How 2Shea Catering Came to Be

“Work hard and you’ll make it.”

It’s always been two Sheas.

Even before 2Shea Catering was formally established, two members of the Shea family were always running a business together. When one would step back, another would step in. It was never just one Shea. Older brother and younger brother to father and son, a Shea-duo was always in place.  

From a small German restaurant in Albany to one of the most prestigious catering companies in the Capital Region, the Shea family knows what it means to evolve and grow. While holding onto their defining values, two Sheas have taken their business from $9.99 buffets to events with 200+ guests. The transformation has been vast, but the approach has remained the same: treat your guests as you would want to be treated.

Ed Shea always preached to his children, “never say no” and “work hard and you’ll make it.” He instilled in them the values of dedication and loyalty—to their business and to their family. Admittedly a bit old-fashioned in his approach, Ed says his goal was always to get everyone to know his name and to always know who he was talking to. Greeting guests, checking in to make sure they enjoyed their meal—these were some of the things he’d do to ensure this type of rapport. 

Today, Eddie Shea steers the ship of 2Shea Catering and his sister, Julia, handles the sales and booking of events. Eddie prides himself on running the business in a way that is productive, but fun. He also makes sure to treat his team like family, which undoubtedly makes for a positive work environment for all. He practices what his father preached and never says no to a customer. From a small office party to an extravagant multi-day wedding, 2Shea does it all, and does it right. 

As Eddie reflects on the work 2Shea Catering does, he gets goosebumps, thinking of how events often wrap up. While the celebrations and the people involved change, the finales to 2Shea events are often similar. They often involve the guest(s) of honor hugging one of the Sheas as gratitude pours out of them. And they often involve the words “best day of my life.” 

This is the ultimate payoff for Ed and Eddie, the reason and the purpose of it all.