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Bud’s Fish Market

In 1948, a young, ambitious conservation officer for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection started selling clams, clam chowder, and live lobsters out of the back of his Ford truck on weekends. In time, he saved enough money to purchase his own space in what is today Bud’s Fish Market on Sybil Avenue in the Indian Neck section of Branford. In addition to selling seafood, Bud Beckley also rented fishing boats down the road at Bruce & Johnson’s Marina for $3 per day.

Although the business originally started out as a hobby for Bud, it has grown into a very successful venture and one of the most recognizable names on the shoreline for fresh seafood. The business originally began as Bud’s Bait Box, where fishermen could grab live bait and tackle, in close proximity to Long Island Sound. There were sandworms brought in from Maine on Greyhound buses, fiddler crabs arriving by train from Florida, and local green crabs, to name a few items. Stu Miller, who still lives in the neighborhood, would often accompany Bud on nightly excursions to drag shiners and package them for sale in the morning.

From the beginning, the business was a family affair with founder Bud and his wife Margaret, who formerly served as the president of the company, working in the office and doing the books. Sons Bill and Hal began working in the bait shop on weekends as teenagers. After Bud’s death in 1989, the sons took over the store. Although Hal went away to college where he majored in marine biology and business management, he returned to help run the store and today he is the sole owner, along with two additional employees, assistant manager Ben Cobb and sales associate Dan Griffin. (Eldest son Bill retired from the business in 2006.)

In the 1970s, the fish market was added to handle the increased demand for high quality fresh fish and seafood. Eventually in the early ‘90s, the bait and tackle side of things closed its doors for good.

Today, Bud’s offers more than 600 fresh and frozen seafood items from local to international sources, the largest selection on the Connecticut shoreline. Hal says, “If you don’t see it, just ask.”

When asked about his best sellers, Hal mentioned many—Nova Scotia lobsters, Atlantic and Irish salmon, Block Island swordfish, scrod, cod, halibut, and haddock. And when is the busiest time of year? According to Hal, all holidays and especially the summer months are most busy. Birthdays and special occasions are also big. “We get lots of calls from the West Coast from relocated New Englanders who request a box of our seafood delicacies like live lobsters, fresh cold water fish, scallops, clams, oysters, king crab legs, shrimp, etc. Our fresh made appetizers like seafood and chipotle crab spreads are a big hit, too.”

Bud’s imports its exotic fish like red snapper and grouper from the Caribbean, Arctic char from Iceland, and wild king salmon from Alaska. Bud’s carries Chilean sea bass, Hawaiian mahi-mahi, and North Atlantic sushi grade tuna. “We also brand our own sauces like tartar sauce, cocktail sauce, which is very popular, and Hawaiian sauce, which is like a teriyaki sauce,” says Hal. How about plans for the future as Bud’s looks ahead to the 70th anniversary of the business? “We’re gonna keep on shipping our seafood all over the country and try our best to make all our loyal and new customers super-happy by offering them the best seafood available.” Good luck, Hal!

Mike Russo is a lifelong Branford resident and proud parent of two children.