For a laid-back Sunshine Coast boy, Ryan Johnson doesn’t really know how to stop moving. “I’m in at least one of our three stores seven days a week,” he says from the industrial, barebones, loft-style office above his Davie Street fish shop.
This drive and his provenance together make perfect sense for the owner of one of Vancouver’s busiest seafood shops, specializing in sustainable products from local fishers.
With a changing menu of whatever is abundant and fresh, as well as a freezer stocked with frozen-at-sea fish, a deli case bursting with ready-made selections, and shelves filled with specialty groceries from avocado oil to Noble maple syrup, it’s no wonder Ryan and his business partner Dylan McCulloch have quickly expanded their business. From their original Commercial Drive location (opened in 2009), to now their West End shop and a recently opened store on the UBC campus, The Daily Catch has local shoppers hooked.
Not an oyster bar per se, but The Daily Catch is definitely all about bivalves. The seafood counter displays its selection of fresh fish and seafood daily, and this usually includes a variety of oysters. It’s not advertised but if you ask, happy fishmongers will eagerly ready one half-shelf for you at a time for just one dollar each. An instant shot of protein, this is a new twist on healthy, fast food to go.
Friendly, often goofy, always knowledgeable staff makes this sustainable seafood shop an excellent stop on your grocery expedition down Davie or the Drive. Choose from pre-made deli-style seafood salads, a variety of shellfish and of course, gorgeous locally caught fish, fresh or flash frozen at sea. Looking to freeze it yourself? They’ll filet and vacuum-pack your haul at no charge. And don’t forget to grab one of their tasty marinades free with any purchase.