In what Delaware health officials are calling "both horrifying and somehow not surprising," a routine inspection of the Riverfront Market revealed that Harry's Fresh Seafood has been serving the exact same piece of salmon as their "Daily Fresh Catch" since the market opened in 2019.
The discovery came when a health inspector noticed the fish displayed a suspicious resistance to spoilage and had developed what witnesses described as "an almost supernatural glow." Carbon dating confirmed the salmon predated the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I've been getting lunch here three times a week for four years," said downtown office worker Jennifer Martinez, staring at her half-eaten sandwich. "I specifically chose it because the sign said 'fresh.' I thought that meant, you know, fresh."
Owner Harry Patterson defended the practice, explaining that the salmon had been "adequately maintained" through a rigorous regimen of Old Bay seasoning, strategic positioning near the ice machine, and what he called "positive thinking."
"Listen, that fish has been displayed on ice for six years," Patterson explained while being escorted from the premises. "Technically, it's been fresh every single day. That's not false advertising, that's consistency."
Regulars at the Riverfront Market expressed mixed reactions. "I mean, I never got sick," noted accountant David Chen, who has eaten there approximately 400 times. "Although now that you mention it, I did develop a strange immunity to food poisoning and a permanent aversion to lox."
The investigation expanded after inspectors discovered that other vendors had adopted similar preservation strategies. The Mexican restaurant's "fresh guacamole" was revealed to be the same batch from opening day, maintained through aggressive lime juice application and strategic lighting. The coffee shop's "artisanal sourdough starter" turned out to be a single loaf that had achieved sentience sometime in 2021.
"We thought everyone knew," admitted barista Sarah Williams. "I mean, it's the Riverfront Market. The clue is in the name—it's a market, by a river. Standards were always going to be fluid."
Health Department officials shut down three vendors and issued citations to five others. The legendary salmon was removed and is being studied by researchers at the University of Delaware who are trying to understand how it survived longer than most marriages.
"This fish has outlived three presidential administrations, two recessions, and the entire pandemic without refrigeration," marveled UD food science professor Dr. Rebecca Torres. "Honestly, we should be weaponizing whatever is in that Old Bay mixture."
Patterson plans to contest the shutdown, arguing that his establishment should qualify for historical landmark status. "That salmon is older than half the buildings downtown," he noted. "At what point does it stop being a health violation and start being heritage?"
The Riverfront Market has assured customers that all vendors are now using legitimately fresh ingredients, though foot traffic has dropped 67% as residents realize they may have developed a psychological dependence on the eternal salmon.
"I don't trust this new fish," complained longtime customer Robert Hayes, suspiciously eyeing his lunch. "It looks too... temporary. Where's the confidence? The commitment? This salmon could be gone tomorrow."
As of press time, Patterson was considering opening a new location in Newark, reasoning that UD students "wouldn't know what fresh fish was supposed to taste like anyway."