Town Dock retailer consolidates with purchase of Gambardella

— Sea Well Seafood Stonington has consolidated its operations at the Town Dock with the purchase of Gambardella Wholesale Fish Dealers.

“I bought the Stonington facility and all contents,” said Ted Whipple, who owns Sea Well Seafood with his wife, Alene, on Friday.

The acquisition is an expansion for the company, which now handles all wholesale, retail and transport operations at the Town Dock.

Whipple said the sale was completed Dec. 29, and the new business, Sea Well Fish House, retained all of the former Gambardella employees.

“I buy the fish direct from all the boats that come land here in Stonington,” he said, adding, “If it lands here, it goes through one of my buildings.”

He explained that the purchase means he can buy most of what he sells locally instead of driving to different ports, as he has done in the past, and that he will be able to provide his customers with fresher and even higher quality fish and seafood.

He said the purchase is an expansion of his business, but also a reflection of his passion for his work and the industry as a whole.

“This is what I do. This is my job; this is my hobby; this is my life,” he said, adding, “I enjoy everything about it.”

In addition to Sea Well Seafood and the new Sea Well Fish House, the company has a self-serve location at the Town Dock, a retail location in Pawcatuck, a seasonal retail location in Mystic, as well as three Town Dock fishing boats and eight trucks for transport to 200 restaurants and grocery stores from Water Street to Hartford.

Whipple said he is looking to branch out geographically and is working to secure an account that will see Sea Well shipping across the country.

“If I get the account, I’ll be sending fish directly to Texas,” he said.

Gambardella, a longtime fixture at the Town Dock, will continue operations at its East Haven location.