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Photo: Jordan Grice / Hearst Connecticut Media
After 45 years in business in Fairfield, Swanson's Fish Market will be shutting its doors for good on New Year's Eve.
After 45 years in business in Fairfield, Swanson's Fish Market will be shutting its doors for good on New Year's Eve.
Photo: Jordan Grice / Hearst Connecticut Media
Gary Swanson and his daughters Lynette, left, and Larissa pose in front of the display case at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield in 2010. The family-owned business will be closing for good on New Years Eve.
Gary Swanson and his daughters Lynette, left, and Larissa pose in front of the display case at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield in 2010. The family-owned business will be closing for good on New Years Eve.
Photo: Autumn Driscoll / File Photo
Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield sold fresh seafood along Black Rock Turnpike for the last 45 years.
Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield sold fresh seafood along Black Rock Turnpike for the last 45 years.
Photo: Autumn Driscoll / ST
Manager Jacob Mariani stands next to a display of fresh salmon for sale at Swanson's Fish Market, in Fairfield, Conn. Nov. 23, 2015.
Manager Jacob Mariani stands next to a display of fresh salmon for sale at Swanson's Fish Market, in Fairfield, Conn. Nov. 23, 2015.
Photo: Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media
Fresh salmon for sale at Swanson’s Fish Market in Fairfield.
Fresh salmon for sale at Swanson’s Fish Market in Fairfield.
Photo: Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media
Manager Jacob Mariani stands next to a display of fresh salmon for sale at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield on Monday. Below, a comparison between a genetically modified salmon and a non-modified salmon.
Manager Jacob Mariani stands next to a display of fresh salmon for sale at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield on Monday. Below, a comparison between a genetically modified salmon and a non-modified salmon.
Photo: Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media
Fresh shellfish is offered for sale at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield, Conn.
Fresh shellfish is offered for sale at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield, Conn.
Photo: Ned Gerard / Connecticut Post
George Twigg, manager at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield, Conn., shows a quarantined bag of Blue Point Oysters, Aug. 6th, 2013.
George Twigg, manager at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield, Conn., shows a quarantined bag of Blue Point Oysters, Aug. 6th, 2013.
Photo: Ned Gerard
A bag of quarantined Blue Point Oysters at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield, Conn., Aug. 6th, 2013.
A bag of quarantined Blue Point Oysters at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield, Conn., Aug. 6th, 2013.
Gary Swanson shows off big Maine lobsters at Swanson's Fish Market on Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield.
Gary Swanson shows off big Maine lobsters at Swanson's Fish Market on Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield.
Photo: Patti Woods
Todd Kardamis, left, of Kardamis Construction Co., and Gary Swanson, owner of Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield, stand outside the market on Friday June 11, 2010, its first day back in business after a fire the previous July.
lessTodd Kardamis, left, of Kardamis Construction Co., and Gary Swanson, owner of Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield, stand outside the market on Friday June 11, 2010, its first day back in business after a fire
... more
Lulu Perez takes out calamari for a customer Friday June 11, 2010 at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield.
Lulu Perez takes out calamari for a customer Friday June 11, 2010 at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield.
Photo: Autumn Driscoll
Long-time customer Paula Finnegan, of Fairfield, buys a piece of cod Friday June 11, 2010 at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield.
Long-time customer Paula Finnegan, of Fairfield, buys a piece of cod Friday June 11, 2010 at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield.
Photo: Autumn Driscoll
George Twigg weighs a piece of salmon for a customer Friday June 11, 2010 at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield.
George Twigg weighs a piece of salmon for a customer Friday June 11, 2010 at Swanson's Fish Market in Fairfield.
Photo: Autumn Driscoll
Click through the slideshow to see local business closings so far this year, as well as closings planned for the coming months.
Click through the slideshow to see local business closings so far this year, as well as closings planned for the coming months.
Photo: 2017 Getty Images
Early 2017Radio Shack closed all of its locations in southwestern Connecticut, including Danbury, Fairfield, New Canaan, Stamford, Westport and Wilton.
Early 2017
Radio Shack closed all of its locations in southwestern Connecticut, including Danbury, Fairfield, New Canaan, Stamford, Westport and Wilton.
Photo: Drew Angerer / Getty Images
January 2017 Flourishes gift shop in Trumbull
January 2017
Flourishes gift shop in Trumbull
Photo: Brian A. Pounds / Hearst Connecticut Media
January 2017 European's Furniture and Gifts in Danbury
January 2017
European's Furniture and Gifts in Danbury
Photo: Chris Bosak / Hearst Connecticut Media
March 2017 Deep's Hardware in Danbury
March 2017
Deep's Hardware in Danbury
Photo: Chris Bosak / Hearst Connecticut Media
March 2017 Staples on Richards Ave. in Norwalk
March 2017
Staples on Richards Ave. in Norwalk
Photo: Mark Lennihan, STF
April 2017Payless ShoeSource on Connecticut Ave. in Norwalk and Newtown Rd. in Newtown
Read more
April 2017
Payless ShoeSource on Connecticut Ave. in Norwalk and Newtown Rd. in Newtown
Read more
Photo: ROBERT MCLEROY / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS
May 2017 Outdoor Traders in Greenwich
May 2017
Outdoor Traders in Greenwich
Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media
May 2017 Ralph Lauren in Greenwich
May 2017
Ralph Lauren in Greenwich
Photo: Bob Luckey / Bob Luckey
May 2017Rinfret, Ltd. in Greenwich
May 2017
Rinfret, Ltd. in Greenwich
Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media
June 2017Chatham Manor, a popular banquet hall in Norwalk
June 2017
Chatham Manor, a popular banquet hall in Norwalk
Photo: Alexander Soule / Hearst Connecticut Media
June 2017
Bob's Stores in Danbury
June 2017
Bob's Stores in Danbury
June 2017 CultureTea in Wilton
June 2017
CultureTea in Wilton
Photo: Stephanie Kim / Hearst Connecticut Media
Photo: Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media
July 2017 Free People in Greenwich
July 2017
Free People in Greenwich
Photo: Tyler Sizemore, Hearst Connecticut Media
September 2017 Michael Kors in Greenwich
September 2017
Michael Kors in Greenwich
Photo: Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media
September 2017 Vitamin World in Milford,
planned closings in Danbury, TrumbullThe vitamin retailer plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors.
Read more
September 2017
Vitamin World in Milford,
planned closings in Danbury, Trumbull
The vitamin retailer plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection from creditors.
Read more
October 2017 Sky Hookah Lounge in Fairfield
October 2017
Sky Hookah Lounge in Fairfield
Photo: Genevieve Reilly / Hearst Connecticut Media
Planned: Gymboree to close nine Connecticut storesAs part of a national contraction, the company will close its Milford location and its Janie and Jack store in Greenwich.
Read more
Planned: Gymboree to close nine Connecticut stores
As part of a national contraction, the company will close its Milford location and its Janie and Jack store in Greenwich.
Read more
Photo: Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press
Planned: Lyn Evans Potpourri Designs in New Canaan and Ridgefield The clothier plans to close all of its store locations.
Read more.
Planned: Lyn Evans Potpourri Designs in New Canaan and Ridgefield
The clothier plans to close all of its store locations.
Read more.
Photo: Contributed / Hearst Connecticut Media
November 2017
Calypso St. Barth women's and home store in Greenwich.
November 2017
Calypso St. Barth women's and home store in Greenwich.
December 2017
Swanson's Fish Market, Fairfield
December 2017
Swanson's Fish Market, Fairfield
Photo: Jordan Grice, Hearst Connecticut Media
Swanson’s Fish Market to close after four decades in Fairfield
FAIRFIELD — After more than 40 years of selling fresh seafood in Fairfield, family-owned Swanson’s Fish Market will be closing its doors for good.
Owner Gary Swanson and his family are preparing to shut down the Fairfield-based fish market at 2439 Black Rock Turnpike on New Year’s Eve after a nearly 45-year run.
“It’s really became a landmark here in Fairfield,” said Swanson’s daughter, Larrissa, who has been assisting with the daily operations of the store.
Swanson’s father, Gerard “Gerry” Swanson, started the business in Fairfield in 1973 after he came to the U.S. from Sweden.
The original location was near the former Angus Steakhouse before the family moved down the street.
Through his 23-year leadership, Gerry Swanson opened four other stores in Bridgeport, Monroe, Orange and Hamden. After running the markets for over two decades, he retired and sold the markets and properties.
Gary Swanson, who grew up working in the shop with his father, took over the Fairfield location and ran it with the help of his wife Susan and his daughter.
The market closed once before in 2009, following an attic fire that virtually destroyed the building. It was repaired and reopened in 2010.
Gary Swanson ran the market for another seven years before deciding to retire from the business and pursue other ventures, according to a Facebook post by Larissa Swanson officially announcing the planned closure leading up to the Christmas weekend, days before Gerry Swanson died at age 79.
“It’s always sad to see a Fairfield business close, but even more so when the business has been an established, long-standing landmark in Fairfield like Swanson’s, and compounding that with the passing of its founder, Gerry,” said Beverly Balaz, president of the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce. “They pretty much knew people by name and over that period of time, families had children and they knew the children’s names and so on.”
According to Balaz, the market has become a staple in Fairfield as the Swansons and their staff have worked to provide quality customer service while also connecting with the people who come to their shops.
“Everyone I’ve talked to has some kind of fond childhood memory of being there,” Larissa Swanson said. “People say they have great memories of being at Swanson’s and coming in for the holidays. I think everyone kind of has a memory from that place and it’s something you’ve always seen driving up the Black Rock Turnpike.”
For Swanson, her memories were of growing up in the fish market with her sister Lynette, playing with the lobsters after the shop closed, and more.
“We would just play in there,” she said. “That was our little playground.”
She said customers lamented the loss of the historic market that has served generations of customers with its array of fresh seafood and prepared meals and soups.
“I’ve lived in Fairfield for 27, 28 years and over the years come here probably a half-dozen times a year, and they always have what I want, and it’s a lovely experience,” said Gail Wolff. “The people really know what they are doing. They have fresh fish, and the other stores that I see on route to Westport are like twice the price.”
A deli is slated to take the market’s place.
