Spotlight: Robert’s Seafood for Your Holiday Celebrations

Robert’s Seafood Market is a local, family-owned business serving up delicious seafood, meat, and related gourmet food products right here in Sangamon County. In 1916, Henry Robert Sr., a watchmaker from Switzerland, founded the business in Downtown Springfield at 5th Street and Washington. During the 1960s, the Market moved to its current location, 1615 West Jefferson. Beginning in the 1970s, the business expanded significantly into food service distribution, serving commercial clients as Robert’s Foods, all the while maintaining the brick-and-mortar retail store. In 2004, the Robert family sold the food service division to Sysco Foods but kept Robert’s Seafood Market in the family.

Andrea McLaughlin is the fourth generation of her family to run the Market. Andrea’s father, Robbie Robert, was well-known for connecting with customers and supporting a number of local charitable causes during his time leading business operations, a tradition that continues today. When asked what she loves about running Robert’s Seafood Market, Andrea says, “I love our customers and the team I work with here. I also love finding new products to feature in the store.”    

Robert’s Seafood Market receives fresh shipments of seafood daily. They also carry fresh beef, pork, chicken, and game meats in addition to other grocery products. The most popular item is the wild gulf cooked shrimp with cocktail sauce. The fresh shrimp is cooked in house daily. The cocktail sauce, which many say is the best anywhere, is made according to Andrea’s great-grandfather’s recipe. Fresh oysters are also popular, especially around the holidays. Relatively new to the Market is a large collection of flavored olive oils and balsamic vinegars. Several years ago, Robert’s Seafood began offering cooking classes, which have included an oyster class and one on charcuterie board creation.

When planning your holiday menus, don’t forget the high end options available at Robert’s Seafood Market. The Market is open Monday through Saturday. 

For more information and store hours, please visit https://robertsseafoodmarket.com.