Joe's Crab Shack to open in Abingdon in mid-December

A new restaurant, with a name that should sound like an old friend, but will be serving something new to many Harford County natives, is opening in Abingdon.

In the heart of a state known for its blue crabs, Joe's Crab Shack will instead be serving dungeoness, king and snow crabs.

Construction has begun on a Joe's Crab Shack at the Boulevard at Box Hill Shopping Center near the new Wegmans, as a free-standing restaurant. The Harford County Liquor Control Board approved the restaurant's tentative liquor license during Wednesday's meeting, where company representatives announced it is expected to be completed in November and open in December.

The building will be approximately 8,500 square feet, Director of Development Sean Rea said Wednesday, and will be a full service restaurant and bar and have a playground and "four seasons patio."

The patio is attached to the restaurant and will have garage doors to open when there's nice weather.

Joe's Crab Shack will have seating for 300, James Fike, Regional Vice Present of Operations, said. The Abingdon location will be the third in Maryland. There are locations in Greenbelt and Gaithersburg, as well as 30 states nationwide.

True to its name, Joe's Crab Shack has a variety of crab dishes on the menu, according to the company website. The dishes feature three different types of crab legs, including snow crab, Dungeness crab and king crab legs.

Although many dishes are seafood, entrees with steak, chicken and hamburgers are listed on the menu as well.

For more information go to http://www.joescrabshack.com.