Market Fisheries, 7129 S. State?: Quality? Price? etc.

There is an article on the last (inside) page of this Sunday's (July 5, 2009) Chicago Tribune "Sunday" section about Market Fisheries (7129 S. State, Chicago.). They say it stays busy and has good prices and a wide, quality selection but the article is not written by a food writer and from the short time I spent working a fish counter I tend to mistrust many glowing testimonials about fresh fish. Also, so many of Chicago's fish shops sell from the same wholesalers though, it's true, how the shop handles the fish is very important. What do people know about their quality, prices, etc.?

From the article..

If you are lucky, you might run into George Badonsky, among the most innovative restaurateurs in Chicago history (Tango, Le Bastille, George's). He now lives in Michigan, but whenever he's in this neck of the woods he's grabbing a number and standing in line at Market Fisheries.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/ ... 0751.story

little BUMP for this thread here.

Also interested if anyone has gone here or have heard anything. Might just have to investigate myself this weekend.

Definitely go. It's an experience if nothing else. Market Fish has been around since the 1950s so they must be doing something right.







It sure isn't Dirk's, but the prices aren’t either. Not everything is the highest quality, so keep your eyes open and ask questions. When they call themselves Gumbo Headquarters, it's not just an idle statement.

If you like the South Side fish experience and want to see what the West Side has to offer, try Duwell. You should have seen the place before they fancied it up with the brick (it looks a little different currently).







The stock is very limited, but pretty fresh. You select a whole fish (many are huge) and they kill it if necessary and whack it into pieces for you. Someday I need to get back for a gar (the bones are green).

It's a shame Scottie's Fish Market is gone.

Market Fisheries
7129 S State St
Chicago
773-483-3233

Duwell Fish
617 S Pulaski Rd
Chicago
773-826-9666

Happy for this bump- Market Fisheries is a gem. Can’t imagine it’s changed much from the 50s. The scaling, chopping, hosing, bagging, shouting of numbers, all make it an aurally-overloading experience. Prices are about as cheap as they come, and chicken quarters are usually 39 cents a pound (with purchase of any fish) to help Market Fisheries compete in some chicken and fish price wars with some of the south side meat markets. The guys behind the counter are accommodating, scaling and filleting stuff to spec, and the women at checkout will make sure you get plenty of ice if you tell them you’re traveling a large distance. It’s shoulder-to-shoulder stuff whenever I go on Saturdays, and big orders, too. I’d imagine most of the fish gets out the door pretty quick, ensuring fresh stuff coming in.

Interesting tidbit about Market Fisheries and the surrounding area: in the 1950s, Chicago’s major wholesale produce districts were located at S. Water St., Randolph St., and State Street around 71st and State. State St. was not nearly as big as the other two areas, and the construction of the Dan Ryan certainly gave the street a very abbreviated life as a major wholesale food district. While a number of places left after the Dan Ryan’s construction, there are still some bustling businesses, and the remnants and legacy are still there of the district are still there. The street has a wholesale/retail character in its shopping and parking, there are a number of produce and cash and carry markets on that stretch, and Market Fisheries is still going strong.

Here’s a 6 min documentary to get a better feel for Market Fisheries and its history: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZNhm723Kxc

I remember the Randolph St market area from the 1970's
There was a meat market (Mars?) that had great beef tenderloin whole and boxes of King Crab legs at great prices.
There was a fish place with floor bins for the fish with ice in the bins and heaps of whatever they were offering that day.
I worked in the Loop and would take a soft sided cooler on a Friday Noon, fill it up and check it at the C&NW station, pick it up on the ride home and we would have fish all weekend.-Richard

Well im certainly glad i gave this a Bump!!

Im definitely going now. That video was really nice and im glad that they will clean the fish for you and everything right there. Is there extra charges for all that?

Going to make a trip as soon as I can. Looks like a great place to stock up for a nice BBQ.

AlexAC wrote:im glad that they will clean the fish for you and everything right there. Is there extra charges for all that?

I don't believe there are extra charges. If I recall correctly, they weigh the fish before cleaning it, so you pay the same price whether they clean it and fillet it or not. Of course if you get it filleted, they'll ask if you want the head, too. If you like fish stock, you've got yourself a nice start.

Rene G wrote:keep your eyes open and ask questions

Definitely. The owner mentioned in a comment online that a lot of the new product comes in on Friday, Saturday, and Monday. See what looks fresh, hear what other folks are ordering to get a feel for what turns over quickly, and ask the folks on the other side of the cage what's good. An educated fish buyer is a happy fish buyer.