades of music, fun, community and incredible coastal cuisine.
To read about AJ’s is one thing; to experience it is completely another. Do yourself a favor and get by AJ’s Seafood & Oyster House in Destin, or any of the other three locations and you’ll quickly understand why AJ’s continues to be the place to be on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast.
For additional entertainment options, I encourage you to check out AJ’s online calendar of events and follow them on Facebook to keep up with the live music and fun at all four locations.
Will Estell is a writer, multi-magazine founder and media consultant with over 600 published features on coastal tourism, real estate, automobiles and numerous celebrity cover interviews. He is also the Co-founder and Editor-In-Chief of Navarre Beach Magazine, and Chief Creative Officer of Estell Hussey Media LLC. Over the past 27 years, Estell has founded 12 new magazines from concept to fruition, as well as served as editor for numerous others. Originally from the farmlands of Mississippi, Will is a father of three who, along with his wife, WEAR ABC 3 news anchor, Laura Hussey Estell, now calls Destin and Navarre Beach home.
