Page 61 - South Mississippi Living - November, 2025

RIMMER COVINGTON JR. AND RON LADNER IN THE BAHAMAS.
And then there’s Shaggy’s. As the people of Pass Christian literally picked up the pieces of their lives, Ron and Laura Ladner decided that people needed an oasis of normalcy—a small, simple place to stop by, eat, or enjoy refreshments, and get away from the destruction that surrounded them.
Shaggy’s saw explosive growth, yet the innovative ideas conceived in the mind of Ladner never slowed. Despite the success, he took a substantial risk with a new team service model and tip-sharing system that left everyone—from the chefs to
the dishwashers to the table servers—invested in each other’s success. Some thought it was a crazy idea. Okay, most did, but Ladner forged ahead, and it became a defining part of their culture.
As Shaggy’s grew, Ladner grew with it, pursuing success as always but now pursuing something much different alongside it. Shaggy’s has become a destination rather than a stopover for their employees’ careers. Most of them want to work there
THE ORIGINAL SHAGGY’S IN PASS CHRISTIAN HARBOR.
for decades until they retire. The culture, along with benefits like programs to help them purchase homes, inspires trust and loyalty. Now, their million customers each year will enjoy
RON LADNER AND HIS WIFE LAURA.
delicious seafood and the camaraderie of the Shaggy’s team working as one.
You’ll also see how the cheeseburger has become a symbol
of their success. No matter the location or time of year, the cheeseburger is always their best-selling item. Ladner even named his sportfishing boat after it. Follow Ladner and partner Rimmer Covington as they
chase Blue Marlin around the world on the Cheeseburger and Karibu, from the Bahamas to the Dominican Republic, from the British Virgin Islands to Costa Rica.
And despite all the
entertainment and great
lessons of this book, its
most profound words just
might bring a tear to your
eye. In his youth, Ladner
relentlessly pursued his goal
of attaining wealth and
everything it allowed, rising
above the average neighborhood and thousand-foot home in Long Beach, Mississippi. Yet, as he reflects on his parents, family, and childhood friends, Ladner realizes that he had been wealthy all along. Even if the book weren’t so entertaining, that journey alone would make it worth the read.
So if you want an entertaining read that will have you laughing, learning, and living the story with the author, this is the book for you.
Book Review by Tom Ward, an award-winning journalist and author of the “Mississippi Mystery Series” and “The Grove.” Tom lives in Oxford, MS.
But this is not your average book, mainly because there is nothing average about Shaggy’s or its founder.
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November 2025 | 61
CHEESEBURGER AND KARIBU
RESTING AT SCRUB ISLAND IN THE BVIS.