Wink’s Grocery is much more than a convenience store to the Outer Banks.  The iconic winking smiley face has served Outer Banks locals and tourist a like since 1957. In fact, in the 1960s and 1970s, Wink’s was one of the only stores on the beach to stay open between Labor day and Memorial day! 

Wink’s carries all your vacation needs from sunscreen to groceries to little beachy souvenirs. The convenience store is fully stocked with groceries, including fresh produce. Grab a big watermelon to eat on the beach, or sandwich supplies for a nice beach picnic.  Wink’s is a great place to grab lunch, something refreshing to drink, or any snacks you may be craving midday.

Wink’s also offers all your beach needs from sand buckets and shovels to sunscreen. It carries an abundance of fun “stuff.” The location also has an arcade to entertain the kids while you grab all your necessities. Right off the beach, Wink’s is a very convenient stop to grab anything you forgot. It also is a great stop to take a nice shady, air conditioned break and grab a refreshing drink during a long day at the beach!

Be sure to stop at Wink’s during your Outer Banks vacation. Come in grab a coffee and newspaper in the morning or a refreshing soda pop during the afternoon. It’s charming history and great service is sure not to disappoint! 

Wink's is open year round, but seasonal hours vary.


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Kitty Hawk
252-261-2937
Hours
*Off-season hours may vary*
Call 252-261-2937 for current hours.
  • Monday6:30am-10:00pm
  • Tuesday6:30am-10:00pm
  • Wednesday6:30am-10:00pm
  • Thursday6:30am-10:00pm
  • Friday6:30am-10:00pm
  • Saturday6:30am-10:00pm
  • Sunday6:30am-10:00pm
Categories
Shopping
Jimmy's Seafood Buffet

Jimmy's Seafood Buffet

Home of the Crab Leg & Lobster Buffet for over 24 years! Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet is a great stop for an all you can eat affordable dinner extravaganza. The buffet offers over 100 different items. It even serves Jumbo Alaskan crab legs and Jumbo steamed shrimp, something you will not find on any other buffet in the OBX. The buffet offers a variety of seafood and non seafood options. Try some of Jimmy’s seafood options and load your plate with blackened tuna, Louisiana crawfish, steamed scallops and mussels, fried oysters and deviled crabs. Not in the mood for seafood? Fill your plate with steak, pineapple glazed ham, fried chicken, BBQ ribs, and fettuccini Alfredo to name a few. The buffet also offers a kid section. Let your kids load their plates with chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and corn dog nuggets. Don’t forget dessert! The buffet also offers soft serve ice cream and a plethora of baked goods. 

 

It’s been 22 years since Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet opened its doors for the first time. Since that inaugural summer, the goal has remained the same: provide customers with a tasty, fresh array of seafood full of Caribbean flavor.

 

Elizabeth Dowless and her husband Jerry had always worked in restaurants in the Outer Banks, so when the opportunity to open Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet with a couple of friends arose, it was an easy yes. The Dowlesses bought out the business in 2003, excited to turn Jimmy’s into an Outer Banks staple. When Jerry passed away later that year, Dowless knew she wanted to continue pursuing their dream on her own.

 

Dowless went all in on the concept of a fresh, flavorful seafood buffet and her hard work paid off. Jimmy’s Seafood Buffet is a beloved fixture of Outer Banks dining, with customers returning year after year for the fresh fare.

 

“Customers keep in contact with me throughout the winter. I get people every day asking me when we’re opening for the season, and customers book their vacations around our opening,” Dowless says. “I absolutely love getting to see familiar faces come back to see us each year. I love seeing them lose their minds over the buffet! Their excitement is what I love most about my job.”