February 12, 2015 — First opened in Ridgewood, Queens, in 1992, the store relocated to Williamsburg just a few years later. Today, the shop is the last of the true fish markets in Williamsburg, down from four when it first opened.
When you think of the concrete jungle that is the border of Williamsburg and East Williamsburg, the thought of fresh fish is not usually the first thing on your mind. But for the last 22 years, Pat Zollo has sold locals some of the finest fresh fish in the city at Metropolitan Fish Market (635 Metropolitan Avenue, 718-387-6835).
A true anomaly in the area, Metropolitan Fish Market is located between a liquor store and a bodega. First opened in Ridgewood, Queens, in 1992, the store relocated to Williamsburg just a few years later. Today, the shop is the last of the true fish markets in Williamsburg, down from four when it first opened.
Decorated like a cheap bait and tackle shop with old painted buoys and wooden fish hanging from above, Metropolitan smells and feels like a real New England seafood store. With prices that beat almost any high-end grocery store, the seafood is fresh and vibrant, often caught just days before. "You can tell by the eyes," says Zollo about looking for fresh fish. And at Metropolitan, there is surely no shortage of fresh fish. From porgies to large chunks of tuna to still-swimming eels to fresh oysters, the store specializes in just about everything. Zollo also sells wholesale to dozens of restaurants and pizzerias in the area.
Read the full story from the New York Village Voice