The Crafty Crab in Abington is celebrating its second anniversary this month, and its home at 1482 Old York Road has seen its share of owners since its construction in 1920.

Originally called the Chateau, the site changed hands some years later and became The Highland Inn. In 1989, The Highland’s owner, Brandy Alexander, sold it on the condition that he could still work in the kitchen.

The new owners named their Greek-styled restaurant “Alexander’s” in his honor and remained open for the next 17 years.

Fun Fact: Actor Bradley Cooper worked at Alexander’s as a busboy once upon a time.

In May of 2006, the restaurant opened as The Kitchen Bar, which the Makris family operated until 2021. The Alexander’s sign hung above the door until it closed.

From The Reporter’s 2021 article on The Kitchen Bar:

A quick perusal of the bar corroborated the chef-owner’s observation, as people of every age group, race and, apparently, ethnicity appeared to be sharing drinks there, even as the dining room rang with the lively chatter of a distinctly diverse clientele.

All of this speaks well for the vision of the Makris clan. Their track record in the business is nothing if not impressive. Since 1979 the Makris brothers have owned and operated the landmark Oak Lane Diner on North Broad Street, just outside of Cheltenham Township, and for the past three years, with a major assist from former employee Zack Hulayev, they have owned and operated the Drake Tavern in Jenkintown.

Back to the year 2023, here is The Crafty Crab’s menu:

For more on The Crafty Crab, you can visit their Abington location’s website. The chain has locations in Bensalem, Wilmington Delaware, as well as four in Maryland.

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Photo courtesy of Loopnet.com, information partially provided by Mike Leibrandt