Shark Tank Success Story, Cousins Maine Lobster, Launches 75th Unit in Jacksonville, FL

Cousins Maine Lobster, a seafood company founded by Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac, has announced the opening of its 75th unit in Jacksonville, Florida. The business, launched in 2012, now operates four restaurants and 71 food trucks across more than 30 states.

The Jacksonville franchise is run by Mandy Ottesen and Damon Cole, both from St. Johns, FL. They started exploring franchise opportunities with Cousins Maine Lobster earlier this year, and within approximately five months, they were able to launch their food truck. Ottesen and Cole are both passionate about seafood, particularly Maine lobster.

Ottesen said, "Damon and I are excited to launch our first Cousins Maine Lobster food truck in the Jacksonville area. About a year ago, we fell in love with the food at the Cousins Maine Lobster restaurant in Neptune Beach. Now, we're ready to share this amazing experience with seafood lovers from Nassau County to Flagler County and beyond."

To learn about sustainable lobster fishing practices, the franchisees underwent Cousins Maine Lobster's Lobster 101 training in Casco Bay, Maine. They also completed new franchisee training in Nashville, Tennessee, where they learned about operating the company's food trucks. Currently, they are hiring and training staff in preparation for the launch.

Co-Founder Jim Tselikis said, "Sabin and I started this business to share the special moments from our childhood in Maine. We had this dream that we could bring the world's best lobster to seafood lovers everywhere, and we're thrilled to celebrate our 75th unit milestone with our team and franchisees."

The Jacksonville unit's grand opening celebration will take place on Saturday, November 9th, at Beer:30—San Marco. Customers can enjoy classic Maine fare, including lobster rolls, clam chowder, and whoopie pies.