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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

New owner to take over Valley’s Williams Seafood

Williams Seafood Market & Wines in Spokane Valley is changing hands.

Vince and Margie Perry, who bought the store in 1988, are in the process of selling the market to Mike Offield for an undisclosed price.

“We’re just waiting for the liquor license to change hands,” said Vince Perry, who estimates that the paperwork will be finalized in early November.

Offield, who is in his 40s and has worked in sales, plans to keep the market the same, said Perry.

Dick Williams opened the original Williams Seafood Market in 1949 in downtown Spokane. In 1980, the store was moved to its Spokane Valley location, across from University City.

A north Spokane store was sold to another buyer at the same time Perry purchased the Valley store in 1988. That shop has since closed.

Since purchasing the market, the Perrys expanded the wine selection to 1,100 bottles, which are acquired through five distributors.

“When we first started out we had just seafood and a little wine in the cooler,” Perry said.

As the couple increased the wine selection, sales increased from $3,000 during the first year to nearly $200,000 last year.

Over the years, the Perrys decorated their store with plastic lobsters and saltwater fish given to them by a host of regular customers.

They filled a wall with photos of kids who visited the store with their parents.

Perry, who is 67, said he and his wife plan to take a break from the rigors of running a business and travel throughout the United States.

“We’ve had fun here. We love our customers, and that’s the only thing I’m going to miss.”