PRINCETON: Celebrating 30 years in a fishy business

By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
   The Nassau Street Seafood and Produce Co. turned the big 3-0 in style on Saturday with a birthday bash filled with trivia, rock n’ roll and lots of lobsters.
   Friends, family and loyal customers gathered at the Blue Point Grill that afternoon to celebrate Nassau Street Seafood’s 30th anniversary.
   They also showed off their dance moves to live rock music from Pie Fight, a Princeton band that uses the pi symbol in the former part of its name.
   For Princetonians Ed and Tracy Shehab, the party was a great opportunity to show their devotion for Nassau Seafood — they have been going to the store for more than two decades.
   ”We’ve been friends of Nassau Street for 25 years and we wanted to come and support them in the community,” said Mrs. Shehab between bites of mashed potatoes. “We come as often as we can.”
   Her husband sat next to her munching on lobster and listed sardines, grilled calamari and “anything from the raw bar” as part of his “hit list” of favorites.
   ”The quality of Jack Morrison’s seafood is second to none,” added Mr. Shehab.
   Jack Morrison opened the Nassau Street Seafood and Produce Co. in 1982 after he and his wife, Debbie, moved to Princeton. After 30 years the market has become a popular place for locals to get their fish — but it didn’t start that way.
   ”The first day I can remember selling $113 worth of fish and my mother bought $108 of it,” said Mr. Morrison with a laugh.
   Now Mr. Morrison, who also owns Blue Point Grill and Witherspoon Grill, caters events that feed more 4,000 people, sells thousands of oysters daily and sees celebrities such as Oprah, Bill Clinton and Brooke Shields walk through his door.
   But Mr. Morrison isn’t phased by the famous and emphasized that everyone who walks through his door is a celebrity — a mantra that has helped make his business a success.
   ”The nice thing about our store is that when you walk in, you are special because you’re a customer — not because of what you do during the week,” he said. “We know people more for what they like to eat than what they do for a living.”
   The customers are not the only ones loyal to Nassau Street Seafood. Many of Mr. Morrison’s employees have been there more than 15 years.
   Jeremy Stein has been with the seafood store for 25 years. He started in 1983 while he was still in high school and worked until he left for New York in the 1990s. Ten years and a round of golf with Mr. Morrison later, he decided to put his apron back on.
   ”It was like putting on an old pair of slippers — it just felt right. They treated me like I never left,” said Mr. Stein.
   Mr. Stein continues to be what he described as a “middle man” and takes care of everything from slicing up fish to wholesale and produce.
   ”It’s a hard job, but very gratifying at the end,” he added.
   As more people joined the festivities, Mr. Morrison greeted familiar faces, welcomed new ones and joked with locals he has come to know over the years. To him, it was just another day.
   ”I just continue to have the passion to find the best fish and get that across the counter to the customer — it’s been my life for 30 years,” said Mr. Morrison. “I am still just as inspired about what I do today as I was 30 years ago and that’s pretty awesome.”