Longtime Seafood Market In Enfield Sold As Owner Retires

ENFIELD, CT — After more than a half-century of satisfying the palates of hungry customers in northern Connecticut and western Massachusetts, Steve Nikolis is stepping away from the food service industry, but his legacy will remain in Enfield under new ownership.

After 32 years of operating Steve's Boston Seafood, including more than two decades at its present site at 57 Enfield Street, Nikolis, 71, has sold the market to Petros Mirisis, a Massachusetts restaurateur with 20 years' experience.

Just days after the sale of the business became official, Nikolis sat down with Patch for an exclusive interview, reminiscing about his 50 years in business in Enfield and Somers.

"I'm 71 years old, I think that's enough, time is up," Nikolis chuckled. "Everybody thinks the fish business is easy, but they don't know all the work involved. Everything hurts - my back, my legs."

After emigrating from his native Greece in 1967, Nikolis first established Steve's Pizza at 321 Hazard Ave., next to the Hazardville Institute, as seen in an ad below from the inaugural Fermi High School yearbook. In 1972, he opened a second location, called Somers Pizza, on Route 83 (site of the current Italian Villa Restaurant).

His foray into the seafood world began in 1988, when he opened Steve's Boston Seafood in a small strip plaza across from Asnuntuck Community College on Elm Street. Shortly thereafter, he moved into the north end of the Stateline Plaza, in a space which had been occupied for many years by Bonanza Steakhouse. His final move, to the Route 5 spot formerly occupied by College Formals, among others, came in 1999.

In contemplating retirement in recent years, Nikolis said he wanted to maintain the seafood business he had built over the past three decades, spurning purchase offers from would-be entrepreneurs.

"A lot of people wanted to buy it and put in a convenience store," he said. "I told them all no. I worked too hard to build Boston Seafood."

Mirisis and Nikolis finalized a purchase agreement in early November. The new owner said he plans to keep the name Steve's Boston Seafood, and Nikolis can still be found at the market most days, helping Mirisis with the transition.

"I'm glad the name will continue," Nikolis said. "I will miss the customers, some of whom have been coming here for over 30 years."

Mirisis spent eight years working as a sous chef at several locations, including the Opa Opa Steakhouse, prior to opening his own pizzeria, Papa George, in Easthampton, Mass. a dozen years ago. After four years, he opened Petros Breakfast & Lunch in Chicopee, Mass., which he operated for eight years prior to closing in late September.

He said despite having to make adjustments due to the coronavirus pandemic, his reason for selling the Chicopee restaurant was to establish a new career in seafood wholesaling.

"I always like new challenges, going from pizza to breakfast to a fish market," he told Patch. "It is something I haven't done, and it's been such a successful business from the previous owner. It's like a jackpot to take over."

In addition to keeping the name intact, Mirisis said he plans to maintain the same menu and pricing. He is pleased to see numerous regular customers still coming in, despite the change of ownership.

"It's been a smooth transition with Steve," he said. "I've been going with him to Boston the last few months. It's a new learning experience, and it's been great so far."

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