A Local Catch: Legends Seafood & Produce
“It’s a one stop shop for the community to buy local and for the small business owners to display and sell their products.”
There is more than meets the eye at Legends Seafood and Produce (Legends) and after only a few minutes chatting with owner David Futch you begin to understand why. David and his wife Amy McGraw started the business two years ago out of a love for Eagle Island Seafood in Wilmington and a nostalgia for David’s uncle’s seafood market in the 70’s, but at the heart of Legends is a passion for the place where Futch was born; Burgaw. “We’ve got the best seafood in Burgaw” Futch says with a chuckle, “and the only seafood!” Before opening, Burgaw locals had to travel out of town toward the coast to find good, fresh seafood. Surely at Legends you’ll now find the freshest local seafood around but you’ll also find a neighbor dedicated to helping the people and businesses around him.
Legends is home to the Pender Community Market which takes place every 2nd and 4th Saturday. “We don’t charge them to do the market,” Futch explains, “when people come to the market, they also come in here and by the end of the weekend we’re sold out. It’s good for everyone.” On those highly anticipated Saturday’s, the Pender Community Market offers local, homemade goods, food trucks, music and sometimes live animals. It also allows folks to explore the shop and spread the word about Legends. “We see about ten new people a week now” David exclaims. It’s a one stop shop for the community to buy local and for the small business owners to display and sell their products.
While their local seafood draws a crowd, Legends carries a variety of products from Heritage Storage Sheds, seasonal plants and Garmin products to dog food, wine and ice cream. You’ll also find some of your favorite local products sold in the shop seven days a week including Elderberry Tribe products, local honey, Buddy’s local meat and Rudi’s Booty Scrub. “We’re adding something different all the time” David says and mentions that Legends just started selling Old South apparel and will begin carrying propane soon.
Through the back of the shop you’ll catch a whiff of the coast and find the beloved seafood department; an entire room displaying several varieties of fresh fish and oysters over ice. With the winter season approaching, David shares that spot and oysters are a great choice for this time of year. “I’ve got 200 spot’s going out to an event tomorrow,” he tells me and says they can accommodate large orders with only a day’s notice. You’ll also find frog legs, blue crabs, flounder filets, clams and tons of frozen options scribbled on the white board that displays all of the inventory and pricing.
Legends is a popular stop for seafood lovers and hunters alike. They offer an extensive inventory of hunting and outdoor products as well as shelled & cob corn from local farmer Scrappy Hall and deer potatoes. “We sell about four tractor trailer loads a week,” Futch says, which they’ll load for you from their towering pile out back seven days a week. You may even be lucky enough to see a few deer staking the place out!
Legends Seafood and Produce is located just off NC-53 west and is open seven days a week, Monday- Saturday 6:00am-7:00pm and Sunday’s 11:00am-5:00pm. You can contact them and get updates about their current inventory through their Facebook page, Legends Seafood & Produce.