Phil's Fish Market looks for new home as MBARI proposes expansion

HELPED SAVE TWO TEENWHS O GOT SWEPT AWAY IN THE OCEAN.... WE'LL GET TO FELIX IN A MOMENT... AND NEW TONIGHT....THE MONTEREY BAY AQUIUARM RESEARCH INSTITUTE IS PROPOSING A MAJOR EX PANSION IN MOSS LANDING. THE PROJT ECMEANS A BELOVED RESTAURANT WILL HAVE TO FIND A NEW HOME. ACTION NEWS EIGHT REPORTER CHRISTIAN BALDERAS IS LIVE IN MOSS LANDING WITH DETAILS.### DAN... THIS WHOLE STRIP IS LINED WITH MBARI RESEARCH BUILDIS.NG BUT PEOPLE TRAVEL FROMLL OVER TO GET A TASTE OF PHIL'S SEAFOOD. THEY'RE BEST KNOWN FOR THIS CIAOPINO áSEE REHEá BUT SOON YOU'LL VEHAO AVTREL ELSEWHERE TO GET A TAE.ST <AFTER YOU WHALE WATCHYO, U HAVE TO COME TO PHIL'S FOR A FISH FEAST RIGHT>> PHIL'S FISH MARKET HAS GROWN TO BE AN INICOC RESTAURANT IN MOSS LANDING. CLAIMING ONE OF THE TOP SEARCH SPOTS ON YELP. PEOPLE TRAVEL FROM ALL OVER TO GET A TASTE. <WE'RE FROM SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA AND WE'RE DOWN IN SANTA CRUZ FOR THE WEEKEND BUT WE SPECIFICALLY CAME TO MOSS LANDING TO GO TO PHIL'S FISH MARKET.> FOR OVER 30 YEARS, PHIL'S HAS CALLED THIS BUILDING HOME. THEY'VE BEEN LEASING IT FROM THE MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM RESEARCH INSTITUTE. M-BARI IS PROPOSING AN EXPANSION PROJECT THAT CALLS FOR THE DEMOLITION OF THE BUILDING THAT HOUSES THE RESTAURANT <I HOPE THEY CAN FIND A SPOT THAT HAS SOME OF THE KIND OF ADVANTAGES. I WOULD THINK THEY'D STAY INOS MS LANDING...> ACCORDING TO PRELIMINARY PLANS SUBMITTED TO THE MONTERY COUNTY PLAINNNG COMMISSI..ON. MBARI WANTS TO BUILD A NEW TWO-STORY, 33- THOANUSD SQUARE FOOT MARINE RESEARCH FACITILY NOW PHIL'S WILL HAVE TO FIND A NEHOW ME 14:03-14:12 <PL'S HIIS USUALLY CROWDED AND YOU JUST BRAVE THE CROWDS BECAUSE THE FD'OOS SO YUMMY OR YOU SIT AND WATCH THE OCEAN WHILE YOU'RE HAVING LUNCH. IT'S GREAT.> PHIL DIGIROLAMO DECLINED OUR REQUEST FOR AN INTERVIEW... ONLY SAYING HE IS CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR A NEW LOCATION. BUT WHEREVER THAT IS, FANS WILL SURELY FOLLOW. <I'M SURE EVERYONE HAS A SOFT SPOT IN THEIR HEART FOR PHIL'S. THERLL BE'E EVERYONE WILL HELP BUILD THEM. LOOK, I THINK WE'LL HELP > EXPANSION PLANS VEHA BEEN IN THE WORKS FOR YEARS. THE OWNERS OF PHIL'S FISH MARKET SAID HE KNO'SWN HE WOULD EVENTUALLY HAVE TO RECATELO. THE MONTEREYOUNT CY PLANNING COMMISSION WILL TAKE UP MBARI'S PROPOS OALN APRI13THL . IN MOSS LANDING CHRISTIAN BALDERAS, KSBW ACTION NEWS

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) is proposing an expansion that could result in the move of a popular Moss Landing restaurant. According to documents submitted to the Monterey County Planning Commission, MBARI wants to build a new two-story, 33,000-square-foot marine research facility on Sandholdt Road.To make way for the new building, the documents outline plans to demolish the 20,000-square-foot building that currently houses Phil’s Fish Market & Eatery, an iconic seafood restaurant that attracts people from all over California. The restaurant, located on the beach and in between marine research facilities, has been leasing the building from MBARI since it moved in over 30 years ago.Action News 8 reached out to Phil DiGirolamo, the owner of the restaurant, but he declined our interview request. DiGirolamo did confirm that he knew he would eventually have to vacate and the search for a new location is currently underway.According to the planning commission, discussions to expand MBARI's research facilities go back to 2008.The county planning commission is scheduled to review MBARI's development proposal on April 13.

MOSS LANDING, Calif. —

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) is proposing an expansion that could result in the move of a popular Moss Landing restaurant.

According to documents submitted to the Monterey County Planning Commission, MBARI wants to build a new two-story, 33,000-square-foot marine research facility on Sandholdt Road.

To make way for the new building, the documents outline plans to demolish the 20,000-square-foot building that currently houses Phil’s Fish Market & Eatery, an iconic seafood restaurant that attracts people from all over California. The restaurant, located on the beach and in between marine research facilities, has been leasing the building from MBARI since it moved in over 30 years ago.

Action News 8 reached out to Phil DiGirolamo, the owner of the restaurant, but he declined our interview request. DiGirolamo did confirm that he knew he would eventually have to vacate and the search for a new location is currently underway.

According to the planning commission, discussions to expand MBARI's research facilities go back to 2008.

The county planning commission is scheduled to review MBARI's development proposal on April 13.

Phil's Fish Market looks for new home as MBARI proposes expansion

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