The Great Southern Restaurant Group of Pensacola, Inc. (GSRG), manages the Fish House and the Atlas Oyster House in downtown Pensacola, Florida, on a marina overlooking Pensacola Bay. Begun in 1998 by famed Panhandle businessman Collier Merrill, his brothers Will and Burney and renowned Pensacola chef Jim Shirley, the restaurants of GSRG are steeped in Southern tradition, with a flair for unique, complementing flavors. GSRG is a division of Merrill Land Company. Merrill Land has primary interest in real estate developments along the Gulf coast region with offices in Pensacola and Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Investors and developers in a multitude of projects, Collier Merrill says that he and his brothers saw a unique opportunity to enter the restaurant business by partnering with talented chef, Jim Shirley, to create the two concepts both located in downtown Pensacola’s historic district on the water. “We knew that it would be a good fit in the community, helping tourism, as well as giving our friends and family a beautiful place to dine and enjoy the bountiful Gulf seafood that our area has to offer.”

Local, fresh ingredients are a key to the success of Chef Shirley’s creative dishes like Grits