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Harbor Fish Market

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Harbor Fish Market
Foundedc. 1890 (1890)
(as Harbor Fish Market since 1966)
FounderBen Alfiero Sr.
John Alfiero (as Harbor Fish Market)
Headquarters,
United States
Number of locations
2
ProductsSeafood
OwnerBen Alfiero Jr.
Mike Alfiero
Nick Alfiero
Websitewww.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]

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

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

Publications

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  • Harbor Fish Market (Nick Alfiero, Down East Books, 2013) ISBN 1608932451

References

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  1. ^ "US seafood sales plunge as inflation continues to bite | National Fisherman". www.nationalfisherman.com. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  2. ^ a b Writer, Edward D. MurphyStaff (2021-11-04). "Custom House Wharf to be sold after 200 years of family ownership". Press Herald. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  3. ^ "Get the freshest seafood and lobster in Maine • Harbor Fish Market". Harbor Fish Market. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  4. ^ Writer, Ray RouthierStaff (2022-07-31). "How to spend a day in the Old Port". Press Herald. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  5. ^ JoeyJoey. "Tortilla Flat in Portland, Maine, Closing Permanently After 44 Years in Business". 94.3 WCYY. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  6. ^ a b c Writer, Meredith GoadStaff (2013-09-04). "Harbor Fish Market: A whopper of a story". Press Herald. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  7. ^ a b c d "About The Market • Harbor Fish Market". Harbor Fish Market. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  8. ^ "Harbor Fish Market Scarborough • Harbor Fish Market". Harbor Fish Market. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  9. ^ Forecaster, Drew JohnsonThe (2022-03-09). "Rosemont, Harbor Fish open new market in Scarborough". Press Herald. Retrieved 2022-08-04.