'The Fish Market' Closes After 47 Years In Palo Alto

PALO ALTO, CA — The Fish Market is closing up shop after 47 years in the Bay Area, shuttering its original Palo Alto restaurant, San Mateo location and South San Francisco fishery operation. The Peninsula mainstay filed notice with the state in July, anticipating the September closures would impact close to 150 jobs.

According to The Mercury News, Wednesday was the last day of business for the Palo Alto location, which opened in 1979, with the San Mateo scheduled to close on Sept. 20. The restaurant gave customers a two-month heads up to say their goodbyes and in recent weeks have shared diners' memories across generations on social media.

"There are so many memories from each location that I've visited where everybody who served me was so kind to me every single time I would be there," one customer wrote. "I had first dates there. I met friends there. I would go by myself."

The Fish Market's long goodbye was marked by souvenir menus and specials on clam chowder, crab cakes, and oysters. According to The Mercury News, after the San Mateo restaurant closes next week, the restaurant's two remaining locations will remain open in SoCal — in Del Mar and San Diego.