ENFIELD, CT – For those looking for fresh seafood in Enfield, try award-winning Cold Harbor Seafood & Market on 465 Taylor Rd. With a large variety of fresh fish – from salmon, cod, sword, tuna and scallops to shellfish, clams, shrimps, oysters and mussels, the business aims to fill locals’ seafood needs.

Owners Joe and LuAnn Lanzieri said of their their market, “It’s a Maine style fish market. It’s quaint with fresh high-quality fish and great service.  We take pride in our customer service and make sure we’re getting the best off the docks. We are a small family-owned business that always wants to offer the best to our community.”

LuAnn told Reminder Publishing their vision for the market ten years ago is completely different than what it is now. She explained that Joe thought he would just open a little kitchen and have a “tiny little fish case” where his friend would bring some fresh fish. From the day they opened, the demand was for the fresh fish, so Joe and LuAnn started going directly to the docks in Boston to get their fish, and it shows – the business has won best seafood in the North Central News Readers Poll six years in a row. Their menu changes daily, as they are a market – not a restaurant.

When COVID-19 hit their area, LuAnn explained that customer safety was paramount. They set up an outdoor stand during the pandemic and were able to hire people to do, what they call, “runners” where the individual would go out, take the customers order, come in, fill the order and bring it all out to the customer.

“We feel truly fortunate that we are able to get through COVID,” LuAnn said. “We have the type of business that was in demand and food was definitely in demand. People trusted us. They knew – especially our regular customers knew – that we were going to offer them a healthy, clean environment and we were going to give them a great quality of food.”

During COVID-19, Cold Harbor was busier than they had ever been, according to LuAnn. Customers were buying for families, neighbors and people that were afraid to come out. Now, LuAnn said business is getting back to normal where customers come in for their pound of salmon instead of seven pounds. She explained she believes COVID–19 in general raised the amount of people aware of them, and now customers are continuing to come in.

“So many people started coming to our market during COVID because it was a recommendation that it was a good clean place to get some great products,” LuAnn stated.

This coming year, Joe and LuAnn plan on continuing to grow their menu and offering different options. They’re hoping at some point to expand their parking because they know that’s a “major issue.” They also own another property in Enfield on Hazard Avenue that they’ve been holding for a while that they plan to turn into a second location. LuAnn said it will be a seasonal, beach-style pullover and they’ll offer fried fish and chips.

“During COVID, the most rewarding part was someone saying to me, ‘I only go to you guys because I know you’re going to take care of me and I know that it’s going to be safe and I’m going to get a wonderful product,’” LuAnn responded. “Even now, when a customer is happy and trust us and they continue to come back and tell people about us, that’s probably the most rewarding – to hear people be really happy with the product you’re providing them because we work so hard to do that.”

She continued, “It’s not an easy business; providing what we do is a lot of hard work, a lot of testing and making sure what we’re getting is great. When someone is happy and continues to promote us and tell people to come there, that’s the most rewarding for sure.”

In addition to their fresh seafood, the business offers prepared grab and go, heat-and-eat meals and small grill menus such as lobster rolls, fish tacos, even corned beef Reubens along with other items.

The Cold Harbor Seafood and Market is open Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information, visit their website at coldharborseafood.com or call at 860-763-0522.