Our Story
1800-1900's: Laying the Foundation
240 South Water Street (our home today) is one of the oldest standing buildings in Marine City. Its structure is built with logs from the lumber trade that put this river town on the map in the mid-1800s.
Over the years, this corner storefront has been a shoe store, a bakery, and eventually a restaurant space. We're proud to carry that history forward in a way that welcomes neighbors and travelers from all over the region..
1985: The Ikera Family
John and Evelyn Ikera, the parents of our owner Melissa Fisher, purchased 240 South Water Street as the first commercial property in their growing real estate portfolio. John was well known in Marine City as a real estate developer. He later converted the building into a restaurant rental, setting the stage for the many chapters that would follow.
2008: A Dream is Born
Infatuated with the chance to run a waterfront restaurant in Marine City, the young couple Melissa and Jeremy began by renting the tiny nine-table diner from Melissa’s father. Driven by a vision of becoming the best restaurant in St. Clair County, they threw themselves into local cook-offs — and started bringing home wins.
2011: The First Addition
As wait times grew and demand for their homemade gourmet dishes kept climbing, Melissa and Jeremy knew it was time to expand. They purchased the building next door, blew a hole in the wall, and added a new dining room — complete with a liquor license. The space grew from nine to twenty tables, but it was still only the beginning of their waterfront restaurant’s story.
2014: Investing in the Business's Future
As the restaurant continued to grow, Melissa and Jeremy kept their eyes open for new opportunities. And when the parking lot next door went up for sale, they jumped on the property — already anticipating the space would be key for future expansion
2016: Kitchen Renovation & Adding the Patio
Knowing growth would stall without more cooking space, the couple upgraded from a kitchen the size of a mop closet to a state-of-the-art 20x20 kitchen. With the new capacity to serve more guests, they poured a patio on the parking lot — turning their opportunistic investment into the next addition, and expanding their capacity from 20 to 65 tables, further solidifying their riverfront dining in Marine City.
2019: The Beginning
of the BIG Addition
But as weather began to influence the flow of guests to the Fish Company patio, Melissa and Jeremy doubled down on their vision. They built a 2,500-square-foot addition, complete with a second-floor indoor overlook and an outdoor mezzanine — both offering stunning views of the St. Clair River and enhancing their riverfront dining experience in Marine City. It was a bold investment, but was necessary for growth.
2019: Building the General Store
As the Fish Company’s popularity grew, so did wait times — sometimes exceeding two hours. With no proper waiting area, guests started waiting in their cars for tables to open up. That’s when Melissa had a spark of inspiration: she purchased the dog grooming boutique next door and transformed it into the General Store, creating a welcoming and fun space for guests.
2020: COVID Year
Describing operations during COVID 19, Missy gave this encouraging statement.
"The pandemic hit us really hard. We put that structure on...the pandemic hit shortly after. We didn't think we were going to make it through that. BUT we grinded it out, and just served the public when we could. We took a lot of lickings through that time, but we kept our heads above water. Having to grow with the times has really had a big impact on what we do."
2025: The Future Looks Bright
We pride ourselves on being one of the main culinary attractions in Marine City. By making investments into our management team, marketing, and media presence our next big expansion will be a digital one. We're going keep working to put Marine City, Michigan on the map for years to come!
(Our very first dining room with only 9 tables)
The Marine City Fish Company is credited as being the "first spark" in Marine City's downtown comeback in 2008. We are a company built on ambition, guts, and team work (from our staff and our loyal customers). Here is the story of how Marine City Fish Company came to be.
(Missy and Jeremy winning The Best Chef Charity Taste Fest)
Marine City
Fish Company
Hours of Operation:
Monday: Closed (Gone Fishing)
Tuesday - Thursday; 11:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday - Saturday: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm
240 Water St,
Marine City, MI, 48039
