Eastbayri.com

BARRINGTON — Tom Wallis remembers when his parents, Russell and Louise Wallis, first opened Wallis Seafood in a small store near the corner of Bay Spring Avenue and Washington Road.

“They started in pretty tiny quarters with $500 and a used pick-up truck,” he said.

That was 50 years ago. Mr. Wallis is now planning a 50th anniversary party for anyone stopping by the store — the new location is 136 Maple Ave. — next Wednesday, Feb. 22.

He plans to specifically invite customers who have been there from the beginning as well as former employees for the party, but everyone is welcome. The store will celebrate its anniversary with cake throughout the day and specials from now through that date.

When customers stop by the store any day, Mr. Wallis greets most of them by name. One of the customers who stopped by on Wednesday, Feb. 8, was Jay Anderson, who said he drives to Barrington from Swansea to buy his seafood. He is a long-time customer and remembers when the business was located in West Barrington.

“This is a fantastic seafood place. They’re so friendly and nice, they remember people’s names. Some other places they don’t even say ‘Hi.’ He does our clambake every year,” Mr. Anderson said.

The store sells many more items than it did 50 years ago, and it also offers catering services. These days there is a higher emphasis on prepared foods, but some things have not changed.

“We smoke bluefish with hickory, the way my dad did years ago,” Mr. Wallis said.

When the business first opened Russell Wallis was a lobsterman, and balanced hauling his catch with working late hours in the store. His wife managed the store and took care of their home and children. The sons helped out as well, from finding clams to helping out on the lobster boat and working in the shop.

“I was 11 when the store first opened. I had two older brothers and we all worked there growing up,” Mr. Wallis said.

Mr. Wallis and his brother Russell were partners in the business for many years, after purchasing the business in 1979. Tom Wallis eventually bought out his brother’s part of the business. Wallis Seafood moved to its present location on Maple Avenue in 1980.

Mr. Wallis said the future of the store is uncertain; the last few years have been more difficult, with a challenging economy, tighter fishing regulations, and increased costs of doing business due to higher fuel, health care insurance, and energy prices.

“I’d like to make 51. I see uncharted waters, I don’t know,” he said.

The owner said he still stays in touch with many of the young people who worked in his shop over the years. Mr. Wallis said he treasures the relationships with the customers he has met over the years and his employees.

“I enjoy the mentoring aspect of it. I’ve had seven Eagle scouts who have worked here. So many of those kids come back and work for me Christmas Eve (often the busiest day of the year.) A lot of them have kids now,” he said.