In the mid 1980's, Bill McGinnes bought a
stilted building a block from the beach in Gulf Shores,
cut 10' off of each piling and turned what had been an
all-you-can-eat buffet into and oyster and pizza
restaurant.
It might have been more profitable to pick a
more bustling beach town than sleepy Gulf
Shores, but Bill preferred the pace and style so
he left his job as an engineer in a Detroit auto
factory and settled down in LA (Lower Alabama).
Originally, Papa Rocco's had only about five
items on their menu and some people thought it
funny that a restaurant would specialize in
pizza and oysters... but Bill knew by the way
they laughed that it was going to work. |
Bill "Papa" McGinnes
|
The "Warm Beer and Lousy Pizza" slogan came
about in the third year but by then thousands of locals
and tourists knew better. Papa Rocco's had become
the place to go in Gulf Shores as the only place that
served a full menu until midnight and the only nightspot
with live entertainment seven nights a week.
McGinnes recalls that the first musician to play
Papa's was Ken Henderson who later formed a duo with the
late, great Johnny Williams, another long time Papa
Rocco's player (formerly of The Drifters). Still, no one
questions that Gulf Shores legend, Brent Burns, has
played at Papa's the longest.
Since Papa's was the first in the area to feature
nightly entertainment, there are very few local
musicians who haven't played at Papa's. National
acts, including Buddy Greco and AL Hirt have also graced
the stage at Papa's.
Papa has never taken more than a long weekend off in
the 20+ years so he'll likely be here to greet you the
next time you stop in. |
