Our History

1947

Founded

Hugh and his wife Ella Simmons turned to the sea to provide for their family. With a small shrimp boat and a weather-worn building, they began Simmons Seafood.

1947
1955

First Seafood Market

The fifties were a booming time and Mt. Pleasant had its first growth spurt. Hugh and Ella saw the need for a retail outlet. In front of their fish house they built the first Simmons Seafood Market on Ben Sawyer Blvd.



1955
1972

Expansion

Mt. Pleasant continued to grow and the Simmons built a new building to house their retail, wholesale and catering business. By this time the Simmons boys, William Simmons and Hugh “Red” Simmons Jr. had separated their talents with William taking the helm of the Ben Sawyer Blvd. store and Red focusing on servicing the shrimp trade with his Shem Creek facility

1972
1986

Catering & The Key Lime Pie

Three generations of Simmons have now served the Lowcountry with William’s son Bubba joining in 1983. He helped introduce Charleston to a new and inventive catering style and Simmons’ now-famous “key lime pie”

1986
1993

Isle of Palms Store Opens

Bubba carried on the Simmons tradition by opening the company’s second store on Isle of Palms.

1993
January 1, 2017

Fourth Generation

Fourth Generation brother and sister, Will and Kate Simmons run the daily operations.

January 1, 2017