Located in the heart of Duluth, this famed fish house and sandwich shop is a must-stop when visiting Duluth or passing through on the way to or from the North Shore. Smoked fish is their signature item, but they offer a wide variety of salumi, sausages and bacon, kimchi and kraut, and all the accoutrements to make a snack board, sandwich, or brunch spread. Everything is made fresh and onsite daily, including cured meats and of course the smoked fish.

We recently got a behind-the-scenes tour of the restaurant and smokehaus. They’ve recently expanded into a larger portion of their building in Canal Park, and the growth has been exciting. Much more prep space for both retail and wholesale, larger walk-ins and storage areas mean they can make more products and distribute to a wider audience.

Their restaurant space has grown exponentially and has live music many days of the week. It’s a chance for local artists to showcase their talent, and for the community to gather for lunch or dinner, something to drink, and enjoy the fantastic music scene of Duluth.

Sustainability leads all their business efforts where people and planet are concerned. Making sure employees are paid a fair wage and offered paid time off, retirement savings, and fair wages promote longevity among employees.

In regard to sourcing fish, owner Eric Goerdt told us that in most parts of the world, farmed fish is a more sustainable option than wild caught. So many oceans, lakes, and rivers have been overfished and rebuilding those ecosystems takes time. When fish are farmed, managing the health and wellness of the water, fish, and surrounding areas is often easier and more targeted.

Climate change is also making a big impact on fish sourcing. “When a person has a fever, a degree or two above the average of 98.6 can make you feel pretty sick and terrible,” Eric said. “It’s the same with oceans. One or two degrees above normal, even over a long period of time can wipe out whole species groups.” Fish rely on food sources, and if that source disappears, so will the fish.

You can find Northern Waters Smokehaus fish in our retail stores – Wedge Lyndale and Wedge Linden Hills. For our brunch bagel we use their Smoked Lake Trout, which has proven to be the best, most ethical and sustainable option lately. If you stop into their store and restaurant in Duluth, ask any of the folks that work there what’s the freshest and best option right now. They all love to talk about sustainability! The Wedge is grateful to continue to build this partnership that shares our values and mission of building a strong local food system.