Harbor Fish Market

Last updated

Harbor Fish Market
Foundedc. 1890 (1890)
(as Harbor Fish Market since 1966)
FounderBen Alfiero Sr.
John Alfiero (as Harbor Fish Market)
Headquarters
Portland, Maine
,
United States
Number of locations
2
Products Seafood
OwnerBen Alfiero Jr.
Mike Alfiero
Nick Alfiero
Website www.harborfish.com

Harbor Fish Market is a prominent and historic fish market in the Old Port of Portland, Maine, United States. [1] [2] It was established in the late 19th century in the city's working waterfront, and is still doing business out of its original home at 9 Custom House Wharf, [3] [4] which was owned by the same family between circa 1807 and 2022. [2] It is popular with both locals and tourists. [5] In the 1990s, their store frontage appeared in photographs so often that the family trademarked the image. [6]

Contents

The business was given its current name in 1966, when Ben Alfiero Sr. and his older brother John purchased the business. [7] Ben became the sole owner in 1975, later assisted by his sons Nick, Ben Jr. and Mike. Ben Sr. retired in 2000. [7]

As the business continued to grow, a larger processing plant was opened on Commercial Street. A second retail location, in North Deering, was opened around the same time. [7]

When fishing restrictions were introduced in the late 1980s, Harbor Fish closed its processing plant and moved it back to its newly expanded Custom House Wharf location. [7] The original store was just over twenty feet wide. [6]

The company opened a second location in March 2022, located on U.S. Route 1 in Scarborough, Maine, in a space shared with Rosemont Market. [8] [9]

Notable patrons

Julia Child, Billy Joel and Maine r native Patrick Dempsey have all visited the store. [6]

Publications

References

  1. ↑ "US seafood sales plunge as inflation continues to bite | National Fisherman". www.nationalfisherman.com. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  2. 1 2 Writer, Edward D. MurphyStaff (November 4, 2021). "Custom House Wharf to be sold after 200 years of family ownership". Press Herald. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Get the freshest seafood and lobster in Maine • Harbor Fish Market". Harbor Fish Market. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  4. ↑ Writer, Ray RouthierStaff (July 31, 2022). "How to spend a day in the Old Port". Press Herald. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  5. ↑ JoeyJoey. "Tortilla Flat in Portland, Maine, Closing Permanently After 44 Years in Business". 94.3 WCYY. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 Writer, Meredith GoadStaff (September 4, 2013). "Harbor Fish Market: A whopper of a story". Press Herald. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "About The Market • Harbor Fish Market". Harbor Fish Market. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Harbor Fish Market Scarborough • Harbor Fish Market". Harbor Fish Market. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  9. ↑ Forecaster, Drew JohnsonThe (March 9, 2022). "Rosemont, Harbor Fish open new market in Scarborough". Press Herald. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
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