Treacher Cuts Deal For Skipper’s Chain

Seattle Crab Co., owner of the Skipper’s Seafood ‘N Chowder House chain, is being acquired by Arthur Treacher’s Inc. of Jacksonville, Fla., top executives of the two companies have announced.

A letter of intent for the purchase was signed Monday, and the purchase price will be disclosed within the next 30 days, Arthur Treacher’s Chairman Bruce Galloway said Tuesday.

The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of next year.

Skipper’s is the nation’s fourthlargest quick-service seafood chain with 88 outlets in the Pacific Northwest. Arthur Treacher’s is No. 3 with 114 outlets in 11 Eastern states, Washington, D.C., and Ontario.

The merger will result in a company with 202 outlets and annual revenues exceeding $64 million, ranking third behind Long John Silver and Captain D. Both companies are recovering after falling on hard times.