ST. PETERSBURG, Fla – The story of Ted Peters Well-known Smoked Fish is a traditional story of a household enterprise constructed from the bottom up—or on this case, from a discarded smoker.
Within the Nineteen Forties, Ted Peters and his household moved to Florida. He first opened a small restaurant referred to as the Blue Anchor Inn, however in 1951, he discovered an previous smoker in a neighborhood dump and determined to open a brand new spot on Pasadena Ave.
Ted had a intelligent concept: He put the smoker out entrance, and when he noticed automobiles driving by, he would run out and open it up, permitting the scrumptious scent of smoked fish to lure in prospects. This daring transfer was successful, and the enterprise has been a fixture on the nook ever since.
For many years, the restaurant has been a household affair. Ted’s nephew, Michael Lathrop, was “tricked” right into a job that was solely speculated to final a few weeks however became a 54-year profession.
In the present day, the enterprise is within the arms of the fifth era, together with Basic Supervisor Richard Carroll, who married Ted Peters’ great-granddaughter. Richard says he’s at all times been joyful working on the restaurant and has no plans to alter the straightforward method for achievement.
“We do not change,” he says. “All the pieces else on the earth modifications round us.”
READ: From legacy to innovation: The McKenna household’s struggle for Florida citrus
Native perspective:
For a lot of residents and guests, Ted Peters Well-known Smoked Fish is greater than only a restaurant; it’s a time capsule. Michael Lathrop says he typically hears from prospects who inform him the restaurant is “the very last thing that anchors our childhood reminiscence” to the realm.
READ: Clearwater’s Hassell Florist blooms from era to era: ‘We do every little thing the identical’
The constant menu, unchanging ambiance, and even the “ugly cafeteria plates” evoke a strong sense of nostalgia for individuals who have been coming for years, and even a long time.
With the fifth era on the helm, and a possible sixth era on the horizon, the household plans to maintain the custom alive.
Richard Carroll is dedicated to seeing the restaurant’s iconic signal have a good time its a hundredth anniversary, guaranteeing that this native landmark continues to be a supply of cherished reminiscences for years to return.
For extra on their historical past and menu, you may go to their web site.
The Supply: Data for this story was gathered by FOX 13’s Corey Beckman.
