PITTSTON -- Two hundred dollars worth of smelt and haddock, just another order for the crew at Quinn's Shur Save in Pittston. Customers have anxiously awaited the opening of their outdoor fish market this week.
“Shrimp, lobster, we get some of the fresh haddock and seafood. It kind of brings the tradition back to Pittston, with the Italians and the seven fishes and all that,” said Bill Krenitsky of Clarks Summit.
Down the valley in Wilkes-Barre Township, C and D Seafood no longer sets up an outdoor tent, but business is still busy inside in the day's leading up to Christmas Eve. Crab legs are as popular as ever. Carl Green's advice is don't skimp on the shrimp!
“We do have farm raised shrimp, but the wild shrimp we carry and sell the most of, they have the best flavor,” said Green, an employee of C and D Seafood.
Laurie Cywinski of Slocum Township said her mother and sister are helping out, and it's wouldn't feel like the holidays without seven different dishes.
“We're polish, so Christmas Eve dinner, we always have our seafood dinner. We usually celebrate it the day before Christmas Eve, to get everybody's families in," said Cywinski.
If you place an order for flounder or scallops don't forget the all-important side dish.
“Homemade coleslaw, we sell a lot of that. We'll sell about 2,000 pounds in the next week,” said Green.
The fishmongers will get a break over Christmas, but they'll do it all again for special meals leading up to the new year.