ELDRED, NY — The family has always loved its seafood. And they are all about sharing that love.
With the grand opening on Saturday, March 30, of Nikki C’s Seafood and Catering, the family will provide fresh fish and seafood, prepared meals, soups and seafood salads, catering and daily specials.

Nikki C’s is located adjacent to the Dollar General on Route 55, across from Monteleone Gardens Hydrofarm at Eldred’s four corners.

“This has been a long-time dream of my parents,” said Nikki Chiocchi, the shop’s namesake. Her mother, Ruth, who runs the establishment along with her husband Jeff, said that as a small child Nikki loved sushi, often eating it while they shopped. When the family went out to dinner, they always choose a seafood restaurant.

“I have always loved seafood,” said Jeff simply.

“I love to cook,” Ruth said. “And I have a hundred cookbooks. We’re going to be trying a lot of new things.”

Nikki C’s has been a regular at both the Rock Hill and the Barryville farmer’s markets, and at area festivals with their lobster rolls and festival food.

“We’ll still be at the market,” Ruth said, although she anticipated that the couple’s focus would be on the storefront. “It’s because of the tremendous amount of support from our customers there that we felt we could make this move.”

Jeff travels to the New York City fish market twice a week. Seasoned business owners with years in the food service industry, the couple ran a deli in Pond Eddy from 2014 to 2019 and have been on the road with their food truck.

As for Nikki, she’s in college, training to be an ultrasound technician. “I’ll be around to help out when I can,” she said.

As Jeff cut the ceremonial ribbon, he said they were looking forward to being active members of the business community.

Nikki C’s is open from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. They can be reached at 845/456-0184 and will receive texts at 845/856-6454.