Our Story
Back in 2012, University of North Carolina-Wilmington senior, Matt Khouri from Eldersburg, Maryland was closing in on crunch time for a final senior project. He had an idea, but putting it on paper and developing a business plan was a daunting task.
The idea was to replicate a family beach tradition of steaming up a huge pot of potatoes, fresh corn, andouille sausage and shrimp, then dumping it on a covered table and sharing it with friends and family. Folks would stand around peeling shrimp, eating, drinking beer and raving about how something so simple could taste so good! Those beach parties were legendary and Matt saw an opportunity to create a business that would allow other folks to share in that experience with the best seafood available.
As a college senior living on Wrightsville Beach, NC, much of Matt's time was spent surfing the waves rather than surfing the internet to complete his project. He earned a "C" for his efforts.
After graduation Matt returned to Corolla in the Outer Banks of North Carolina with a new puppy named Jackson and a half-baked business plan.
Over the next few summers Matt worked multiple day jobs while doing boils for folks at their vacation homes in the evenings. The first year only 10, the next year 30, 60 in year three, and by year four Matt was doing well over 100 events! With each passing season, Matt dropped the day jobs and focused more on the boils.
In 2016 Matt had outgrown his apartment kitchen and opened his first location as a prep kitchen for catered boils. In order to accommodate smaller groups or folks that wanted to experience a boil without having a full catered event, the team began offering a take out version of “The Best Pot on the Beach”.
Since 2016, Outer Banks Boil Company has held Trip Advisor's number 1 restaurant ranking in Corolla, the entire OBX and all of coastal North Carolina along with numerous other kudos and accolades from visitor and travel guides.
Since then, Outer Banks Boil company has added 11 locations from New Jersey to Florida and continues to eye opportunities along the eastern sea shore. The company is dedicated to finding both the right people and the right places for Outer Banks Boil Company locations.
“The vision for OBBC expansion is to not only have home run operators in home run markets but to weave ourselves into the fabric of the communities we serve, through not only our boils, but our passion for charitable efforts.”
In 2022, Outer Banks Boil Company launched the charitable arm of OBBC, Our Epic Project, Inc. The charity focuses on three pillars that will help give back to the communities they serve by supporting entrepreneurs, strengthening mental health initiatives and providing EPIC vacations to deserving families. The program’s first endeavors will be focused in the Outer Banks with plans to extend the reach to regional chapters in the future. Until that time we encourage all of our locations to look for ways to incorporate the commitment of giving back as a core value of an Outer Banks Boil Company location.
Looking forward, Outer Banks Boil Company will continue to make meals and memories, celebrating traditions and sharing their commitment to giving back at all current and future locations.
