MIDDLE RIVER — Crunchy fried crab cakes. Stuffed salmon and tilapia. Shrimp and fish tacos. And oh, the sides — mac and cheese, green beans, collard greens, sweet potatoes, pasta salad (to name a few). That’s just a taste of what’s cooking up at Pisces Crab & Seafood, a new restaurant in the Martin Plaza Shopping Center on Martin Boulevard and Middle River Road.
“These are family recipes that we’re introducing to the world,” Tennessee said. “We are proud of our legacy, and we hope that we’re doing our ancestors proud. They taught us well.”
Pisces Crab & Seafood launched its soft opening Tuesday, and plans to host a formal ribbon cutting later this month. As of press time, it’s open for business.
Crystal Tennessee and Thomas Bradley, cousins and co-owners of the spot, explained that they both come from a long history of family-owned food excellence.
“I’m third generation in this industry, and have been doing crabs since I was born,” explained Bradley, whose grandfather owned and operated Pisces Fish Market in Park Heights during the 1970s and ‘80s. His father carried on the Pisces name as a mobile service until about 2012, and Bradley grew up delivering crabs across the city.
It was the pandemic, though, which gave Bradley an avenue to grow the business. He resumed his delivery model last year, and demand surged because so many people turned to ordering food for home delivery. He asked Tennessee to help him launch the storefront.
“COVID actually propelled us, more than anything,” he said.
Tennessee said that their product — really yummy food — sells itself.
“The demand was so strong that we knew we needed to get into a storefront,” she said, adding that the location is perfect. “It’s a great, diverse community — a community we’re very familiar with — and we’re filling a need.”
Both Bradley and Tennessee are Baltimore born and raised, and share decades of experience in the local food scene. Tennessee is also no stranger to being an East County entrepreneur — she is co-owner of Shades of Beauty Hair & Supply, the only Black-owned beauty supply store in Baltimore County, located in the same shopping center.
They shared the importance of achieving success as a pair of Black entrepreneurs — carrying on the family legacy, as well as setting a precedent.
Inside the carry-out area is a memorial honoring their family’s culinary history, with Bradley’s grandparents up top and Tennessee’s grandfather in the bottom right.
“In our communities growing up, we did not see Black business owners,” Tennessee said. “We didn’t see people that look like us in those leadership positions, so we want to provide that for the next generation.”
“We want them to see that it is possible,” Bradley added. “It’s something you can do, and it’s not as difficult as it may seem.”
Tennessee brings a flare of soul food flavor to complement Bradley’s experience with seafood, having learned Southern recipes from her grandfather and aunt. Both of them hope to carry on the deep family knowledge of culinary craftsmanship with their own unique spin.
“These are family recipes that we’re introducing to the world,” she said. “We are proud of our legacy, and we hope that we’re doing our ancestors proud. They taught us well.”
Tennessee and Bradley have been busy preparing for their opening, perfecting recipes, stocking up the inventory, training with new equipment, building a core team of 10 employees, nine of whom live in Middle River. Tennessee said they are proud to bring jobs to the local community.
Nine of their ten employees live in Middle River, and they are proud to be creating jobs in their community.
She thanked her husband Brandon, who has been working on the tech side, readying stuff like their website, social media, security system and point of sale system. After getting settled in the rhythm of restaurant operations, they plan to resume mobile food deliveries.
Tennessee also thanked their families and supporters, as well as a thank-you in advance to their customers.
“Special shout out to my dad,” she said. “He’s put in so much time just to make sure that we succeed because he believes in us.”
They guarantee top-notch customer service and satisfaction, promising that you will be back again and again. Don’t believe it? Try just one crunchy crab cake, and see how long before you’re craving more.
March 02, 2021 at 11:31PM
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Seafood with a touch of soul: Pisces Crab & Seafood opens for business - avenuenews.com
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