Austin, Texas story
The Capitol Fish Stall
The origin of Quality Seafood Market as a tiny stall across from the Texas State Capitol in 1938.
Read the story
Picture yourself standing across from the grand Texas State Capitol in the late 1930s. Amidst the political chatter, a sensory explosion awaited at 1005 Congress Avenue. This was the home of Starr's Fruit and Vegetable Market.
In 1938, a tiny seafood stall opened inside this bustling market, offering fresh catches to landlocked Texans. That humble little stall would eventually grow into the beloved Austin institution we know today as Quality Seafood Market. Although the business eventually moved to Airport Boulevard in 1970, its culinary journey began right here in the shadow of the Capitol dome.
It is a testament to how a simple stall in a local market can spark a legacy that feeds a city for nearly a century. Next time you look toward the Capitol, think of the fresh fish that once shared the street with Texas politicians.
Updated June 2026