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About Us

A Rich History

Fish Tales has always been a family business, even since its inception. In November of 1996, Larry Tramontano opened Fish Tales with the vision of providing a high-quality seafood market to the food-centered neighborhood of Cobble Hill, Brooklyn.

The fish market grew in momentum, and in February of 1998, Larry’s cousin, John Addis, climbed aboard the Fish Tales enterprise as a partner. Together, they helped the business continue to grow until it became a neighborhood powerhouse.

In the summer of 2001, Larry Tramontano cast his net for a much-deserved retirement. John then made it his mission to continue Fish Tales’ legacy as the Premier Fish Market in Brooklyn.

John, owner of Fish Tales Gourmet Seafood Market holding up fresh catch

The foundation of that success starts with waking up every day at 2 am, going to the Fulton Fish Market, and hand-selecting only the freshest and most pristine fish and seafood available that morning. We bring it back to Court Street in our refrigerated truck to ensure proper handling and care for that morning’s fresh catch. Fish Tales runs a tight ship, so this ritual will NEVER BE BROKEN.

In 2009, John had the pleasure of being featured on Food Network’s “Throwdown with Bobby Flay.” Later, he appeared on an episode of “Alex’s Day Off’ with Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli. Soon after, Fish Tales’ popularity exploded!

As a child, John’s son Chris would sometimes accompany his father to the Fulton Fish Market at those crazy early hours of the day and would learn that a typical workday was 16-18 hours per day! In 2012, a childhood friend of Chris’ named Nick Mainello expressed interest and soon joined the growing family business.

John imparts to Chris and Nick that Fish Tales is not just a business but also an extension of the family’s home. We believe that our customers are our guests and should be treated with kindness and respect while always being made to feel welcomed and part of the family.

Old family photo of John Tramontano and kids at Fish tales Gourmet Seafood Market

In November of 2021, Fish Tales was humbled and appreciative to the community for helping us celebrate our 25th Anniversary. Our family is committed to offering only the freshest and most pristine fish and seafood available to our valued customers. Our promise applies to our delicious daily menu as well as our elegant catering options. And this ritual will NEVER BE BROKEN! Cheers to another 25 Years!