Harbor Fish Market

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]

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
ProductsSeafood
OwnerBen Alfiero Jr.
Mike Alfiero
Nick Alfiero
Websitewww.harborfish.com

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]

  • The rear of the business
    The rear of the business
  • The interior (2022)
    The interior (2022)

Notable patrons

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

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

References
  1. "US seafood sales plunge as inflation continues to bite | National Fisherman". www.nationalfisherman.com. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  2. 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. Writer, Meredith GoadStaff (2013-09-04). "Harbor Fish Market: A whopper of a story". Press Herald. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  7. "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.
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