OUR STORY
Blue Pete’s has been owned and operated by the Cleanthes family since 2011. Their love for the Pungo area, good people, great food, and the country lifestyle is what inspired them to acquire Blue Pete’s and carry on the tradition of a place for locals and visitors to come together and enjoy themselves in a relaxed and natural setting. The restaurant is located on a beautiful five-acre spot in the Back Bay area of Virginia Beach, just minutes from the Back Bay National Wildlife Sanctuary.
Here at Blue Pete’s, we want our customers to come in and relax in comfort, enjoy phenomenal food prepared and served by our caring staff, and leave with full bellies and refreshed hearts and minds. You’ll quickly learn why our locals return over and over again.
THE HISTORY
Before 1972, the property on which the restaurant was built housed a small marina and fish house. In 1972, Pat and Betty Ann Ricks opened Blue Pete’s and began the first expansion. Originally a cozy and homey place with seats for about twenty people, patrons could buy bait, play a little pool, listen to country music, or sit at the bar for sandwiches and beer.
Though the business has grown and changed over the years, the goals of the current owners are much the same as they were over 40 years ago – to provide food and good experiences in a friendly and homey atmosphere. Their love for this area, good people, great food, and the country lifestyle is what inspired them to acquire Blue Pete’s and carry on the tradition of a place for locals and visitors alike to come together and enjoy themselves in a relaxed and natural setting.