On the last day of service at The Fish Market in Palo Alto, Calif., Kathy Tweed, right, a host at the restaurant, gets a hug from long time customer John Caruso of Palo Alto, on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. After 47 years, the seafood restaurant chain is closing two Northern California locations in Palo Alto and San Mateo. Today is the last day of the Palo Alto location. The last day of the San Mateo location is Sept. 20. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
The Fish Market era is coming to a close in the Bay Area.
Forty-seven years after opening California’s first Fish Market restaurant in Palo Alto, then expanding throughout the South Bay and Peninsula, the company shuttered that El Camino Real location late Wednesday. Customers lined up outside before lunch to snag a favorite table for their last orders of seafood and bowls of chowder — and their final goodbyes with longtime employees.
On the last day of service at The Fish Market in Palo Alto, Calif., Juan Gonzalez, who has worked in the restaurant chain since 1979, cleans a table on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
The San Mateo restaurant is nearing its final day of business, Sept. 20. The company’s fishery operations based in South San Francisco also are closing.
The reason? Redevelopment is in the works for both properties, company officials said. Also, the hiring and the costs associated with operating the Farallon Fishery for just two restaurants has been challenging.
Going forward, diners craving a Fish Market fix will have to make their way south to visit one of the chain’s two remaining restaurants, in San Diego and Del Mar.
A message of appreciation is displayed on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Dwight Colton, the president of the Fish Market restaurants, talks with long time customers. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Lyla Phelps, who has worked in the restaurant since 1980, interacts with co-workers. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Hosts at the restaurant, Kathy Tweed, left, and Kirsty Milne, greet customers. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Henry Hiatt, the general manager of the restaurant, talks with long time customer, Terry Bohn, 73. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Marvin Coc, a cook at the restaurant, prepares seafood dishes. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Seafood dishes are prepared in the kitchen. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Jenny Nilson, who has worked for 17 years for the company, talks with a customer. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Lyla Phelps, who has worked in the restaurant since 1980, smiles at customers. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Juan Gonzalez, who has worked in the restaurant chain since 1979, cleans a table. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
