About the Owners

In 1998, Ugene Atwood sold the company to Henry and Darlene Barnes. Henry, a lobsterman, supplied the shop with his catch, while Darlene managed its day-to-day operations for the next three to four years. They kept the name Atwood’s Seafood. After the couple parted ways, they put the business up for sale.

That’s when brothers Timmy and Neil LaRochelle entered the picture. Timmy was fishing for Maine shrimp, and Neil managed a team of shrimp processors. One day, Timmy showed Neil an ad in the famed “Uncle Henry's”  for a seafood shop in Auburn, Maine, available for purchase or trade for a boat. Neil didn’t have the funds to buy it, so Timmy offered to trade his boat for the business, with the understanding that Neil would repay him for his half over time. In 2001, LaRochelle’s Seafood was born.

The arrangement suited the brothers; Timmy would catch seafood at sea, while Neil would use his business degree to run the shop. In 2012, as the economy slowed and the business could no longer support both owners, Neil asked Timmy if he wanted to buy him out. Timmy chose to keep fishing, so Neil bought out his brother and continued to develop the business. Over the years, he created the chowder and lobster salad recipes that are still sold daily. He kept the business growing until 2025.

That year, Neil sold LaRochelle’s Seafood to Randy Trefethen. Randy’s wife, Christy, is a cousin of Neil’s wife, Sherry. As Neil and Sherry looked forward to retirement, Randy was ready for a career change. He owns a construction company and a housing holding stock company but wanted to try something new. He continued to run his other businesses while taking on LaRochelle’s Seafood.

Randy’s vision was to update the shop, renovate the building inside and out, improve its equipment and systems, and prepare the business for a new generation. He was committed to honoring the LaRochelle name while refreshing the customer experience. The showroom and kitchen were remodeled first, followed by the lobster tank room and equipment upgrades.

In spring of 2026, work began on the exterior, including an outdoor patio, seating and dining area, and barbecue. As the renovations continued, the business began to grow and expand. Christy left her longtime nursing position to help Randy bring his vision to life and honor the LaRochelle family’s legacy.

Randy and Christy plan to complete the four stages of the market’s renovation while building a strong future for the business. They hope to one day pass it on to their grandchildren. As a community-based small business, LaRochelle’s Seafood aims to serve its neighbors, operate with a distinctive approach, and bring new kinds of food to the community.