Welcome
Our Story
Considered one of the jewels of southern Guam, Jeff's Pirates Cove is the perfect place to stop and fill up your ``tank`` and knock down a few refreshing ``cocktails`` at the same time. A popular tourist attraction, Jeff's also is considered one of the top cultural centers on the island. But the locals know it for being one of the best BBQ eateries you will find anywhere.
Camp Ethridge
The Cove History
After the end of the war, the Cove was used by the United States Military for a Fleet Reserve Rehab Center complete with a dispensary, Beer Garden, lodging, fried chicken shack, saltwater swimming pool, skeet range, horseshoe pits, and other recreation-related activities.
Camp Ethridge
Outdoor Theater
Camp Ethridge had an outdoor movie theater facing the Pacific Ocean. After several years the camp’s mission was accomplished and the location was taken over by a U.S. construction company called BPM. BPM operated the facilities and opened a steak house on the Route 4 roadside using the existing facilities.
Camp Ethridge
Chicken in the Ruff
Chicken in the Ruff was a deep-fried chicken restaurant at Camp Ethridge. Much of the facilities were destroyed by Typhoon Allyn which passed 35 miles south of Guam on November 17th, 1949. It had maximum winds of 120 Knots.
Jeff moves to Guam
Jeff and his family arrived on Guam in 1962. Jeff's father, Archer, was hired from Massachusetts to work at the Navy's Piti Power Plant. After completing high school at George Washington High School, Jeff traveled to Hawaii and worked at the Outrigger Canoe Club.
Jeff moves to Hawaii
The Outrigger is a well known private club on Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. Jeff truly enjoyed working in the Outrigger as a barboy. He liked meeting interesting people like Duke Kahanamoko, the famous surfer and lifesaver of many lives from Hawaii's coastal waters.
Jeff moves to Florida
In 1967 Jeff moved to Florida and pursued an education in Hotel Restaurant Management. While attending college in Florida, Jeff worked in various restaurants in St. Petersburg rounding out his education with practical experience in the food and beverage industry. After graduating from Saint Petersburg Junior College in Florida, Jeff packed up his family and moved to Las Vegas, Nevada to complete college at the University of Nevada.
Jeff moves to Las Vegas
Las Vegas wasn't at all what Jeff expected. Jobs in the restaurant industry were not available to everyone. You had to join the culinary union to be employed in Las Vegas. Jeff decided he did not want to go back to being a barback for a year, as the union required, and looked for employment in the Casinos. Jeff discovered without ``juice`` you get nowhere. ``Juice`` is a term synonymous with what is also known as ``connections``. Jeff had no connection and was only in Las Vegas to complete his schooling. Jeff needed a job. Bills needed to be paid so Jeff went to work for the Checker Cab Company in Las Vegas. Driving cab in Las Vegas for three years was probably the three most exciting years of his life. Jeff was robbed several times and had faced near death situations just a little too often. Jeff felt that ``Sin City`` was a cruel city and full of people waiting their turn to prosper from others. However, Jeff did make good money driving a taxi and enjoyed picking up and meeting many celebrities. Jeff met such notables as Ed Sullivan, Robert Goulet, Fran Tarkington, and many other interesting famous and not so famous people. It was indeed a difficult job with never-ending lessons in human behavior and self-preservation.
Jeff moves back to Guam
Jeff graduated from UNLV in 1973 and decided to move back to the quiet sleepy Island he loved so much, Guam.</p> <p>Finding employment quickly was important so Jeff applied at the Bank Of Hawaii and was accepted into a management trainee program. After two years at the bank Jeff decided to move on. Pay for local hires was poor so Jeff took a job managing the Crow's Nest, a large restaurant and bar located in Sinajana. After two years the Crow's Nest was sold and Jeff started a new career at KATB radio station as their sales manager. This was the best position he ever had and Jeff enjoyed working there for 5 years until the station was sold in 1981.
Jeff purchased the Pirates Cove
Having lived in Ipan Talofofo since 1975 Jeff always stopped by Pirates Cove. He became friends with Jimmy Cruz the owner. The Cove was a quiet beach bar with an atmosphere unmatched on Guam. When Jimmy passed away in 1979, so Jeff formed a group of investors to purchase the Pirates Cove from Jimmy's widow, Margie. The historic seaside location was then renamed Jeff's Pirates Cove. Since then, Jeff has spent all these years developing his concept of Jeff's Pirates Cove into what it is today, a location on Guam where the ``pirate`` in you can have a whole lot of fun.