HISTORY
Alex I grew up in New York City - Chelsea. In 1972 I left and went fishing on Long Island, first as a bayman on Great South Bay, where I clammed and caught eels and crabs. In 1977 I decided to go offshore lobstering and fishing. Fishing was very good back then, and I really enjoyed the job. We'd go out in the ocean about 100 miles for three or four days and come back loaded up with 10,000 to 30,000 lbs. of fish or 2,000 to 5,000 lbs. of lobster. After becoming a captain and running an 80-foot boat I decided to buy my own smaller boat so I could be home at night. I bought a 36-foot Duffy, which became the Blue Moon, and docked at the Mattituck Inlet, where I still am today. Most of the 80's were spent fishing on the Blue Moon or skimmer clamming on Long Island Sound and in the ocean. In 1988 I started bringing fish to the Greenmarket, after my sister Diane (who lives in downtown Manhattan) recommended it as a sideline. My first market was Tribeca, and after a few years I did so well that I began selling most of my catch to the public through the Greenmarket program, instead of wholesaling fish to the Fulton Fish Market. I added the Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn market in 1990, where I met my wife Stephanie. In 1996 we began our Wednesday market at Union Square. We now work 6 or 7 days a week from March to Christmastime, fishing, smoking and selling at the Greenmarkets. We are happy to bring in the freshest fish we can, and offer it at a price that is reasonable. Steph I grew up in upstate NY and in North Carolina. I came to New York City to go to college. After I was graduated from NYU, my first job was working at a small literary magazine. A friend knew I was short on money, so she recommended me for a job at the Greenmarket in Brooklyn on Saturdays. I was working for an apple farmer whose stand was right next to the fish stand, where I met Alex! After a few years I moved out to Mattituck and we lived in a tiny old cottage overlooking Alex's dock. You could see (and smell) everything that went on down there. I did the Saturday markets with Alex, and added the Union Square market on Wednesdays, which left Alex free to go fishing. As much as he likes going to the city, he usually would rather be on the boat. We have met a lot of great friends through the fish stand, and done a lot of interesting things in New York. Every Saturday we have dinner out after the market, sometimes visiting the chefs we sell to. In a way we have the best of both worlds, being in NYC regularly and still working outside on the East End of Long Island. |
