What’s the best place to get fresh seafood now that Bob’s Seafood is closing? —Emilee C., Clayton
Bob’s Seafood, we hardly knew ye.
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Considering that many of the metro’s best restaurants are longtime customers and many local seafood lovers stop by several times a week, it’s amazing that so little has ever been written about Bob’s Seafood, a 46-year-old business that legitimately qualifies as a St. Louis institution.
At the same time that the nearby $20 million-plus Markets at Olive development is taking shape, according to reports, the seafood store’s closure appears imminent. An exact closing date has yet to be announced but will likely be “sooner than later,” according to Barbara Mepham, who owns the building with her husband, Bob.
In the late 1970s, Bob Mepham recognized a need for fresh seafood in St. Louis. He would make a weekly trip to the Gulf, returning with a trawler full of fresh options, selling it to retail and wholesale customers at Bob’s Seafood “Market in the Loop.” Devotees recall the Saturday morning ritual of taking a number and selecting from half a dozen varieties of iced, fresh fish loaded into massive white coolers. In 1998, after 20 years of weekly treks to the Gulf, Mepham had the seafood shipped in from around the world. In 2005, he and his wife bought the building at 8660 Olive, which they say perfectly suited their needs and allowed the business to grow.
Recently, Mepham acknowledged an increasing demand for fresh seafood and still hopes that an interested buyer will materialize to continue service for its many loyal retail, wholesale, and restaurant customers.
During his years owning Harvest, for instance, restaurateur Steve Gontram recalls that he appreciated “Bob’s attention toward quality and focus on great service. A good portion of our menu utilized fresh, seasonal seafood, and Bob’s was always quick to deliver the high standard that we demanded.” There are supporters beyond St. Louis as well. “We have out-of-town customers who load up coolers with fish,” says Mepham.
In St. Louis, no current retailer can boast Bob’s variety of fresh fish, but Starrs (1135 S. Big Bend) continues to ramp up its weekly offerings, receiving shipments several times a week, some arriving direct from coastal suppliers. Today, Starr’s will receive more than a dozen fresh varieties, including Hawaiian swordfish, Alaskan Halibut, Faroe Island salmon, West Coast Dover Sole, walleye, trout, Atlantic cod, sushi grade tuna, and first of the season Wild King Salmon. (Starrs’ newsletter shares weekly offerings.)
Local wholesaler Fabulous Fish began making same-day home deliveries to the public during Covid (for a nominal $8 charge) and has continued the program.
Local grocery stores are another convenient go-to for many local seafood lovers, although selection and supply vary greatly by location, due to demand. Savvy buyers inquire about specific delivery days and what varieties come in that day and then plan their purchases accordingly. (Stores tend to receive fresh fish deliveries on Thursday and Friday, for example, to accommodate the weekend rush.) A respectable number of fresh offerings can be found at Whole Foods, Straub’s, Schnucks, Dierbergs, and Fresh Thyme, where the prices are especially reasonable.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated from the original version.
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