Jason Wells

I have Ocracoke family heritage with both sides of my family originating in Ocracoke. Originally born in Baltimore, Maryland, my family relocated back to Ocracoke when I was six years old and I have lived there for the better part of my life. After graduating from Ocracoke School in 1987, I went to UNC Chapel Hill, but upon completion moved right back to Ocracoke – it was my calling. My Island roots come from my maternal grandmother who was a Spencer and my paternal grandmother who was an O’Neal. Food has always been a big part of my life. Some of my earliest memories are of gardening and making pickles with my Granddaddy Ed and of helping my Grandma Sis in the kitchen preparing enough food to feed an army for holiday gatherings.

 

My father, John Ivey, was in the restaurant business for my whole life and I began working in restaurants at the early age of nine years old. My family opened up the original Pelican Restaurant in the late 1970s and we started the Back Porch Restaurant in the early 1980s. I have worked in numerous other restaurants on Ocracoke part-time culminating with the opening of Jason’s Restaurant in October of 2000. I began this new endeavor after selling the restaurant to my long-time business partner, Jimmy Bowen, in 2024. I am excited to see what this new chapter brings. It gives me the opportunity to stay connected to my life’s passion and my family heritage with food by offering you products that represent the unique bounty of Ocracoke and Eastern North Carolina. Thank you for checking out the website – I am confident you will be happy with any products you choose.