Simpson’s Oceanfront Seafood owner Scott Simpson is selling his shop after 25 years in business. Simpson’s Seafood, a common destination for those seeking fresh seafood, has made a name for itself over the years selling everything from lobster to salmon.
Simpson said he has two or three interested potential buyers for his business, all of whom want to continue operations as a seafood market. He is hoping the sale will be a turnkey operation, adding he will run the business until the day it’s ready to be handed over.
Simpson, of Georgetown, was only 23 when he opened his namesake shop on Rt. 1, Wiscasset in March 1987. A lobsterman and fisherman since his youth, Simpson said he wanted a change when he decided to open up his seafood store.
“When you’re 23 years old you think that there’s more to life,” Simpson said.
Simpson said he sold his fishing gear and boat to get startup money for business. His father served as his business partner since day one.
At that time, Rt. 1 was a little different than it was now: Today, Simpson’s is bordered on one side by a major supermarket, a ropes course business on the others and there two gas stations and a fast food chain restaurant across the street. When Simpson purchased the site for his seafood shop, the location was little more than trees and bushes.
Simpson, helped by his father, cleared the site by hand and built his two-story shop from the ground up. “I remember cutting the first tree down and thinking, ‘what am I doing?'” Simpson said.
At that time Simpson told himself that he would run his business for 25 years and then determine whether he would stick with it. “I told myself, ‘I’m going to give it the best I got for 25 years,'” he said.
By all estimations, Simpson has kept his promise, working seven days a week, 361 days a year since he started.
Simpson said his business has been so successful because he buys on quality rather than price and treats his customers well.
“I know quality, I’ve been around fish all my life,” Simpson said. “If I didn’t have something it was because it wasn’t the right quality.”
This commitment has earned Simpson’s Oceanfront Seafood a solid customer base. Simpson said his business became successful because his customers did the advertising.
“We’ve had customers for 25 years that’ll be sad to see us go,” he said.
Simpson says he will try to instill in his shop’s new owners the same values and principles.
Twenty-five years on, Simpson, now 48, says he’s ready to move back to his fishing roots. Despite the long hours and hard work, Simpson said he missed the fisherman’s life.
“I miss the freedom and independence of it,” Simpson said.
Simpson, however, will only make the switch when the time is right. There is no time frame for selling the business and the shop is staying open.
“I’ll be here til’ the end,” he said.