Wallis Seafood Part of Town's Fabric

Just as the clambake is a New England staple, on Maple Avenue has been a part of Barrington tradition for almost 50 years.

Lobsterman Russ Wallis first opened a small storefront on Bay Spring Avenue, where his wife, Louise, could sell her husband's catch of the day. Since that day in 1962, the Wallis family has operated one of the best-known businesses in Barrington.

Wallis Seafood has been supplying families both within and outside the town with fresh seafood of all kinds, from lobster and sole, to all the fixings for a scrumptious Wallis clamboil.

These days, Tom Wallis, son of Russ Wallis, buys a lot of the store's seafood from the Boston Fish Pier. The big advantage, he said, is that it allows for a much wider variety of seafood caught in areas ranging from Cape Cod to Maine and Nova Scotia.

In brief, he gives customers more to choose from.

Wallis is proud of his store's commitment to their neighborhood and to their seafood, and is happy to tell the (lobstery) tale of their beginnings.

Wallis said his dad became a lobsterman as soon as he returned home from World War II in August of 1945. Within weeks, he'd married his sweetheart, Louise. They had been engaged since 1941, and with his safe return home, they didn't want to put off being together any longer.

Before long, the Wallises had three sons, and when the store opened, Tom helped out mom Louise there, brother Russ went out on the boat with his dad, and their other brother, Bob, after a short stint as a deckhand on his dad's boat, decided to become a carpenter.

In 1979, Tom and Russ bought the business from their parents, and the following year moved it to the current location at 136 Maple Ave.. In 1997, Tom bought out his brother's share of the business, although Russ remains one of his suppliers.

"I bought him out, but I can't get rid of him," joked Wallis.

Wallis said his brother, Russ, (sadly, Bob died in 1995) is one of his best friends.

"I don't have a ratings system for friends, but if I did, he'd be a medallist," said Wallis. "He's probably my best friend on Earth."

Neither Wallis's wife, Jane, or their son, Adam, is involved in the business. Jane works as a nurse, and Adam is a project manager at Comcast.

But Wallis is ably assisted by Lori Harrington, who has been a familiar face at Wallis Seafood for almost five years now.

One of the most wonderful parts of his business, he said, is the relationships he's been able to build with his employees and customers over the years. 

"I like the fact that I can go places and run into people I know," said Wallis. "I'm proud to be a part of the fabric of this community."

Wallis will be joining Vienna Bakery at Center Ace Hardware in Barrington every Tuesday from 3 to 6 pm over the summer for a mini-farmers' market. 

If you miss Wallis there, consider heading to the 'White Church' farmers' market being held every Saturday from 9 am to noon throughout the summer.

And here's a tip for you when you run into Tom Wallis -- he's not just all about the seafood, he likes to talk baseball, too!