Calumet Fisheries Reopens and Once More Proves it’s an America’s Classic

Calumet Fisheries is back and better than before with fans lining up around the corner for the smoked and fried seafood they’ve been missing for the last six months. The seafood shack has been closed since a November electrical fire. The restaurant re-opened at 9 a.m. sharp on Saturday, June 8.

The timing was fitting as the James Beard Awards took place on Monday, June 10. In 2010, the Beard Foundation recognized Calumet Fisheries as an America’s Classic, an honor for timeless restaurants that have carved out a niche for excellence in a community.

The shack opened in 1948 and appeared on a 2009 No Reservations episode and in the Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi classic, The Blues Brothers. Bourdain, the brothers, and the Beard medal appear on a mural outside the restaurant. The remodeling may have taken some time, but don’t expect anything to change — ownership vowed to restore the space, cleaning it up so a new generation of fans could enjoy.

The sunny skies brought out a huge crowd who participated in the tradition of enjoying their food in the cars or using their hoods as tables to enjoy the scenery along the Calumet River. Check out the scenes from opening day below.

Calumet Fisheries, 3259 E. 95th Street