Monday, January 20, 2025

San Pedro Fish Market to return to Pedro waterfront, open new location in Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf

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After shuttering the windows on its 65-year-old flagship location in 2023 at the now-being-overhauled waterfront in San Pedro and operating temporarily out of Brouwerij West as “The Landing,” the famed San Pedro Fish Market has big news. It will return to its roots as a San Pedro harbor-facing restaurant and open another location in Monterey’s famed Fisherman’s Wharf.

“It’s been such a long road to get here, man,” said CEO and owner Mike Ungaro. “But it’s been entirely worth the trip. Now: a lot—and I mean a lot—of work is to be done. We’re expecting about a two- to three-year build-out.”

san pedro fish market
San Pedro Fish Market’s original location in San Pedro that closed on March 3, 2023. Courtesy of Local Food Eater.

The return of San Pedro Fish Market to its waterfront home is a win for the Pedro community.

The OG San Pedro Fish Market was the stuff of legend before its closure on March 3, 2023. Opening in 1965 is the stuff of legend; it was the state’s largest seafood restaurant, with heaps piles of shrimp, mussels, clams, octopus, lobster, calamari, halibut, crab, and scallops for your gluttonous delight.  It’s even spawned wannabe versions of its platter in Irvine (though there is no comparison to the OG version). In 1982, it was formally rebranded as the San Pedro Fish Market.

The original Fish Market was one of the most profitable restaurants in the nation—when it was operating out of Ports O’ Call pre-pandemic, it earned some $30 million per year.

The soon-to-be-minted West Harbor location will span some 55,000-plus square feet, making it one of the most prominent restaurants in the country. What does that mean capacity-wise? Some 3,000 people can dine there, honoring the breadth of its original legacy operation. Even cooler? Nearly 90% of the space will be dedicated to the outdoor patio, harnessing the beauty of the SoCal al fresca dining scene in a way that activates the new development in a way few sapces can.

How will we know this is going through? Ungaro signed a 49-year lease with West Harbor.

san pedro fish market
Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey. Courtesy of the City of Monterey.

And what about the Monterey location?

The Fish Market is also expanding its footprint into NorCal. Oh yes: a brand-new, 17,000-square-foot Fish market will be built at Monterey’s Fisherman’s Wharf. Set to open in 2026, this will give the northern part of the state a taste of a SoCal classic.

“Monterey is the ideal location for the Fish Market,” Monterey Mayor Tyller Williamson said in a statemetn. “Both locals and the millions of visitors to Old Fisherman’s Wharf will be thrilled to experience its unique concept on this historic and vibrant waterfront. We are confident that San Pedro Fish Market will be a fantastic addition to the area, enhancing the diverse offerings of our beloved Wharf.”

Still wanna visit the San Pedro Fish Market? No problem.

San Pedro Fish Market continues to welcome guests at three convenient locations:

  • The Landing at 760 S Harbor Blvd. in San Pedro
  • Long Beach location at 6550 E Marina Dr. in Long Beach
  • Wilmington location at 120 W. G St. in Wilmington

San Pedro Fish Market’s new location in West Harbor is expected to take two to three years to construct.

Brian Addison
Brian Addisonhttp://www.longbeachize.com
Brian Addison has been a writer, editor, and photographer for more than 15 years, covering everything from food and culture to transportation and housing. In 2015, he was named Journalist of the Year by the Los Angeles Press Club and has since garnered 30 nominations and three additional wins. In 2019, he was awarded the Food/Culture Critic of the Year across any platform at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. He has since been nominated in that category every year, joining fellow food writers from the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Eater, the Orange County Register, and more.

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