Step inside Fisherman’s Market at 7th and Blair, and you’re immediately enveloped by the bustling energy and aromas of this Eugene institution. Maritime artwork from friends and patrons adorns the walls, each piece carrying a connection that owner Ryan Rogers describes with the stories of those relationships, rather than the materials from which they are made. The strength of relationships seems to be a steering principle for a business that has been a part of the Jefferson Westside neighborhood for decades. Through deep community ties, Fisherman’s Market has cultivated lasting popularity and excellence on this busy corner.
After leaving his hometown of Eugene, Rogers got his start fishing 40 years ago in Alaska’s Prince William Sound. After several seasons of working, learning, and developing connections, he opened Fisherman’s Market with a close friend, a chef, in 1988. The market and restaurant, housed in the original building, still features a full-service retail counter offering fresh fish and seafood from around the Pacific Northwest as well as a wide array of specialty smoked and cured products that have become a signature feature of the business.
“Pretty much all of what we catch now goes to processing,” says Rogers. “I really like to play around with smoking fish.” Pink salmon, the smaller-bodied subspecies that Rogers fishes, are typically harvested and sold to large processors for mass production purposes. But for Rogers and the other fisherfolk he works with, keeping it on a smaller, more local scale has been an important part of developing a multivalent approach to the business.
“Each year, each fishing season, is different,” Rogers says, highlighting the importance of sourcing from around the region. Shortly after Fisherman’s Market opened, the Exxon Valdez oil spill limited fishing for several years in the region. Rogers participated in the cleanup process and also branched out, working with fish harvesters throughout the region to help provide consistent access to fresh seafood in Eugene. “It has all been part of developing those relationships with people for years,” he says. “And now we’re one of the largest retailers of Oregon crab in the state.” When he isn’t in Alaska, fishing through the thick of summer, Rogers drives his truck up and down the Pacific coast to procure seafood, utilizing a converted diesel engine to burn through the kitchen’s excess fryer oil rather than fossil fuels.
Back at the restaurant, with its tantalizing smells, a big menu board with rotating specials developed by the staff reminds you that many of the most popular recipes — including crab mac and cheese, smoked salmon ravioli, crawfish pies, cioppino, and salmon burgers — are also available as a frozen to-go option. Over the past few years, Fisherman’s Market has also expanded into Fisherman’s Kitchen, a licensed production facility in Springfield, to develop additional menu items. Along with the two big smokers at the Eugene location, the Springfield facility produces smoked salmon, salmon and halibut pepperoni sticks, jerky made from different fish in several flavors, salmon on a stick, and a delicious salmon summer sausage, all available at the storefront and restaurant.
Fisherman’s Market is also well-known for its broad lineup of house-made sauces, a delicious accompaniment to a basket of perfectly cooked fish and chips. There are classics like tartar and cocktail sauces, but also house sriracha and sauces featuring curry (excellent with fries!) and wasabi, plus poke sauce and other marinades. The kitchen has been cooking up batches of these popular sauces to enjoy onsite and take home, and they are available at several retailers, including Market of Choice, Long’s Meat Market, and Capella Market. Rogers is also selling the sauces in the Seattle area.
Another exciting development is the Fisherman’s Market food trailer parked at PLAY, a new bar and hangout spot with games and amusements including a cocktail lounge, batting cages, and different food options. The food trailer hosts occasional events like seafood boils and features classic menu items and revolving specials. As with the accretion of artworks in the original location, Fisherman’s Market and Fisherman’s Kitchen are buoyed by their continual openness to new ideas, concepts, and strong relationships that keep getting stronger.
Fisherman’s Market
830 W 7th Ave.
541/484.2722
Food truck at PLAY
232 W 5th Ave.
Thursday-Sunday: Noon-8 pm
Monday: Noon-8 pm
