Cousins Maine Lobster Rolls into New Territory, Bringing Fast-Casual Seafood to Gainesville and Savannah

Authentic Maine Lobster Food Truck Model Inks Deal to Expand in the South

GAINESVILLE, Fla., May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Maine Lobster (CML), the industry-leading fast-casual lobster roll brand, is fueling its Florida and Georgia footprint—

Known for its wild-caught Maine lobster, Cousins Maine Lobster has signed an agreement with seasoned entrepreneurs, Damon Cole and Mandy Ottesen, to launch a new truck in the Gainesville and Savannah markets. This will mark the brand's eighth location in Florida and third in Georgia, reinforcing its southern presence. The truck's debut is set for July 2025, serving premium lobster rolls and other local Maine favorites.

This will be the second CML food truck owned by Ottesen and Cole, a testament to their passion for high-quality food and community-centric business. Cole, a former marine engineer who spent nearly two decades navigating the globe, combines technical expertise with a passion for authentic Maine lobster, inspired by his father's work along the East Coast. Ottesen, a dedicated entrepreneur with 15 years of experience running a successful lice removal franchise, brings her sharp business mindset and heart for local service. Together, their shared love for lobster and drive to create a lasting impact led them to launch their first Cousins Maine Lobster truck in Jacksonville, FL, in November 2024.

"We're excited to announce that Cousins Maine Lobster will be serving the Gainesville and Savannah communities very soon for all the lobster enthusiasts," said Damon Cole. "What started as a love for lobster turned into something so much bigger. We've been hands-on since day one, and we're looking forward to launching more trucks in Florida and expanding into Georgia. We're committed to building lasting connections and delivering the quality experience fans have come to love from Cousins Maine Lobster."

As one of the fastest-growing seafood concepts in the U.S., Cousins Maine Lobster is on track to open 30 units this year, with sights set on becoming a 100-unit brand by the end of 2025. In 2024, the brand executed more than 30 development agreements with franchisees and pursued company-led expansion in Kansas City and Louisville.

The average Cousins Maine Lobster franchisee currently owns 6 units, drives a food truck AUV of $1.3 million, and has been launching additional new units based upon multi-year growth plans.

"Cousins Maine Lobster is expanding across the country through dedicated and experienced operators like Damon and Mandy," said Lindsay Herberger, Director of Franchise Development at Cousins Maine Lobster. "At Cousins, we offer entrepreneurs the opportunity to become part of a family-owned business that surprises and delights guests with high-quality products, efficient operations, and strong unit economics for franchisees. We are actively seeking seasoned operators to fuel our growth in several states, and we are confident they will bring the local Maine family traditions to the community of Gainesville and Savannah."

Cousins Maine Lobster is seeking well-capitalized owners and operators who are enthusiastic about bringing new concepts to their market, building new units, and delivering high-quality seafood with exceptional customer service. With a proven business model that offers flexibility, franchisees can launch food trucks in as little as three to six months. Lower overhead and labor costs allow operators an efficient and cost-effective entry into each market. The brand is currently seeking franchisees for markets with strong demand for high-quality, fast-casual seafood, including San Diego, California; Reno, Nevada; and areas across the Midwest, including St. Louis, Missouri; Des Moines, Iowa; and Fort Wayne, Indiana; Columbia, South Carolina. For information on new franchising opportunities, visit: www.cousinsmainelobster.com/franchise.

About Cousins Main Lobster:
Cousins Maine Lobster is a leader in fast-casual seafood, partnering with local entrepreneurs to bring the highest quality Maine lobster rolls to neighborhoods everywhere by way of their infamous food trucks, brick & mortar restaurants, and a shore-to-door gourmet online shop that delivers the highest quality live Maine lobsters directly to your home. In 2012, Cousins Maine Lobster was co-founded by cousins Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis with the desire to bring their local Maine family traditions to the West Coast masses. They later appeared on Shark Tank where they partnered with real estate mogul and shark, Barbara Corcoran. Since then, Cousins Maine Lobster has franchised to expand their footprint across the U.S. and has become one of the top Shark Tank investments of all time. For more information, visit: www.cousinsmainelobster.com and follow on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube @cousinsmainlobster and Twitter @cousinsmainlob. To find a location near you, visit www.cousinsmainelobster.com.

DISCLAIMER: This news is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy a franchise. Any actual offer or solicitation can only be made through a Franchise Disclosure Document. We may not be able to offer you a franchise until our FDD has been registered in your state.

CONTACT: Ryan Gorton
All Points Public Relations
[email protected]

SOURCE Cousins Maine Lobster