There was the era when employees of the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel would hot foot it to Centre Market – 15 minutes down the street, 30 minutes to enjoy an iconic golden-fried fillet tucked between two slices of white bread, 15 minutes back.
Any given Friday during the Easter-anticipating observance – a fish-centric time for Roman Catholics – brings lines that snake through the Centre Market building.
Business owner Joe Coleman and wholesale manager Tracy Agostinelli pause for a rare break in the Lenten rush at Coleman’s Fish Market, where tens of thousands of fish sandwiches are produced in a handful of weeks.
“If you’re watching it from the other side, it’s like controlled chaos.
Staff must coat fillets for not only the restaurant but for 40 fire department and church fish fries around the tri-state area, she said.
In 2021, churches still weren’t doing fish fries for the most part and not everyone was going to restaurants.
And, in a situation unrelated to the pandemic but exacerbated by it, Coleman is also needing to keep an eye on isobars these days.
Realizing during their interview that Lent’s midpoint was near, Coleman and Agostinelli exchanged a look that was a mix of weariness and a high five.