Support the Shrimp Cocktail

The Shrimp Cocktail has been a big part of the Durham Region for over 30 years.  Wanda has worked there most of those years and has been the owner for 10 years.  In that time, she has given back to her community regularly.   Every year she hosts “Wanda’s Wicked Ride” raising funds for a local family who is dealing with cancer.  (9 families to date). The Shrimp golf tournament has raised funds for many charities. 

Some of the many charities she has helped include Sharon’s Kids, Carea, RMG, YWCA, Children’s Aid Foundation, Lakeridge Health Foundation, The Denise House, We Grow Food, Feed the Need Durham, The Brain Injury Association, Mary Street Public School, Parkwood Estates, Sunnycrest Nursing Home, Willow Park Cooperative and Their Opportunity.  She is also a founding member of Companies Who Care who has distributed well over $150,000 to numerous grass root charities within Durham Region.  She has sponsored the Whitby Dunlops and the Whitby Wildcats.  She has donated many gift cards to the community for many sports related fundraisers, hockey tournaments, golf tournaments, curling bonspeils, etc.  Most recently, after the restaurant reopened following the first Covid wave, she donated lunch for the DRPS and 800 $50 gift cards to EMS, firefighters, and front line workers.


Covid has been particularly hard on all small businesses, including restaurants.  The Shrimp Cocktail is not part of a big chain, but rather an independently owned small business that usually employs 19 people.  Since Covid, Wanda has taken all the proper measures to ensure the safety of her customers and crew.  She has purchased extra furniture to expand her patio so that customers would feel safe dining outside this past summer.  And she has spent money buying plexiglass dividers between booths inside.  She has 13 booths that can seat 4 people (complying with recent covid protocols) for a total of 52 people.  But most recent government demands say there can be a maximum of only 10 people inside a restaurant at one time.  We realize there aren’t enough people to go from place to place inspecting to see what measures individual restaurants have taken, but to us, this seems unfair.  This is a location that has been serving its community for years, has spent the money and put forth more than the required effort to make things safe and they are at the mercy of the government and their unrealistic demands.  How can a small family business possibly afford to stay in business??? After 30 years in business The Shrimp Cocktail cannot sustain these Covid restraints any longer and may be forced to close its doors for good!


Wanda has generously supported her community for years and now its time for her community to give back!  How can you help?  Go to the restaurant.  Make a reservation and KEEP IT!  Order take out.  Buy gift certificates.  Or donate.

We are just hoping to keep this business sustainable during this horrible, unprecedented time.  If a non licensed restaurant in the west end can raise over $300,000 to cover legal fees after opening illegally and not following covid protocols, I think the Durham Region can help one of their own, one who has supported our community for years!  Let’s help Wanda and the Shrimp Cocktail stay open!!!