Stavis Seafoods, a third-generation wholesaler and distributer, announced on March 8 that it has agreed to be the anchor tenant of a new seafood complex planned on the waterfront in Boston, Massachusetts. With Stavis as the lead tenant, Massport approved the project, which will be on Parcel 5 of the Massport Marine Terminal.
The company has been searching for a new facility that would bring all its Boston-area locations under one roof for more than five years. It will occupy up to 90,000 square feet of the building beginning in September of 2018, leasing freezer, cooler, processing and office space. Groundbreaking for construction will take place this autumn.
“The fact that a great family business like Stavis Seafoods has found a home to grow and can continue to serve its customers from the South Boston waterfront is a success story we should all be proud of,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “It’s important that we support blue-collar industries in Boston, and I’m pleased that Stavis and Massport are doing exactly that in the Raymond Flynn Marine Park.”
“Massport is committed to expanding the seafood processing industry by making sure there is room in the Seaport District for businesses to grow,’’ said Massport CEO Thomas P. Glynn. “Having Stavis Seafoods as an anchor tenant for this development is an important example of the thriving nature of the seafood processing industry, and why port industrial land must be protected for the good paying blue-collar jobs that are supported by seafood processing. We are delighted Stavis Seafoods is taking a leading role in this effort.”
The facility will utilize the latest in construction technologies and be the most technologically advanced, energy efficient and environmentally friendly seafood processing facility in Massachusetts. The building represents an investment in excess of $40 million at the Port of Boston, making it one of the largest, seafood-related, private investments in the Port’s history. The new facility will also include a Cascade Refrigeration System, which is a hybrid CO2/Ammonia refrigeration plant that is the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly system available.
“It was important for us to keep our ties to the city and the waterfront,” said Richard Stavis, the company’s ceo and director of sales. “This new space allows us to do that. Moving all our Boston-area facilities into one location has been a long-term goal for us. It was necessary in order to meet our customer’s ever-expanding needs, so to do it in such an advanced, efficient building in Boston is a home run for our company and the Marine Park.”
Established in 1929, Stavis Seafoods ships more than 37,000,000 pounds of frozen and fresh seafood annually. Importing from more than 50 countries, its 1,000-plus product assortment literally covers the waterfront from shrimp and lobster to calamari, clams, oysters, crab, salon, tilapia, halibut, hake, and much more. Its brands include Bos’n, Boston Pride, Foods From The Sea, Prince Edward and Chillfresh.
