The Krusty Krab is a fictional fast food restaurant in the American animated television series SpongeBob SquarePants, and its two big screen movies The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. The restaurant is owned and founded by Mr. Krabs and is famous along with its Krabby Patty burgers. It was first seen in the pilot episode "Help Wanted" on May 1, 1999 and has since become a common setting in the series.
Role in SpongeBob SquarePants
The Krusty Krab is a restaurant that sells various fast food products at extraordinarily high prices, including the popular "Krabby Patty" burgers. The Krusty Krab took its name from the Rusty Krab, a retirement home in Bikini Bottom acquired by Mr. Krabs and converted into a restaurant. However, another episode claims that it got its name from a pirate ship named the Krusty Krab. The Krusty Krab is one of the most successful restaurants in Bikini Bottom. The Krabby Patty formula is a closely guarded trade secret, and rival restaurateur Sheldon Plankton's futile attempts at acquiring the secret formula (as well as the often absurd lengths Mr. Krabs will go to protect it) is a major recurring theme throughout the series. The Krusty Krab usually attracts customers from Bikini Bottom because of the Krabby Patty's renowned taste and the fact that Plankton's restaurant, the Chum Bucket, has a menu consisting of mostly inedible chum. Because of this lack of viable competition, Mr. Krabs is free to engage in price gouging, which he usually does. It was noted that the Krusty Krab is clean and disease-free. Stephen Hillenburg's original name for the Krusty Krab was the "Crusty Crab," but he thought the K's were funnier. The building's design is based on a New England lobster trap.
Cultural influence
The Krusty Krab has appeared in Robot Chicken in its episode "Major League of Extraordinary Gentlemen" where the Krusty Krab serves Krabby Patties which are made of crab, calamari rings, and chicken of the sea salad which is tuna. In an episode of Red Sox Small Talk, John Ferrell was featured and was fielded with "tough" questions like "What is your favorite musician?" and "Is managing the Red Sox like managing the Krusty Krab on SpongeBob SquarePants?" He replied that "managing the Krusty Krab and the Red Sox are similar in some ways." A replica of the Krusty Krab was built in Ramallah, Palestine.
Merchandising
In 2006, Lego released the Lego SpongeBob SquarePants set based on the Krusty Krab. The second Krusty Krab based Lego set called the "Krusty Krab Adventures" was released in 2009.
Employees
- Eugene Krabs - Owner
- SpongeBob SquarePants - Fry Cook/Cleaner
- Squidward Tentacles - Cashier
References
Further reading
- Hillenburg, Stephen (2003). SpongeBob SquarePants: Krusty Krab Adventures. Los Angeles, CA: Tokyopop. ISBNÂ 159-1-823-986.Â
- Banks, Steven (2004). Trouble at the Krusty Krab. New York City, NY: Scholastic, Inc. ISBNÂ 0-4396-6697-X.Â