Crockett's Fish Fry, at 162 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair, is a family-owned, Black-owned seafood counter with a cash-only policy. The restaurant has been frying catfish for close to 30 years and has more than 1,600 Google ratings, averaging 4.4 stars. Its story also reaches back to an earlier era of Montclair's Bloomfield Avenue business district.
The menu centers on fried seafood, with catfish available as a plate or sandwich. Fast Food Club also reports offerings that include fried whiting, flounder and bone-in porgy, along with rotating shrimp, oysters and clam strips. The outlet notes that sauces and seasonings are available on request.
The restaurant's roots go back even further than its current cash-only run. Crockett's Fish Fry was originally established in 1953 as a raw seafood market in Montclair before evolving into the cooked, fried seafood destination it is today, according to the restaurant's own account on its website, crockettsfishfry.com. Community archive records documented in 2025 indicate the business was originally operated by the McMillan family and rooted in Montclair's Fourth Ward business district, a stretch of Bloomfield Avenue that has historically served as a hub for Black-owned small businesses and cultural institutions, per a 2025 post in the Facebook group From Montclair.
What the records show about the Fourth Ward
The 2025 community-archive account cited above places the McMillan family's business in the Fourth Ward; as a contemporary listing, Montclair Local's guide to Black-owned businesses includes Crockett's in its Food & Drink section. These sources document the business's presence in the district at different points, but do not establish how the Fourth Ward or Bloomfield Avenue changed over time.
A Menu That Blends Southern Roots With Caribbean Flavor
In 1997, new ownership took over Crockett's Fish Fry and added Caribbean-inspired flavors to some traditional sides, according to the restaurant's website. The sides and desserts reported by Fast Food Club include macaroni salad, collard greens, yams, hush puppies and macaroni and cheese, as well as sweet potato pie and peach cobbler. The outlet reports that side dishes cost about $8.
Fast Food Club reports that a full dinner costs about $26 and sandwiches start around $12, with typical spending of roughly $20 to $30 per person. Customers order at the counter, and the restaurant has a small dining area; the outlet says in-person orders usually take about 10 to 12 minutes on a normal day. Crockett's also offers catering for family parties and has an ATM inside for customers who arrive without cash.
Why Cash Only Still Matters Under New Jersey Law
Crockett's cash-only approach isn't just a quirky holdover; it's also squarely within state law. Under New Jersey statute N.J.S.A. 56:8-2.33, enacted in March 2019, brick-and-mortar retail businesses and restaurants in the state are required to accept cash tender, with first-offense fines reaching up to $2,500 for non-compliance, according to Justia Law. New Jersey was the second state in the nation, after Massachusetts, to enact a statewide cashless business ban.
Lawmakers enacted those protections specifically to prevent the economic marginalization of working-poor, unbanked, and elderly consumers, according to legislative context reported by WHYY in March 2019. FDIC data cited during legislative debates showed 6.5% of U.S. households lacked bank accounts, with higher rates among minority households. The state has continued to enforce the rule since, with the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General announcing regulatory actions in February 2023 against multiple businesses for failing to accept cash or improperly imposing credit card surcharges without required notice.
Decades of Loyalty, and a Growth Plan on the Horizon
Crockett's longevity has earned it a place among Montclair's most storied storefronts. The restaurant was featured by local community publication The Local Girl in August 2025 as one of the township's oldest surviving small businesses, with over 40 years of continuous operation. Dining site Vertex AI Search reported in April 2026 that Crockett's is among a small group of just seven surviving mid-20th-century restaurants in Montclair, operating alongside landmarks like the Montclair Diner, which dates to 1923, and Tierney's Tavern, which opened in 1934 — a notable distinction in a town with more than 200 restaurants but only a handful that have lasted over 50 years.
The restaurant has had its share of rough nights, too. Local news outlet Patch reported in February 2022 that Montclair police investigated an attempted overnight burglary at Crockett's after a suspect used a hammer to shatter a front window; police reported no items were stolen. More recently, the business has set its sights on growth: regional food publication Boozy Burbs reported in November 2025 that Crockett's Fish Fry announced plans to open a second location on Main Street in Hackensack, marking the brand's first venture into Bergen County.
For now, the Bloomfield Avenue original remains the heart of the operation, open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 am to 8 pm, Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm, Sunday from noon to 6 pm, and Monday from noon to 8 pm. Cash in hand, or a quick stop at the in-house ATM, is still the only way in.
