The fast-casual lobster brand plans for 100 locations in first half of next year.
By Andrew Carlo
Cousins Maine Lobster has signed a new agreement that will bring the brand’s food trucks in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona.
According to the terms of the agreement, the fast-casual lobster brand will roll four new trucks into these states across the Southwest region. Offerings from Cousins Maine Lobster include lobster rolls, lobster grilled cheese, and whoopie pies for those with a sweet tooth.
Behind this latest plan are entrepreneurs and longtime friends Chris Wilson and Gary Andrews who launched the brand and two trucks in Lubbock, Texas last year.
In this latest round, the first truck launch is slated for Albuquerque, New Mexico in May 2026. A second truck will follow in Phoenix, Arizona, in August 2026, with two additional trucks slated to open in 2027 in El Paso, Texas, and Tucson, Arizona.
“After a strong debut with our first two trucks, we’re eager to expand across multiple states and serve even more communities that can’t get enough of Cousins Maine Lobster,” said Wilson. “It’s been an honor to grow the brand’s presence in West Texas, and we’re thrilled to bring authentic Maine lobster and the hospitality Cousins is known for to Albuquerque, El Paso, Phoenix, and Tucson.”
Wilson is a veteran restaurant operator with decades of industry experience who was first introduced to Cousins Maine Lobster when one of the brand’s Dallas-based trucks visited his community.
“Chris and Gary have built incredible momentum in Lubbock by leading with passion and delivering a best-in-class experience,” said Lindsay Herberger, director of franchise development at Cousins Maine Lobster. “Their leadership in Lubbock sets the stage for growth in New Mexico and Arizona, and we’re eager to see them bring our Maine lobster experience to more guests across the region.”
Cousins Maine Lobster said that it has opened 20 new units this year, which includes expansion into new markets such as Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Albany, New York; Morgantown, West Virginia; and Winston-Salem/Greensboro, North Carolina.
Another 100 units are scheduled to open in 35 states during the first half of 2026.
Cousins Maine Lobster said its food trucks can launch in as little as three to six months with low overhead and labor costs allowing operators an efficient and cost-effective entry into markets.
This past June, Cousins Maine Lobster reached a company milestone when it hit $1 billion in system-wide sales for the first time since its founding in Los Angeles in 2012. Today the brand operates more than 85 locations in over 30 states.
Looking ahead, the brand is targeting franchise operators in Charleston, South Carolina; the Midwest, including Wichita, Kansas, Des Moines, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska; and areas across the West, including Reno, Nevada.
To learn more about franchise opportunities with Cousins Maine Lobster, visit https://www.cousinsmainelobster.com/franchise.
