What happened to Harry & Annette's Fish Market in Corvallis?? (Portland: for sale, lease)

[CorvallisBound]

What happened to Harry & Annette's Fish Market in Corvallis (151 NW Monroe)?? It was open a few months ago but apparently now it's closed????? I called Aqua (same address) and their recording simply says they've closed. What in the world happened?? I heard Harry's was really fresh fish and it doesn't appear that Corvallis now has a fish market (other than going to a grocery store).


I was planning on retiring to Corvallis from Portland this year after painstakingly researching a LOT of different cities and states. We have a family friend already living in Corvallis for decades now and we fell in love with Corvallis when we visited.


Two of the things really important to me are a really good Asian market (like Uwajimaya in Beaverton which has live crab, lobster, clam, mussel and abalone, etc., tanks.) and a place to get live crab & lobsters. Corvallis' Asian Markets are only OK (in my opinion) but good enough that it wasn't going to deter me from moving there since I can still get pretty much all the Asian ingredients I need, and I could have always gone to Harry & Annette's for my fresh fish.


Now with Harry's closed, and I'm not finding any info on a fish market in Corvallis, and Aqua is also closed, it's making me wonder what's going on in Corvallis in regards to restaurants, fish markets, etc. Or.... is that building closing down and businesses either closing with them or moving to a new site?


I guess I have 2 questions...


What's going on in Corvallis? I read where the downtown has really gone through a nice transformation over recent years, with nice restaurants coming in and such, and drawing quite a few people to the area. Has that trend reversed and downtown businesses closing up and moving out?


Lastly, is there another place to buy fresh fish that has live crab tanks? Or do you know if Harry's is relocating their business? I found it odd that Aqua is recently closed too and they are at the same address.


Can anyone please shed some light on this? I haven't found a phone number for Harry's or Aqua that someone will answer. I've tried like 4 different numbers.


Thank you VERY MUCH for any insight you can contribute.

[Metlakatla]

Well, it's impossible to offer fresh fish out of season. They probably couldn't make it on such a short season. Also, Corvallis is close enough to the coast that many locals simply go get their own seafood.

I have a salmon cannery in Alaska. Every now and then, someone asks me why there aren't any local retailers specializing in fresh seafood. That's because there's no market for fresh seafood because all the locals fish and set crab pots. I imagine the same dynamic, except to a much lesser extent, is at play in Corvallis. There's just not enough local business to make it work.

Try going out to Winchester Bay for your fresh seafood fix (but again, their retailers are only open seasonally). Beyond that, quality seafood that is flash frozen is every bit as good as fresh catch, maybe even better. Flash freezing preserves the fish at the exact level of freshness at the time it's frozen. I've seen some so-called fresh fish off the boats that really isn't so fresh because it's been in the hold for days. To get the really good stuff, look for a product that's frozen right on the boat itself.

I know that Fitts Seafood in Salem used to have a live tank, but I'm not even sure if the place is still there or what they have anymore.

[texasdiver]

I spent 15 years of my life working in the fishing industry in Alaska. I'll take fish flash frozen at sea ANY DAY over so-called fresh fish that has been sitting on slushy ice in a fish hold for 3 days before reaching port any another day sitting around in transit before reaching the fresh fish market.

As for crab. If you are retired, just go get it yourself. Although the local groceries usually have good Dungeness when in season.

[haggardhouseelf]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

As for crab. If you are retired, just go get it yourself. Although the local groceries usually have good Dungeness when in season.

What's the latest regarding the Dungeness crab this year? I read back in Nov/Dec that the season had been delayed due to domoic acid, but I've not hear/read any recent updates. Where is a good source for updates on that? We were warned not to eat any if we caught it recently.

Agreed with flash-frozen over fresh, unless you just caught it yourself! Otherwise you have no idea...

[CorvallisBound]

Originally Posted by haggardhouseelf

What's the latest regarding the Dungeness crab this year? I read back in Nov/Dec that the season had been delayed due to domoic acid, but I've not hear/read any recent updates. Where is a good source for updates on that? We were warned not to eat any if we caught it recently.

Agreed with flash-frozen over fresh, unless you just caught it yourself! Otherwise you have no idea...

The season officially opened on 1/4/16 for Dungeness crab. I got mine a few days later!


Dungeness crab season finally arrives


texasdiver - I appreciate your advice on buying fresh flash frozen over "fresh" in stores. I had no idea.


And while I might decide to drive to the coast once or twice for live crab.... a 4+ hour round trip to Winchester Bay isn't something I'm going to want to do often when I just simply want a live crab for dinner. LOL I've never much cared for the boiled crab in the grocery stores. Something just tastes off to me and prefer to boil my own.


Still would love to know what happened to Harry & Annette's and Aqua and why they're closing and whether or not it's a trend in Corvallis for businesses to close up and move out. I might reconsider where I'm moving to if it's going to lose a lot of its charm. I'm doubting that's the case but it would help to know why those businesses are closing.


Thanks all.

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by CorvallisBound

The season officially opened on 1/4/16 for Dungeness crab. I got mine a few days later!


Dungeness crab season finally arrives


texasdiver - I appreciate your advice on buying fresh flash frozen over "fresh" in stores. I had no idea.


And while I might decide to drive to the coast once or twice for live crab.... a 4+ hour round trip to Winchester Bay isn't something I'm going to want to do often when I just simply want a live crab for dinner. LOL I've never much cared for the boiled crab in the grocery stores. Something just tastes off to me and prefer to boil my own.


Still would love to know what happened to Harry & Annette's and Aqua and why they're closing and whether or not it's a trend in Corvallis for businesses to close up and move out. I might reconsider where I'm moving to if it's going to lose a lot of its charm. I'm doubting that's the case but it would help to know why those businesses are closing.


Thanks all.

Why are you guys driving all the way from Corvallis to Winchester Bay? Can't you just pop over to Newport and find fresh crab?

[Metlakatla]

There's an article in the Gazette that says they lost their lease and all of their equipment at 151 NW Monroe at the end of 2010 due to financial difficulties. Idk, I don't think anyone here lives in Corvallis. You might look around the online version of their newspaper for more info.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

Why are you guys driving all the way from Corvallis to Winchester Bay? Can't you just pop over to Newport and find fresh crab?

That was my suggestion. I agree about Newport, but I'm just partial to Win. Bay. When I go, though, it's more of a weekend or three-day trip than a quick popover. My point was that Corvallis is so close to the ocean that seafood markets might not fare so well there. Apparently, the one in question had a lot of financial troubles.

[CorvallisBound]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

Why are you guys driving all the way from Corvallis to Winchester Bay? Can't you just pop over to Newport and find fresh crab?

I've never been to either place. I haven't moved to Corvallis yet. Looks like Newport is closer but still a 2+ hr trek for dinner. I'll do it once or twice but really wish Corvallis would come up with another seafood market with live tanks.

[CorvallisBound]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

That was my suggestion. I agree about Newport, but I'm just partial to Win. Bay. When I go, though, it's more of a weekend or three-day trip than a quick popover. My point was that Corvallis is so close to the ocean that seafood markets might not fare so well there. Apparently, the one in question had a lot of financial troubles.

Well, I can't wait to check out Newport once I move to Corvallis. Just waiting on the right home to hit the market. Not much offered for sale now in my price and footage. I'm patient.