Krab Kingz opened its doors in Spring Lake only a week ago, but franchise co-owner Jahmane Bess already has big plans in mind.

"We can definitely be the next Red Lobster," he said.

The restaurant opened on April 30 at 400 S. Main St. inside a former Hardee's. Krab Kingz is a rapidly growing chain of fast-casual seafood restaurants and food trucks across the Southeast and Midwest, specializing in fried seafood and Cajun-style seafood boils.

After serving eight years in the Marines, Bess has spent the past four years traveling across the country helping open new Krab Kingz locations in Texas, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee and other states. His friend, Brandon Martin, opened the first Krab Kingz restaurant in Killeen, Texas in 2015.

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This is the first franchise he's owned, but he has plenty of help. The restaurant is a family affair: his brother, Elijah, is a co-owner, while another brother, Adeyemi, is the chef. Younger sister Shekinah Tong is the general manager. Sister-in-law Alexandra Bess is also a manager.

Diners can choose between boiled and fried offerings, including snow crab, king crab, shrimp, streamed or fried lobster, crawfish, fried calamari and fried fish. The seafood boils, most of which come with red-skinned potatoes, sausage, corn-on-the-cob and boiled eggs, are served with a choice of seven different butters, available in flavors such as Cajun, island jerk and honey garlic.

Bess said his favorite is a combination of the spicy and lemon pepper butters. He's also partial to the fried lobster tail and fried shrimp pasta.

The community has been quick to embrace the new establishment. Spring Lake Mayor Larry Dobbins cut the ceremonial ribbon at the restaurant's grand opening and Bess said business has been brisk.

"They're seafood crazy in Fayetteville and Spring Lake," he said with a laugh.

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Bess said he plans on adding beer, wine and live entertainment soon.

Those hungry diners from Fayetteville may soon have another option closer to home. Bess said he's eyeing future Krab Kingz locations in Fayetteville, including a spot on Skibo Road.

Bess is also opening a Krab Kingz in Winston-Salem. The restaurant at 3800 Reynolda Drive is expected to open at the end of May.

With several mobile Krab Kingz operations already serving the Piedmont, Triangle, Sandhills and coastal regions of the state, Bess said the Krab Kingz name will soon be familiar to even more North Carolinians.

"We can easily be a powerhouse," he said. "I definitely want to get at that level."

The restaurant is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Jacob Pucci writes on food, restaurants and business. Contact him by email at jpucci@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter at @jacobpucci or on Facebook. Like talking food? Join our Fayetteville Foodies Facebook group.

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A weekend trip to Spring Lake changed the trajectory of a Miami couple’s life.

Robert Lopez and Patrick Roggenbau were driving around the waterfront community when they spotted a deteriorating Victorian mansion across from Spring Lake District Library.

When they discovered the door to the abandoned structure was unlocked, they walked inside and instantly saw the potential.

“The house was just so complete and so beautiful that we thought it'd be silly not to save it,” remembers Roggenbau. “Within the first 15 minutes, we decided it would be the perfect B&B.”

July opening

In July, a renovated Lilley Mansion will open as a bed-and-breakfast, nearly two years to the day the couple had that epiphany. This passion project has required more of them than they ever anticipated. The couple, who initially envisioned themselves becoming seasonal residents, are moving permanently to Spring Lake in April.

“What Miami doesn't have that Spring Lake does have in spades is that everyone is so nice. People take the time to talk to you and get to know you and ask you questions. People want to be part of what we're doing,” Lopez says.

As he is talking, a car slows down to take in all the activity going on at the house.

Driving by the mansion has become a bit of a pastime for villagers who enjoy watching the transformation, according to Christine Burns, Spring Lakes village manager.

“Some days are more exciting than others,” she says.

Cheering crowds turned out in July when the home was moved by truck several blocks to a spot closer to the waterfront.

Lilley Mansion, Lilley Cares

Lopez is trading his profession as a Realtor to devote his time to Lilley Cares, a nonprofit he created – and is co-directing with community volunteer Sharon Balkema and Justin Raha, owner of Grand Finale Desserts. The mission will be Spring Lake-centric, but not specific.

Lilly Cares has four events in the pipeline, beginning with the Spring Lake Garden Festival on May 30. A food and wine festival is planned for August, a volunteer week in September to do good things around town and, in the fall, the group is taking over the holiday decorations for the community with garden planters.

“And so it's a really hands-on approach,” says Lopez. “The B&B is just a part of the total project.”

Lopez and Roggenbau plan to provide space for local nonprofits to host events. The couple has assembled a team that includes a local historian, horticulturist, and art curator to lead programming and classes that can be offered at the Lilley Mansion.

Their historian is digging up facts on the mansion that may eventually make their way into a book. He discovered the Empire-style home was built using a mail-order blueprint.

19th-century home

The mansion was built in 1886 by Francis Lilley, an English immigrant and lumber baron.

“This house is connected to every single part of Spring Lake,” Lopez says of the grand residence that was later carved up into apartments.

The home’s new location sets the stage for it to be a resource for the community going forward.

The landmark now sits at 113 S. Division St., replacing two small homes that were bought and demolished. It’s across from Tanglefoot park, the village’s waterfront space, which is undergoing a transition from a longtime RV park to a more inclusive public space. (See story)

When Lopez and Roggenbau bought the mansion, the first floor was complete but the second floor was essentially gutted. Now, they are in the final stretch of the renovation. They were able to save the original fireplaces and staircases. Flooring and finishes are being added, and molding is being put back in place.

Expansion

They’ve kept the original footprint, expanding out to where the horses and buggies were stored to create main-floor space for their private quarters, which will include an art studio for Roggenbau.

The B&B’s four suites will be ensuite with luxurious bathrooms The only major modification was incorporating a former library space to create a long kitchen. They bought an old 20-foot-long dining table to create a chef's kitchen. The adjacent breakfast room will have six big tables for meals and events.

“We've already booked three weddings for this season, so people are already reacting to it. It's really cool,” says Lopez, explaining the requests have been spurred by word-of-mouth and media coverage.

Project champions

He praises the village's staff for being a resource and the project’s champions.

“It's the best group of people I’ve ever had the privilege of working with. I honestly cannot say enough good things about them. They've been unbelievable. When I had a zoning issue, I went and I spoke to the zoning director. We hashed it out and we fixed it. There's no run-around,” Lopez says.

The respect is mutual. The village manager describes the duo as a dynamic addition to the community.

“Their enthusiasm for this project is contagious and we cannot wait until they are full-time residents and the entire community can witness their vision come to life,” Burns says.

Roggenbau, an artist, is taking a personal approach to designing the interior.

“We are bringing in a lot of old and new furnishings. It should be a place that reflects our journeys in life. Robert and I have lived all over the world,” says Roggenbau, who has moved 18 times.

Born in Germany, he studied art in Italy before coming to the U.S. when his artwork was featured in a Chicago exhibition.

Friends and partners

Their longtime friend, Kim Van Kampen, who was showing them her projects in the community during their pivotal 2018 visit, is a partner in the B&B.

Van Kampen, a summer resident who breeds and trains horses on her farm near Spring Lake and in Florida, is investing $10 million in several Spring Lake development projects. The highest-profile is The Epicurean Village, a 32,000-square-foot development that will house retail on the first floor and a dozen residences on the two floors above.

“She is a wonderful, generous person who uses her wealth to enrich communities. She is a real visionary. I'm excited to be on board with her,” says Roggenbau, who met Van Kampen decades ago when they collaborated on importing Spanish Andalusian horses to the U.S. for dressage competitions.

Sparking change

Downtown Development Director Angela Stanford-Butler describes Van Kampen as a catalyst for the changes that are breathing new life into the community.

“There are already other developers who have bought properties in the village that are starting their projects. She literally sparked the change in the village,” Stanford-Butler says.

Lopez says the Lilley Mansion has grown beyond him, Roggenbau and Van Kampen to include so many others who have caught on to the vision of bringing the historic home back to life.

“You can't do a project like this and not include everybody,” Lopez says.

This article is part of The Lakeshore, a new featured section of Rapid Growth focused on West Michigan's Lakeshore region. Over the coming months, Rapid Growth will be expanding to cover the complex challenges in this community by focusing on the organizations, projects, programs and individuals working to improve conditions and solve problems for their region. As the coverage continues, look for The Lakeshore publication, coming in 2020.

BROOKSVILLE — As an assisted-living facility, Country Acres more resembles a high-end rustic lodge hosting a vacation gathering of friendly aunts, uncles and grandparents.

So say the half-dozen elders who've taken up residency since the facility's January opening in rural Spring Lake.

Ashley and Jared Snow, 32 and 34 respectively, converted the nine-bedroom former foster home into a seniors' respite when her parents, Bill and Sherry Leslie, retired as caregivers there.

"I grew up in care-giving since age 7," Ashley Snow said. "I was accustomed to it. It was my family."

Her husband came to safekeeping of others from another angle. He'd served 13 years as a deputy with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office.

The couple's priority is providing a family-like atmosphere at the two-level lodge, which features private rooms, two common sitting areas, a game solarium and two kitchens with adjacent dining spaces. Open-air decks reach out on all sides, while a broad front porch looks out on a shaded landscape.

April Herlihy, 40, a former certified nursing assistant, is a live-in caretaker. The Snows, who live less than a mile away, are on the premises daily.

Herlihy and Ashley Snow prepare meals, family-style lunch and dinner. If someone isn't a fan of the day's homemade lasagna, an alternative is quickly readied. Residents are welcome to cook with supervision.

"We're not into taking away their independence," Ashley Snow emphasized.

"People don't stay in their rooms," she pointed out during a tour. "We have people who want to be in the common areas. They want to be where everyone else is."

Activities entice residents out of their rooms. Mostly home-based, join-in attractions suit the residents, aged 63 to 94.

Some residents tend a small vegetable garden. They helped to plant it, water it and snip its herbs for dinner.

"It's something they can handle that's not overwhelming, but gives them responsibility," Ashley said.

An associated outing has elicited enthusiastic endorsement: a minutes-long trip to nearby Beasley Farms, where they buy mixed vegetables that they'll help prepare for the week's dining.

Bingo, trivia, jigsaw puzzles and storytelling are always on tap.

"It's like being at home, on vacation," said guest-resident Susan Sharp, 63. "They give you the structure, but it's freedom to be yourself."

Liz Nelson of Melbourne came to stay in January after breaking an ankle.

"It's a very nice place to go if you need help," said the 86-year-old. She noted its handicapped accessibility, exercise opportunities and family lifestyle as she recuperates.

The Snows aim to keep the resident roster at about six to maintain "a different level of compassion and care" compared to larger facilities.

"I think we have a positive environment. We always promote forward-moving." Ashley Snow said.

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Residency is monthly. Rates depend on the level of care required. Tours of Country Acres Assisted Living Facility at 4063 Baseball Pond Road in Brooksville are available by calling (352) 754-2804.

Contact the writer at graybethn@earthlink.net.

BROOKSVILLE — Another phase of development was approved this week by the Hernando County Planning and Zoning Commission for a swath of property off Spring Lake Highway that houses a religious community of Catholics.

Planning commissioners gave their unanimous support to grant a special exception use permit to the St. Aloysius Mission Association to construct a private school on 16.5 acres at Spring Lake Highway and Dallas Drive. A one-story school will be constructed on the site and will consist of classrooms and an auditorium, according to the application.

The building will be approximately 7,000 square feet. Access will be available from a private drive that extends east to the project from Dallas Drive.

The new construction will allow Queen of All Saints Academy, currently on Barnett Road in Brooksville, to move near the planned convent for the Sisters of St. Thomas Aquinas, which was approved in late 2015. Sisters from that order teach at Queen of All Saints.

The association adheres to beliefs based on religious doctrines from before the Vatican II reforms of the Roman Catholic Church.

According to Bruce Carpenter, the adjacent landowner who represented the association for both the convent and the school applications, the convent is going through its final permitting phases, and he said he anticipated agency reviews in the next couple of months.

Queen of All Saints was founded in 2003 by the Rev. Joseph Selway, who still teaches at the school and serves at Most Holy Trinity Seminary, which is on the same site southeast of Brooksville, but to the north of where the nearly 20,000-square-foot convent is slated to be built. Plans for that facility, at Spring Lake Highway and Rosecrans Street, include two phases. When completed, there will be a two-story structure that includes room for 34 residents, a chapel and a classroom on 16 acres.

Queen of All Saints, the traditional Catholic school, boasts a student-to-teacher ratio of 4 to 1. According to the school's website, "at the Academy, the faculty and the parents understand that education is not the mere presentation of useful information; rather it is the intense act of molding the child's intellect and will so that he has both a firm grasp of the supernatural and natural truth, and the moral ability to lead a life in accordance with the commandments of God.''

The school currently has 28 students enrolled and eight staff members.

Contact Barbara Behrendt at bbehrendt@tampabay.com or (352) 848-1434.

Crystal-clear and a refreshing 72 degrees year-round, Florida's springs are the swimming holes of your dreams.

Because the state of Florida sits atop an aquifer, fresh water bubbles up from below ground all over the state, primarily in the central and northern parts of the state, resulting in a smattering of springs and swimming holes across the peninsula.

With 700 glorious springs — in which visitors can swim, dive, or just splash around, an adventurous alternative to the Sunshine State's beloved beaches — Florida boasts the largest collection of freshwater springs on Earth. Since they are all crystal-clear and remain a crisp 72 degrees all year, choosing which Florida springs to visit can prove a challenge, but we've selected a few of our favorites for you.

Here are 11 of the best springs in Florida.

More nature travel ideas

Ginnie Springs

For visitors in pursuit of pure Florida, it doesn't get much better than Ginnie Springs, which has some of the clearest waters of all the natural springs in Florida. Located within a two-hour drive of major hubs like Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tallahassee, it's off the beaten path yet easy to reach. While there, you can float in an inner tube or enjoy one of the most beautiful freshwater dives in the world — or if the water's just a bit too nippy for you, enjoy it all sans immersion by kayaking, paddle boarding, or canoeing.

Because Ginnie Springs is a privately owned park, there is an admission fee to access. Take care to leave your furry friends at home, though, as the park has a strict no-pet policy.

Rainbow Springs

North of the small city of Dunnellon, Rainbow Springs is located within Rainbow Springs State Park, home to thousands of years of history and even a few waterfalls. Canoe and kayak rentals are available, but visitors can also enjoy tubing, paddling, swimming, or simply hiking the trails.

Though Rainbow Springs — often considered the most beautiful of Florida's springs — was once used as transportation by Native peoples, in the more recent past, it was home to a mining operation and a privately-owned tourist attraction. Work up a sweat in the park and then cool off in the springs for a perfect summer day in Florida. Like most Florida State Parks, Rainbow Springs allows pets, as long as they are kept on a 6-foot leash and do not enter the water.

Madison Blue Springs

Situated near the Florida-Georgia border, Madison Blue Spring sits on the west bank of the Withlacoochee River and is home to one of Florida's 33 first-magnitude springs. (Spring magnitude is determined by the volume of flow per unit of time, and first-magnitude springs are the largest, discharging at least 65 million gallons of water per day.) With underwater caves, sapphire waters, and a lush forest surrounding, it's a swimmer and scuba diver's paradise.

Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring

Devil's Den is an underground spring inside a dry cave, formed by a karst window, which means that the ground over a subterranean river collapsed, exposing the water to the world above.

Located near the town of Williston, Devil's Den is a pretty remote spot in Florida but visiting is more than worth it, especially for scuba divers and snorkelers. Not only is it one of the world's most unique and beautiful places to explore underwater, it's also shrouded in ancient history since many extinct animal fossils (dating all the way back to the Pleistocene Age!) were found here.

Various amenities are available onsite, including equipment rentals for those eager to explore. Unlike most other Florida springs, pets are not allowed.

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Wekiwa Springs

Located about 20 minutes north of Orlando, Wekiwa Springs State Park is easy to tack onto any Florida vacation. With dense hammocks, wildlife-spotting opportunities, and tons of adventures on offer — think horseback riding, biking trails, kayaks, fishing, snorkeling, and more — Wekiwa Springs is practically a theme park in itself, but one that celebrates nature rather than man-made wonders.

And in fact, this attraction has been here longer than its famous neighbors. It was discovered in the 1860s; by the 1890s (more than 70 years before the opening of Walt Disney World!), Wekiwa Springs had a hotel and bathhouse complex to accommodate visitors, making it one of the first tourist attractions in central Florida.

A breath of fresh air in an otherwise commercialized region of Florida, a day at Wekiwa Springs feels a bit like stumbling upon an oasis. Note that entrance costs $6 per vehicle.

Three Sisters Springs

Head to Crystal River on Florida's west coast to experience one of Florida's most precious jewels. Three Sisters Springs — accessible via private boat or kayak launches on Kings Bay — feels a bit like entering another world. For easy access aided by a local's know-how, book a tour with Get Up And Go Kayaking Crystal River for an unforgettable clear kayak adventure into the springs. You'll be amazed at how much you can see through the clear kayak and even clearer waters beneath you. Go during manatee season (November through March) for an up-close encounter with Florida's favorite gentle giants. Only registered service animals are allowed at the refuge.

Ichetucknee Springs

Located in northern Florida's Ichetucknee Springs State Park, Ichetucknee Springs sports emerald waters from eight major springs that bubble up and join together to create the six-mile Ichetucknee River. Visitors can kayak or float lazily under lush tree canopies, snorkel the blue hole, or keep their eyes peeled for wildlife such as beavers, otters, and wild turkeys. Note that entrance costs $6 per vehicle.

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Wakulla Springs

Florida's Panhandle is where you'll find some of the most picture-perfect beaches in the state, but wander away from the crowds a bit and find yet another wonder to behold: Wakulla Springs is the largest and deepest freshwater spring in the world.

Adding to the enchantment of this spot is the fact that the springs are surrounded by an ancient cypress swamp and contain hundreds of years of history. Even Hollywood filmmakers found Wakulla Springs worthy of prime time: "Tarzan's Secret Treasure" (1941) and "The Creature from the Black Lagoon" (1954) were filmed here. Today, visitors can swim, scuba, take a boat tour, and show off their best dives into the 70-degree waters from a raised platform.

Note that entrance costs $6 per vehicle.

Weeki Wachee Springs

All the springs in Florida house a variety of wildlife, but Weeki Wachee is undoubtedly the only one home to mermaids. An Old Florida icon, Weeki Wachee Springs is a natural tourist attraction where visitors can catch underwater mermaid performances by real-life sirens, take a trip on a riverboat cruise, kayak, and even swim in the deep blue waters themselves, tails or not.

Named by the Seminoles, "Weeki Wachee" means "little spring" or "winding river" and the bottom of the spring has never been found — indeed, it's one of the deepest naturally-formed underwater caverns in the country. Note that pets are not permitted in the park with the exception of service dogs.

Ocala National Forest Springs

Located smack-dab in the middle of the state, the funky Ocala National Forest is home to four major springs that are among Florida's most popular: Juniper, Alexander, Silver Glen, and Salt Springs. Each of them provides the kind of mind-blowing blues and greens that Florida's springs are known for, as well as perfect visibility beneath the surface of the clear waters. Best enjoyed on a blazing-hot summer day, swimmers enjoy taking dips in the chilly but pristine 72-degree waters as well as exploring the springs via kayak. No animals, other than service dogs, are allowed in the day-use areas.

Gilchrist Blue Springs

Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park — which only became a state park in 2017, making it Florida's 175th state park and still its newest — contains six natural springs, the most prominent of which is Gilchrist Blue. Gilchrist Blue produces about 44 million gallons of water per day and has outstanding water clarity, so it's no surprise that paddling, snorkeling, and swimming are the main draws here.