Some things have remained consistent throughout the years: a commitment to quality, service and determination. “Treat people like you want to be treated and never give up” is our secret to success.
Our Story
Our seafood business began with Jim Catanese selling fish out of the back of his 1971 pea-green Dodge Dart, going door to door to convince people that his seafood was the freshest in town. Soon after this modest start, Jim and his brother John Catanese opened Waterfront Seafoods in 1982. “I had to convince customers that we supplied a ‘little better’ fish than the other companies,” said Jim. “Because of this, I became highly motivated to find better quality seafood for Cleveland restaurants.”
Twenty-two years later, the brothers partnered with Kevin Durkin and set up shop in a 7,500-square-foot warehouse on the East Bank of the Flats. Catanese Classic Seafood was born. Today, the Catanese family continues to serve the best seafood to the finest restaurants, country clubs, hotels, and retailers throughout Ohio.
Our staff has grown considerably since the days when just three employees stepped through the doors to work along the Cuyahoga riverfront. Catanese Classic Seafood’s team has since expanded to more than 120 people, including a sales team of food service professionals from every corner of the industry.
We’ve expanded our product lines, too. Catanese Classics draws on the knowledge of industry specialists to offer a curated assortment of traditional and rare cheeses from around the world. Our specialty division brings new and exciting products to top chefs, caterers, and restaurants. And under our meat division, we’re committed to sourcing, processing, and delivering the highest quality, responsibly raised meat products.
We want to be more available and serviceable to customers so we’re more like partners than just their supplier. This dedication has earned us the American Culinary Federation Purveyor of the Year award in 2013, 2014, and 2015. We follow the strict guidelines of HACCP regulations and carry an Interstate Shellfish Certification. We also work with third party auditor Siliker to make sure our processes adhere to the most current guidelines.
It’s still a family-owned business though. The next generation of Catanese, Jim’s son Jimmy and John’s son Joey, work alongside 35-year veterans in our purchasing department. It’s important they learn the business from the ground up helping to pave the way for them to continue the family business. In fact, we are looking forward to exciting growth in the near future. We plan to move into a new facility in the near future and have all our business lines under one roof. Along with our staff and future generations, it’s our hope to continue this company and serving the community for a very long time.