Mr. Alfred “Al” R. Sunseri was born on May 3, 1958, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Mr. Salvador Raymond Sunseri (born April 25, 1925, New Orleans) and Mrs. Bobbie Prest Sunseri (born September 10, 1931, Winnipeg, Canada). Raymond Sunseri worked as a certified public accountant in Beverly Hills, California, (1949 to 1950), and from 1952 to 1986, he was owner of P&J Oyster Company, Inc. Al Sunseri’s father’s family was of Sicilian descent, from Trabia, Sicily. His paternal grandmother was Olvira Federice Sunseri. His paternal grandfather, Alfred R. Sunseri, was in the banana business, Standard Fruit Company and United Fruit Company. Alfred R. Sunseri is one of the founders of P&J Oyster Company. Al’s mother, Bobbie Prest Sunseri, worked as an actress before becoming a wife and mother of seven children. She was a homemaker until the age of thirty-nine, when she returned to school and earned a master’s degree in special education. She taught special education in four parishes in Louisiana. Her mother’s family emigrated from Scotland into Nova Scotia, Canada, in the 1800s and worked in the timber business, growing, harvesting, and milling wood. Since he was twelve years old, Al Sunseri has been working, including cutting grass, cleaning construction sites, working in games on Pontchartrain Beach, doing oil field work, as an iron worker, a room-service waiter, and in men’s retail sales. At the time of this interview he was co-owner and President of P&J Oyster Company in New Orleans, Louisiana. From 1963 to 1968, Al Sunseri attended Immaculate Heart of Mary; from 1969 to 1972 he attended Christian Brothers School; from 1972 to 1975 he attended De La Salle; from 1975 to 1976 he attended St. Paul’s High School; from 1976 to 1977 he attended Nicholls State; and from 1978 to 1980 he attended Southeastern Louisiana University. Al Sunseri is a member of the Louisiana Restaurant Association, the Louisiana Oyster Task Force, the Gulf Oyster Industry Council, the Louisiana Oyster Dealers and Growers Association, the Governor’s Oyster Advisory Committee, and the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Coastal Protection, Restoration, and Conservation. He has been an advocate for the oyster community for over twenty-five years, serving as president of the Louisiana Oyster Dealers and Growers Association for seven years; Plaquemines Oyster Association for two years; and chair of the Louisiana Oyster Task Force for seven years. He has been advocating coastal protection and restoration in Louisiana for over twenty years. Al Sunseri enjoys football, basketball, golf, politics, reading, walking, working around his family’s country home in Poplarville, Mississippi, cooking, and being with his family and friends. On February 14, 1984, he married his wife Sally Lincks Sunseri (born December 2, 1957). They have three children, Salvador Blake Sunseri (born April 1, 1986), Alexandra Elizibeth Sunseri (born August 22, 1988), and Victoria Grace Sunseri (born July 9, 1993). Their son Blake works at P&J Oyster Company, with his father and uncle, as manager.

Mr. Sal Sunseri was born November 16, 1960, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is Al Sunseri’s brother. He and his wife, Victoria (born in May, 1964, New Orleans), were married in 1993 in New Orleans. They have one son, Dominic Sunseri (born August, 1998). Sal Sunseri is co-owner and Vice President of P&J Oyster Company. He attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana, earning a degree in mass communication in 1985. He enjoys fatherhood, husbandhood, church, family, and sports. He coaches Little League Baseball, serves on the French Quarter Management District, Renaissance of Rampart, and Louisiana Restaurant Association.

Mr. Salvador Blake Sunseri was born April 1, 1986. He is Al Sunseri’s son, and he is the manager of P&J Oyster Company. Blake Sunseri attended St. Matthew the Apostle Grammar School and Heritage Academy High School. He enjoys longboarding and bonsai cultivation.

Scope and Content Note:
November 1, 2011: This interview features Blake Sunseri and Sal Sunseri, co-owners of P&J Oyster Company, a family-owned business located in New Orleans. The interview is conducted by Scull-DeArmey and VanZandt from the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage. Blake Sunseri shares his childhood memories of growing up around the oyster business, including his initial dislike for oysters and his eventual fondness for them. He also reminisces about the atmosphere of the shop and the changes it has undergone over the years. He describes the process of oyster shucking and the unique sounds associated with it, painting a vivid picture of the shop's operations. Sal Sunseri discusses the challenges of running the business, including managing supply and demand and the importance of not overextending the business. He also talks about the importance of maintaining the family tradition and the company's reputation, which he believes is a key factor in their success. He emphasizes the importance of their relationships with restaurants in the French Quarter and the benefits these establishments derive from sourcing their oysters from P&J Oyster Company. Sal Sunseri also discusses the economic growth and changes in New Orleans, including the impact of the film industry and housing developments. He mentions the Iberville housing development as a significant catalyst for economic growth and the changes in the city's economic structure post-Katrina. The interview provides a rich insight into the operations of a family-owned oyster business, the challenges they face, and the changes in the economic landscape of New Orleans. 

November 8, 2023: This interview features Blake Sunseri and Sal Sunseri, co-owners of P&J Oyster Company, a family-owned business located in New Orleans. The interview provides a rich narrative of the company's history, operations, and the challenges it faces. Blake Sunseri shares his childhood memories of growing up around the oyster business, including his initial dislike for oysters and his eventual fondness for them. He also reminisces about the atmosphere of the shop and the changes it has undergone over the years. He describes the process of oyster shucking and the unique sounds associated with it, painting a vivid picture of the shop's operations. Sal Sunseri, on the other hand, discusses the business aspects of the company. He talks about the importance of maintaining the company's tradition and brand, and the relationships they have built with restaurants in the French Quarter. He emphasizes the importance of staying true to the company's values and the benefits it brings to their clients. The interview also touches on the broader context of New Orleans' economic landscape. Sal Sunseri discusses the impact of the film industry, housing developments, and the changes brought about by Hurricane Katrina on the city's economy. He highlights the transformation of the Iberville housing development as a significant catalyst for economic growth. The interview provides valuable insights into the operations of a family-owned oyster business and its place within the larger socio-economic context of New Orleans. It is a valuable resource for researchers interested in the history of the oyster industry, family businesses, and the economic development of New Orleans.