by GEORGETOWN, S.C. (WCBD) – After greater than 80 years in enterprise, Independent Seafood lately offered the land the place the market and docks at the moment sit, and now the enterprise is getting ready to shut its doorways for good.
“I used to be shocked,” lifelong Independent Seafood buyer Bryan Gray stated. “I are available right here two or 3 times per week. I don’t actually know what I’m going to do now.”
Georgetown neighbors disillusioned after studying town’s historic seafood market and docks will quickly be closed.
“It’s unhappy actually,” Gray stated. “I do know the people who work right here actual good, and it’s only a good spot to come back, you realize?”
Employees say enterprise has been tough for the shrimping trade the previous couple of years. They’ve struggled to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and inflated gasoline costs, however they by no means suspected it might come to this.
Customers like Gray who’ve shopped on the market for years are nonetheless in disbelief.
“I really like to come back get my salmon and stuff,” Gray stated. “You know, they received some actual good salmon. I’m simply sort of upset proper now, I don’t know what we’re going to do.”
He says the meals high quality and the staff are the 2 issues that stored reeling him again for greater than 40 years.
“It was simply all the time good,” Gray stated, “and like I stated, the individuals, they’re actual pleasant that work right here.”
Gray is optimistic that when the market and the docks are gone, the property might be put to good use.
“Hopefully,” he stated, “they’ll put one thing good right here. The city’s rising and doing good. I feel we received a great mayor and every thing.”
However, he says it’ll be exhausting to exchange a Georgetown staple like Independent Seafood.
“Everybody goes to overlook them,” Gray stated. “I’m simply shocked, man. I couldn’t imagine it.”
Georgetown Mayor Carol Jayroe says she is conscious of the Independent Seafood property sale, however she says she is going to wait till a later date to remark.
