Anthony’s Seafood was pioneered by Anthony T. Bucolo in 1956. Originally, Anthony’s was a wholesale lobster company located on Spring Wharf in Newport. Anthony was committed to many local fisherman to purchase their lobsters. He also trucked in thousands of pounds of lobsters from Maine.

Over the next decade, lobster catches saw a significant decline. By 1966, Anthony felt that it was time for a change. After purchasing Waites Wharf, he expanded his business to include a wholesale fish division. It wasn’t long before Anthony’s Seafood was transformed into a successful seafood production plant.

The opening of the fish division soon saw boats from Glouchester, New Bedford, and as far south as North Carolina discharging their catch at this new location. Anthony then decided to build two modern draggers that could fish, lobster, or both (they each had two holds, one for lobsters and one for icing down tons of fish). These along with several offshore lobster boats and twenty offshore fishing boats enabled the company to have a continuous flow of fresh product.


In 1972, Anthony once again saw a need for expansion. The majority of the local seafood plants served only wholesale accounts, which left a huge deficit in the retail seafood market. Seeing this opportunity for access to an untapped market, Anthony created a retail department. The retail department provided the freshest available fish to the local community. The slogan “From our boats to you” was born.

It wasn’t until 1980 that Anthony’s Seafood first took its modern roots. Anthony decided that it was time to try something new. He opened the S.S. Newport with his eldest son Stephen, which was a one-of-a-kind floating dockside restaurant.

In 1986 Anthony retired from the business, selling both Anthony’s Seafood and Waites Warf. The new owners turned the old multi-faceted business into a waterfront restaurant called The Shore Dinner Hall – ending a 30 year family history in the seafood business.

Without the abilities of it’s founder and his sons, it wasn’t long before the business took a dive for the worse. Anthony saved the sinking business in 1989 along with his two sons, Stephen and Michael, who he had previously worked with for many years. The community rallied around the family’s efforts to save Anthony’s Seafood and The Shore Dinner Hall, supporting them with many prosperous years of business.


In 1998, Stephen and Michael decided that they could better serve the needs of the island if they had a more accessible location. With the almost 30 minute summer drive it takes to get from Portsmouth to Newport and all the congestion of downtown Newport, it was decided that a move was needed. 963 Aquidneck Avenue would serve as this much needed mid-way point, and their Newport location was abandoned. With easier access and better facilities, the Island’s three communities quickly and enthusiastically accepted the new location.

Although Anthony’s Seafood has undergone many transformations through the years, our commitment to quality holds strong. The new retail store showcases over 28 feet of the finest seafood available, from local codfish to wild Alaskan salmon. The section has expanded to showcase prepared specialties such as stuffed shrimp, clams casinos, freshly made chowder, and much more!

Anthony’s new restaurant resembles the former Shore Dinner Hall, and continues to pride itself on high quality dishes - boasting an extensive baked, grilled, boiled and fried seafood menu.

And of course, we haven’t lost touch with our roots! Anthony’s still provides a wholesale outlet for the restaurants in the area ensuring that fresh seafood may be enjoyed by locals and tourists alike!

The Bucolos and their staff promise to do everything possible to justify the confidence shown by their customers over the years.

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