Shell Factory to celebrate milestone anniversary
When Tom Cronin bought the Shell Factory on June 28, 1997, it was a dated Old Florida “tourist trap.”
Many questioned Cronin’s purchase or suggested that he look at the real estate value and develop a mall or something else.
Cronin and his wife, Pam, proved the naysayers wrong and made the Shell Factory a family destination with a nature park, fun park, tiki bar, restaurant and even a theater.
Next weekend, the Shell Factory will celebrate 25 years under Cronin ownership with an old-fashioned family carnival on Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26, from noon to 5 p.m.
The 25 years are significant because many of its specials will cost just 25 cents. Entry into the nature park for a child is just 25 cents with an adult admission, and games and snow cones will be just 25 cents.
There will also be carnival food such as fried Oreos, corndogs and caramel apple slices, prizes, and live entertainment all weekend long.
Mostly, it will be about 25 years of memories. While Tom Cronin died in 2018, his memory lives on with Tommy’s Tiki Bar and other, through-the-years tansformations.
“It will be about the special memories, so we’ll be having a carnival. We have a lot of things lined up. Games, prizes, we’re going to make it a great two days,” said General Manager Anne Sheridan. “There will be six to eight games for a quarter, as will the carousel and the bounce house.”
This past week they put a tent in the store, and many items underneath it will be a quarter. There were also grab bags for $2, but you didn’t know what was inside it. That will allow the adults to have fun, Sheridan said.
The Cronins never expected to fall in love with the attraction so much, but they put their hearts, souls and money into it, Sheridan said. The place is now almost unrecognizable from what it was 25 years ago.
“Now, it’s become a big part of Florida. We had people the other day who came here from Texas and heard about the Shell Factory and said when they came there, they had to come,” Sheridan said. “You see generations come here. Mothers, grandmothers and the children come to get their pearls.”
The Shell Factory is at 16554 N. Cleveland Ave. For more information call 995-2141 or go to shellfactory.com,
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com