MARITIME INFLUENCE

East Coast Lobster Under New Ownership

When Aaron Gillingham bought the Salsbury Grill in Westfort in 2017, he planned to make changes to the historic diner. Before long, however, he found himself thinking again.

“Working alongside the previous owners, I realized that there was no need to fix what’s not broken.

The restaurant was successful just as it was,” he says. Some renovations and menu tweaks later, The Sal has thrived, even during the pandemic.

Now Gillingham is applying that same philosophy to his newest venture, East Coast Lobster and Seafood. Previously owned by Randy and

Linda Gaudette, the shop has a strong and loyal following over its 32-year history and has become something of a Thunder Bay icon. The secret, Gillingham says, has been a combination of high-quality, unique products and outstanding and personable customer service.

“Randy and Linda knew their customers well and brought in highly sought-after products and delivered consultation and knowledge about what they were selling. People feel more comfortable knowing that they’re getting the best,” he says.

Thunder Bay born and bred, Gillingham is the product of two

East Coast parents who relocated to Thunder Bay decades ago. He grew up spending his summers in the Maritimes enjoying seafood of all varieties and this love of that food and lifestyle later became his profession, having worked for seafood restaurants and suppliers for nearly 10 years.

His mission now is to get good quality seafood into the hands of all Thunder Bay residents. “Seafood should be a part of everyone’s diet, not just because of the obvious health benefits but because it’s amazing,” he says. “We bring in a tonne of different products not just from Canada but all over the world.” Gillingham has big plans for the business. When asked to elaborate, he simply smiles and says that “you’ll just have to wait and see.”

East Coast Lobster and Seafood carries a wide range of shellfish including live lobsters, crab, oysters, mussels, scallops, and shrimp, as well as fresh seafood like salmon, tuna, Arctic char, cod, haddock, halibut, and rainbow trout. The frozen selection includes oven-ready chicken products, almond-crusted sole, parmesan tilapia, seared ahi tuna, and crab cakes. Gillingham has also brought in Newfoundland treats such as roasted chicken or fries ‘n’ gravy potato chips, and birch beer (a mix of root beer and cream soda), Purity candies, partridge berry and apple jam, and specialty cookies. There is also everything you need to make sushi, and several local products including seasonings, barbecue sauce, hot sauces and coffee.

For more information, follow @EastCoastLobster on Facebook.