New fresh-fish market is a ‘catch’

Since opening two weeks ago, business has been good for the new Casino Clams, a fresh-fish market on East Main Street. With a large selection of fresh seafood on ice and a steady trickle of customers coming in, owner Jose Vasquez said he has high hopes for the future of his business.

“Business has been real good so far,” he said.

Vasquez has a selection of fresh seafood on offer, including bass, clams, crabs, flounder, fluke, mussels, oysters, porgies, tuna, scallop, swordfish and more, depending availability. Much of the fish he carries is caught on Long Island, like soft-shell crabs, clams and oysters—all of which Long Island is known for.

He also gets fish from the Northeast and beyond. For example, the red snapper he has on offer was caught in the Caribbean, before making its way to the market in East Patchogue. Vasquez said his rule for inventory is simple: if customers want it, get more of it; if they don’t, don’t.

“If stuff doesn’t move, I won’t get it, but if the customer wants to try something, I’ll bring it in,” he said.

Vasquez tapped his friend Sean Caekl, a lifelong fisherman, fish shop professional, and procurer of fish, to help run the business, work the cash register, and clean the fish. Caekl said the market is apt for the fish business because Casino Clams is known around town as a fish shop.

“This building has been a fish store for a long time. Just opening the doors and turning on the lights, there’s going to be customers,” said Caekl.

Out front, a sign reads “Grand Opening” and “Under New Administration,” signaling to customers that Casino Clams is open, but with a new owner. In addition to purchasing the fish business, Vasquez has access to the entire building, with the upstairs currently being used as the fish shop’s office.

Caekl estimates that 50 to 60 customers shop at the fish market every day and that many of them are from Patchogue.

“If your grandfather came here, your father came here, you’re going to come here,” he said of the clientele.

One customer, Caroline Wilkinson, lives in East Patchogue with her family and has shopped at the fish market before. Wilkinson said she shops there because they have what she wants.

“It’s all reasonably priced; it’s all fresh and they have a variety of fish,” she said.

Another customer said she was so smitten with her pescatarian dinner from the evening before that she came back for a second helping.

“I was here yesterday, and now I’m back today,” said Pamela Gregory, of Patchogue.

Gregory said she enjoys cooking for friends and family, and when fish is on the menu, it’s usually either shrimp or whiting, which she ordered, along with some branzino. That night, Gregory planned to fry the whiting.

“Sometimes I fry them. Sometimes I steam them. Sometimes I’ll take some egg and cornmeal and fry them that way. It depends on my mood. I love fish,” she said.