Harlem’s Famous Fish Market Needs Your Help

Famous Fish Market

The pandemic has been uniquely challenging for Harlem’s Black-Owned Businesses in particular. According to the NYC Health Department, Central Harlem is one of the hardest-hit neighborhoods by Covid-19. Famous Fish Market, one of the neighborhood’s historic Black-owned restaurants is, unfortunately, no exception.

Best known for its flaky fried fish made with a secret family recipe, Famous Fish Market has been drawing long lines of locals since 1974. But the fried seafood spot can’t continue to meet the demand of its loyal customers without installing a third stove, which is why they launched this GoFundMe page. “Like many Black-owned businesses, this one was twice denied a Paycheck Protection Program loan before it received a bank loan to sustain the business through the crisis,” according to the New York Times.

If Famous Fish Market continues accumulating more debt while operating at its current capacity, it could permanently close by the end of the year.

Donate to Their Gofundme

Supporting restaurant owners like Eric Stickland of Famous Fish Market, who have overcome economic discrimination, gentrification, and the myriad challenges that come with running a business during a pandemic is imperative. Not just for their sake, but for the sake of all New York City residents.

Donations are a direct way to support Famous Fish Market for the long haul. This GoFundMe page was created by the owner’s daughter Erica Strickland, along with Susie Shipley, to keep the restaurant’s fried seafood served on mountains of crispy french fries around as long as possible.

More Ways to Help Black-Owned Restaurants in Harlem and Across Nyc

Urge your NY Reps to support The Restaurants Act

Without substantial government aid, a small business like Famous Fish Market could still go under, leaving a community of primarily low-income, Black, and Latino diners with one less neighborhood restaurant to call their own. You can read more about The Restaurants Act and learn how it might help here.

Support Black-Owned Restaurants. Often.

Famous Fish Market is just one of the hundreds of historic, Black-owned restaurants in NYC. And if you want to show solidarity with the Black community right now, you should put your money straight into these Black-owned businesses. Here’s our list of Black-owned spots to help you get started.