Carmen's Seafood Restaurant

Our Story

In 1943, Aniello and Conchetta Conti purchased a parcel of commercial property on 43rd Place in Sea Isle City, New Jersey, for $250. Aniello and Conchetta had come to the United States from the Italian island of Ponzi at the end of World War I to make a better life for themselves. They had seven children in America - five daughters; Nancy, Lucy, Sylvia, Yolanda, and Ginny, and two sons; Carmen and Mario. Aniello had first come to the United States on a sailing schooner in 1899 as a ten-year-old cabin boy who had dreamed of living in America one day. In 1944, the Conti's spent an additional $350 to build the original shack on the property, their own small fish house. It was the sixth building constructed on the street. Aniello worked many long hours, fishing to provide for his family. When Carmen, the older of their two sons, turned 14, he quit school to fish full time with his father. Aniello had told Carmen that he could fish for a living only when he knew how to fix the engine on the boat. So Carmen learned how, as quickly as he could, working for Joe Davies at his mechanic shop on 42nd Street. Carmen fished with his dad, father and son working hard together until, sadly, Aniello died in 1948 when Carmen was 19 years old. It was then that Carmen took over his father's fishing business and also started using the shack as a mechanic shop. He fixed boat and car engines and anything else that people needed fixed. So many people were bringing broken things to him, that a friend nailed up a sign that read "Carmen's" so all the people would know where to go - and today, he still fixes everything, for everyone! He worked as a mechanic for many years and he enjoyed the work. However, he was frustrated by the many people who wouldn't pay their bills. One day, an exasperated Carmen picked up a wooden crab basket full of unpaid bills, and tossed them in the bay! He returned to full-time commercial fishing soon after that. Carmen was busy fishing again, catching sea bass,

cod, shad, and lobsters. People would come and stand on the old back dock waiting to pick up some freshly caught seafood, and while waiting, would comment to Carmen about the beautiful view. There was a large upright rope spool on the dock, and a couple of customers were fortunate enough to eat Carmen's fresh catch right on that spool on the dock. It was then that the idea was born to open a seafood market, and Carmen, with his wife Ruthy, opened up shop in 1970, first serving only lobsters to take home, until their business, as well as their family, grew. With daughter Carrie, and son Carmen Jr., Carmen's Restaurant opened in 1981. As the first few years went by, Carmen and Ruthy worked very hard, buying property on both sides of the original parcel, and gradually the restaurant grew.