Ray’s Seafood Market to close Essex Junction location after 75 years

Ray’s Seafood Market & Restaurant, a third-generation family business in Vermont, has announced it will permanently close its Essex Junction location on September 12, 2026. Owner Paul Dunkling stated the decision to close the retail store and restaurant is due to retirement and a lack of younger family members interested in continuing the demanding business.

Founded in 1949, the company has operated for approximately 75 years. While the Essex Junction restaurant is closing, the family may continue their wholesale operations through their Burlington site. This Burlington location serves as a central hub for a unique trade permitted by Vermont law: the purchase of panfish, such as perch and bullhead, caught by local anglers for resale to restaurants. Vermont is one of the few states that allows sportfishers to sell their catch, a practice that supports a niche regional market.

The Dunkling family will continue to operate their fishing boat charter business, Sure Strike Charters.