Marie’s Seafood
An American Dream
In 1909, Giuseppe and Mary “Marie” Misiano arrived, by Schooner, at Ellis Island after immigrating from the small island of Ponza, Italy. They initially settled in Brooklyn, New York with their three daughters, Anna, Carmella, and Fefe. The family relocated to the small island of Sea Isle City, New Jersey in 1916. Sea Isle City was where many Italians chose to migrate; as the Isles and waterways to the bay reminded them of their home in Ponza.
In 1949, the Misianos opened a small storefront known as “Misiano’s Fish Market”. Located at 4304 Park Road, the market sold and prepared fresh fish, hauled in daily from their pound boats. Anna, the oldest daughter of Giuseppe and Mary, married a man named Frank Romano. They had two sons; Joseph and Silverio.
Silverio “Butch” Romano worked alongside his maternal grandparents, Giuseppe and Mary since he was a young boy. In 1969 Butch and his wife, Diane Townsend Romano, (officially) became the second generation to run the family business. Butch renamed Misiano’s Fish Market to Marie’s Seafood in honor of his grandmother. Butch and Diane had three children; Steven, Lisa, and Michael.
As Butch’s family grew, so did his fish market business. In the mid-1970s a restaurant with dock dining overlooking the Rio Dell Ponze, (43rd Street Lagoon) was added and Marie’s Lobster House was born. For decades Butch worked tirelessly alongside his wife and children rarely missing a day of work. Marie’s was his home, and on any given day you could find Butch out on the dock, in the store, or on a bench out front ready to share a good story over a hot cup of coffee. In 1990, Steve started working with his dad full-time, learning everything there was to know about the family business. From the fish market to the restaurant, Butch and Steve worked side by side year-round for over thirty years.
Today, as the third generation owner/operator, Steve, along with his wife Shannon continues the American Dream that his great-grandparents started over 70 years ago. Marie’s Seafood continues to evolve as a gathering place to enjoy a fresh homemade meal with family, friends, and crew.
