Sporting Fish-Eating Grins At Snappers In Bloor West Village
One of the joys of living near Bloor West Village is how ‘walkable’ daily life becomes. Need to grab some fresh produce, juicy cuts at the butcher, a vintage bottle of red, or perhaps some seasonal blooms? All can be covered in less than 250 steps on the ol’ FitBit.
Walking through my list of errands also allows for more time to chat with neighbours I run into, and the opportunity to catch up with my favourite local shop owners.
When selecting an exciting small business in the village to highlight for this story, I cast out my net, and pulled in a HUGE fish tale for your reading pleasure.
One shop that Bloor West and Swansea residents all love to frequent is Snappers Fish Market. Ask – near and far – who has the best catches of the day, and the answer is almost unanimous: Snappers!
Eliana & Eddie: Snapping Since 2016
…Or so I thought! When I sat down with owners, Eli & Eddie, I learned that they‘ve been in the fresh fish business far longer!
When this fantastic couple took over Snappers almost 8 years ago, I thought that it was the first this community had seen of them. But, in fact, Eddie had been behind the scenes at the long established Snappers Fish Market for years; he had been supplying and selecting fresh fish for the previous owners, and, on several occasions, had lent some help behind the counter when an extra set of skilled hands were required.
Eddie spent much of his life in the various sectors of the fresh fish business. Growing up in Ottawa, Eddie cut his teeth at infamous Lapointe Fish in the Byward Market. His then girlfriend, Eliana, who was studying business and finance at the time, would often be called upon (on the DL!) to help close up shop in the evenings. Her knack for calculations sped up all the end of day procedures allowing them to get out there and enjoy into the Ottawa nightlife sooner!
And that’s how their story continued; Eddie fine-tuned his skills in all things fish-related (in Ottawa, Montreal, & Toronto), while Eliana plunged head first into the world of finance and commercial mortgages. Throw in a wedding, three sons, some fur babies, and you can imagine how the rest of the story goes!
When the opportunity arose to take over Snappers, they jumped at it like salmon heading up river in autumn!
The couple breathed new energy into the enterprise, not only with the freshest and most delectable selections of seafood and mouth-watering must-try recipes, but also with their bright personalities and easy laughter; it makes popping into the shop a real joy!
If you’re new to Snappers, don’t hesitate to ask for advice – they give great recommendations! My three favourite buys would probably be: the salmon – for pure and simple, melt-in-your-mouth goodness (plus it’s sushi-grade). Second, I am a sucker for mussels. I love them simmered in a simple white wine sauce and served with a crusty fresh baguette. And third – their juicy scallops. Or tied for third – the halibut. But also the Ahi tuna… wow… Is anyone else ready for lunch?!
It needs to be said that their business practices reflect Eddie & Eliana’s integrity and values. The markups on their products are ridiculously low compared to anywhere else I have shopped. Now, of course, I don’t shop anywhere else! I’m a Snapper for life!
I have asked them on countless occasions, “Wow! Why is your halibut (or jumbo shrimp, or mussels, or salmon… basically just fill-in-the-blank with anything they sell) so affordable?” And the answer in always the same: “Because we are so lucky to be busy. And because of that fortune we can run our business this way – honestly! We don’t feel right adding a huge markup when we can successfully run our business without doing that. It’s not who we are.”
And who they are, is a couple that will also walk fresh fish over to an ailing customer if they aren’t able to get to the shop themselves. Or, when they know that someone is struggling, offering them a fresh food for less. They are a couple that puts value before profit, and people before numbers. This couple is a truly rare catch!
So, coming full circle from the days of helping her guy run the numbers and close the shop, Eliana transitioned her career from big banking to being a partner behind the counter at Snappers. With her talent and vision helping to steer the ship, their robust social media has taken flight. Pop on to @snapperfishmarket and start following them for fantastic seafood recipes that are as beautiful as they are delicious.
And while you are on there, sign up for the recipe contest that Snappers is running! Although – full disclosure – watch out for yours truly. I’m planning on blowing the competition out of the water with my Deconstructed Lobster Poutine!!! SO, BRING IT!
Aaaaand mic drop.
Snappers
263 Durie St, Toronto, ON M6S 3G2
(416) 767-4083
*All photos courtesy of Eli & Eddie and their Insta account: @snappersfishmarket
How would you like to live – literally – down the street from such awesome fresh fare? Here’s our brand new listing right on Durie Street that we call ‘A Sun-Soaked Swell Dwell In Swansea‘ – offered for sale at $999,000! This bespoke 3+1 bed, 2bath semi-detached dwelling – originally constructed in 1900 – has been substantially transformed over the decades into a charming residence that marries modern conveniences with unique features. Immaculately maintained, with several recent major building component upgrades, this sun-drenched Durie Street dwelling is well-suited to today’s contemporary urban living. I adore the family room solarium with enchanting wood stove!)
Featuring an extremely adaptable space plan, this property is ideal for those seeking a dedicated family space on the Main & Upper Levels, while the Lower Level with its private street entrance offers the flexibility of being a terrific Work-From-Home Office, a nanny suite, or accommodations for an aging parent or your moody teen!
Have questions? Want to book a private viewing? Contact cynthia@urbaneer.com!
And here’s a Vintage Bungalow Perched On The Slopes Of Morningside Avenue just around the corner on Morningside Avenuethat we SOLD in the summer for $650,000 over asking!!
Now more than ever, it is essential to plan a well-researched, data-driven, tactical strategy if you are in the market for a new home. Especially in changing times, when the pandemic has prompted many to shift their focus and objectives. Have yours changed? Please know The Urbaneer team is here to help!
May we be of assistance to you, or someone you love?
The Urbaneer Team
Steven Fudge, Sales Representative& The Innovative Urbaneer TeamBosley Real Estate Ltd., Brokerage – (416) 322-8000
– we’re here to earn your trust, then your business –
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