Cousins Maine Lobster Expands to Wisconsin with Local Entrepreneurs

Authentic Maine Lobster Food Truck Model Inks Deal to Bring High-Quality Seafood to Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cousins Maine Lobster (CML), the industry-leading fast-casual lobster roll brand, has signed an agreement to bring a new truck to Wisconsin. Spearheaded by local entrepreneurs and longtime friends, Chris Goeman and Kevin Smith, the new truck will serve the Milwaukee market with plans to open the truck June 2025.

Goeman, an entrepreneur who has operated a convenience store, car wash, storage units and restaurants, partnered with Smith, a lifelong sales professional and former business owner in Arizona. Their interest in Cousins Maine Lobster was sparked after seeing the brand's popularity during visits from the Chicago truck. Impressed by the brand's food quality and family-oriented culture, Goeman and Smith are excited to build strong community connections across Wisconsin, with early excitement already coming from local festivals and events. Following the Milwaukee launch, they plan to expand to Madison in early 2026 and Green Bay the following year.

"When I saw the lines forming for Cousins Maine Lobster made up of customers from several neighborhoods away, we knew the demand was real," said Smith. "It's a clear sign that people are craving this authentic Maine lobster experience, and we couldn't be more excited. We're eager to be part of a company that truly treats its owners like family, offering incredible support and making us feel invested in the success of the brand."

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 the goal of reaching 100 locations by end of 2025. In 2024, Cousins Maine Lobster signed more than 30 development agreements with franchisees and expanded company-led operations in Kansas City and Louisville. The brand recently celebrated its 13th anniversary with launches in Grand Rapids and Oklahoma City in April and introduced a new truck in West Virginia this month.

"We're excited to permanently expand into Wisconsin and bring the Cousins Maine Lobster experience to a new market," said Lindsay Herberger, Director of Franchise Development at Cousins Maine Lobster. "Chris and Kevin's enthusiasm and business experience make them ideal partners to grow our presence in Milwaukee and beyond. We look forward to supporting their success as they introduce our brand to more guests across the state."

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 Seattle, Washington; 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. If you reside in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, or Wisconsin, we may not be able to offer you a franchise until it has been registered in your state.

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SOURCE Cousins Maine Lobster