The Fish Market, a popular chain of seafood restaurants in California, has announced the closing of its final two locations in the Bay Area — Palo Alto and San Mateo — by September 2023, marking the end of a near-50-year era in the region via the Mercury News. Having successfully navigated through the rough waters of changing market conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic, the closures have come as a blow to seafood lovers who now mourn the end of an iconic dining institution.

In a heartfelt letter posted on The Fish Market's website, president Dwight Colton cited the reason behind the decision being imminent redevelopment for both properties the company currently leases, noting the goal to preserve the memory of the founding members and the memories created by millions of guests over the years. The San Mateo and Palo Alto locations will close sometime in September, with an exact date yet to be confirmed.

While the closures of the two Fish Market locations leave a void in the Bay Area, the company plans to pay tribute to the legacy of the dining establishments in the upcoming months. In August, the two soon-to-be-closed locations will offer weekly specials featuring favorite menu items as a farewell gesture towards customers. Moreover, a commemorative menu is set to be made available during the final days in September, serving as a parting gift to loyal patrons.

Once the locations are closed, The Fish Market plans to auction off kitchen equipment and dining room memorabilia in a public online auction, details of which will be available in the upcoming weeks.

Upholding the restaurant's philosophy of treating employees and guests like family, Fish Market Restaurants' president expressed the company's commitment to supporting its staff through the transition process and expressing gratitude to its guests at each location before bidding farewell. As the Fish Market era in the Bay Area comes to a close, the memory of its legacy — which began almost 50 years ago with the opening of California's first Fish Market restaurant in Palo Alto — will undoubtedly live on in the hearts of many seafood connoisseurs in the region.