By Donald Wittkowski
If Domino’s can deliver freshly made pizza to your house, why can’t fresh seafood straight off the docks be delivered to your door, too?
That’s the concept behind a new web-based business called Dock to Door Seafood Delivery that is launching Saturday at www.dock2doorseafood.com. Customers entering the promo code OCNJDAILY will get $5 off their first order.
Dock to Door owner Hank Rydecki, who jokes that he is “a terrible fisherman, but a good businessman,” believes he has discovered a niche market that combines the convenience of home delivery service with the freshest seafood.
“I have never heard of anything similar to it,” said Rydecki, of Ocean City.
Rydecki explained that he came up with the idea for his business when friends and relatives would often ask him to pick them up some seafood when he went out to buy some.
He promised that his Dock to Door seafood will be of the highest quality bought from wholesalers at the Jersey Shore, including Atlantic City, Pleasantville and Cape May. In some cases, he’ll buy it from “guys right on the boat,” he said.
Dock to Door will make deliveries to the towns of Ocean City, Somers Point, Linwood, Longport and Margate. There will be a $40 minimum for orders.
In addition to making home deliveries, Rydecki plans to specialize in serving large parties, clam bakes and catered affairs.
He will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through the third week of June. Then he will add Mondays. He will be closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.
“I’m a one-man band,” he said. “I’ll be taking calls, taking orders and making deliveries.”
Rydecki stressed that when he delivers seafood, it will always arrive fresh at his customers’ homes – much fresher than the seafood sold at supermarkets.
“The quality is three or four times better and fresher,” he said.
He has devised recyclable and environmentally friendly packaging to keep the seafood chilled and fresh at all times.
Rydecki said his delivery service will capitalize on the Jersey Shore’s rich history as a seafood haven.
“We live in the best area for seafood, in my opinion,” he said. “We are trying to bring more seafood to the area so that people can enjoy what we have to offer, not just the Boardwalk and the beaches.”
Although he considers himself a terrible fisherman, Rydecki noted that his wife, Melissa Kopp, who is from Egg Harbor Township, comes from a family of commercial fishermen and lobstermen.
Now a stay-at-home dad, Rydecki’s business background included working 10 years as a sales representative at General Electric.
He hopes to parlay his business experience into a venture that turns out to be, well, a good catch.
“At the end of the day, we’re really excited,” he said. “We’re optimistic it’s going to be something that is very successful.”
