Long ago Robin Garr explained the origin of the original Clarksville Seafood Restaurant: “As the only surviving descendant of Louisville’s old Cape Codder chain, Clarksville Seafood upholds a long and honorable tradition.”
For years, perhaps even decades, Clarksville Seafood Restaurant was among the most mysterious eateries to call the Sunny Side home. Business hours were limited and esoteric, there was little if any advertising before the advent of the internet, and it was just as scant during the social media era. During the restaurant’s imperial period—say, a quarter-century or more ago—loyal regulars from far and wide phoned ahead to reconnoiter status, or just showed up to stand in line outside and listen until the sound of a key turning finally could be heard.
It’s not even clear when the “original” restaurant closed, or who owned it when the end came during pandemic times. But now Clarksville Seafood is back in its familiar location at 916 Eastern Boulevard, as revived in late April by Hubert “The Dock” Rockey. It’s called Rockey’s Clarksville Seafood, and appropriately, there seems to be almost no social media or internet presence for the reconstituted landmark.
Thus far, Libby Cunningham of the Jeffersonville-oriented News and Tribune is the only local journalist to offer a scoop, and here it is. According to Cunningham, there is no lingering ambiguity about hours of operation: “Rockey’s Clarksville Seafood is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.”
Rockey’s Clarksville Seafood opens on Eastern Boulevard, by Libby Cunningham (News and Tribune)
Owner Hubert Rockey said the eatery reopened last week in the former Clarksville Seafood Restaurant location at 916 Eastern Boulevard. He bought it in January and has been extensively remodeling and redecorating ever since.
“My first day we were open I told the (employees) we would open at 11 a.m. and not tell anybody, just open,” Rockey said. “And a lady walked in and she said, ‘Are you open?’ She went into the bathroom and walked back out…about 15 minutes later she brought three friends and they ordered and sat down.”
