The family that has been leasing the building that Dockside Seafood Markets, LTD operates in has told North House Folk School they won’t be renewing their lease for the coming year.
North House purchased the Dockside building and lakefront property from Harley and Shele Toftey in 2018. Plans were put in place to keep the eatery and fish market open, and it didn’t take long to lease the space to Seafood Markets, LTD, who had been working both as a supplier and as a customer to the Toftey’s for many years.
Paul and Elsye Burton and Steve and Ellen Frank own Seafood Markets, LTD. In addition to Dockside, which they ran for two years, the family owns and operates two other fish markets/restaurants, one called Morey’s Seafood Market in Baxter, Minn. and one called Morey’s Seafood International in Plymouth, Minn.
In early November, there were persistent rumors that Seafood Markets, LTD, wouldn’t be back next spring. The News-Herald reached out to North House Folk School Director Greg Wright on November 5 and asked if the current tenants were indeed leaving. Although he was on the road traveling, Greg replied, “This would be news to me. So it must be a rumor.”
Sadly, on November 21, the rumor became true and the family reached out on Facebook to let everyone know they wouldn’t be coming back.
“To our Dockside Customers, after thoughtful consideration, we have approached North House Folk School about finding another tenant for the Dockside building. We are sad to announce this news as we hoped to be part of the community, add value, and support the fishing legacy. Unfortunately, Dockside hasn’t met the conditions for a Seafood Markets, LTD third location.”
Steve and Ellen Frank and Elsye and Paul Burton signed the Facebook notice.
As for the business, all may not be lost, said Greg Wright, “North House hopes to continue to have the restaurant part of our campus and for fishing (and fish and chips!) to continue to be part of Grand Marais. Naturally, we are going to work hard to make sure this is the reality. Our programs are thriving; our students and visitors love community businesses. As more information is available, we will share details with the community.”
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