John D C Macdonald Jr. was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, a member of a very large and close family. John attended the University of Western Ontario where he obtained a BA having been both on the Dean’s Honour List and the varsity football team. John continued his education at Queen’s University, obtaining a law degree. Upon the completion of his studies, John articled and then practiced law at the firm of Campbell, Godfrey & Lewtas (now Fasken). John specialized in corporate law with an emphasis on transactions. Eventually, John left Fasken to pursue business ventures.

Having visited on vacation, John fell in love with Turks & Caicos and dreamed of living there one day. He currently maintains his principal residence in Turks & Caicos. He is also the proud creator and owner of the now-iconic Turks & Caicos beach restaurant/bar Da Conch Shack. In John’s words, “Da Conch Shack has been the most fun of any business I have been involved with”. Da Conch Shack with its picturesque beachfront location has been featured in many shows and campaigns.

DaConch Shack has become a “must-visit” Turks & Caicos institution popular with locals and visitors including celebrities, all drawn to its unpretentious charm. Da Conch Shack’s beachy feel is boosted Wednesday nights when it has a live band and much of the island in attendance.

Da Conch Shack is also the place where the local hot sauce, PeppaJoy, was born. Delano Handfield came to da Conch Shack with a great hot sauce that guests immediately loved. So much that the bottles kept disappearing off the tables! It was clear that the sauce needed wider exposure so John assisted Delano with the branding and PeppaJoy became a Turks & Caicos treasure.

As an active investor and developer of properties in Turks & Caicos, John is enthused with its prospects. “Turks & Caicos is developing in a manner whereby its natural beauty is complemented by clean, beautiful structures. Composed sophistication which connects the land to the splendor of the ocean is the way of Turks & Caicos. Happiness is natural when looking at our ocean!”
John’s interests include paddle boarding, beach volleyball, hockey, dogs, dominos and bridge. John can often be seen on his paddle board on the ocean commuting from his residence over to visit Da Conch Shack.