For decades the Fish Market was part of Ports O'Call, a tourist attraction that was razed in recent years to make way for a new regional attraction called West Harbor that is now under construction. The restaurant built a loyal following of customers who spent about $30 million a year before the pandemic on its heaping trays of shrimp, lobster and other seafood shared at spare metal tables on the weathered pier.
It will operate there for about three years, serving 1,600 people at a time, while the market's permanent home is built. Eventually it will be one of the largest restaurants in the United States, Ungaro said, spanning 55,000 square feet and capable of serving 3,000 diners at a time — about the same capacity as its original location. Nearly 90% of the dining space will be on an outdoor patio overlooking the waterfront.