Leslie Barnes was not born in the Fulton Fish Market, but almost. As a sprat of 5, he accompanied his father on predawn forays to buy seafood for their restaurant, London Lennie’s on Woodhaven Boulevard in Rego Park, Queens, founded in 1959. Leonard, the father, a cockney sailor who parlayed four fish and chips stands in London into his stake in the colonies, is gone, so Leslie Barnes, 54, the father of four daughters, is the big fish now.
Origins: My father had run away to sea. When he came to New York in ’58, a cab driver told him about the new Rego Park apartments. We settled there. There was a fish store five blocks away. He could control his destiny.
Earliest memory: I’m 5 or 6 or 7. My father would get me up at 3. We’d have a cup of tea, and off to the market. My father would buy four tins of filet, 100 pounds of filet. He’d sit me on top and say, “Don’t move.” He was afraid they’d switch the tins with lesser quality.