Marietta Square Market recently announced that the national franchise Cousins Maine Lobster has joined the multitude of dining options at the food hall. This will be the popular lobster-slinging company’s seventh brick-and-mortar restaurant in the country, and the second location in Georgia. As the 14th and final business to sign for a space in Marietta Square Market, the location will not be open for the Market’s grand opening March 28, but should open soon after.
Cousins Maine Lobster is known for shipping lobster directly from Maine within 48 hours of service at its food trucks and restaurants around the country. Menu items range from traditional New England lobster rolls to less conventional items like lobster mac and cheese. The company opened its first Georgia brick-and-mortar location in Buckhead Lenox Square Mall in June 2018, meeting swift popularity, and the new Marietta location is set to garner just as much attention. Local franchise owner Tony Harrison, who manages both locations as well as two food trucks operating in the state, is excited to begin the business’s venture into the new food hall.
“The Lenox Square Mall location has worked out well for us, but I think we’re even more excited to be part of a dedicated food hall,” Harrison said. “I think it’s the right concept for the developing restaurant industry, because the market appeals to people of all ages and there are food options there for everyone.”
Harrison first heard about Cousins Maine when he saw founders Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac appear on the ABC television show Shark Tank in 2012, where the actual cousins from Maine successfully business shark Barbara Corcoran to invest in their Los Angeles-based food truck business. An owner of four previous businesses, Harrison said that the episode felt like a spiritual sign that he should get involved with the company.
“I paused the show right there and started looking for a Cousins Maine food truck in Georgia, but then I realized we didn’t have any here,” Harrison said. “Starting a new business was the last thing on my mind at the time, but I had caught the bug. I got in touch with the Cousins team in Los Angeles and convinced them to open in Georgia in 2014.”
Cousins Maine food trucks are most known for the Maine Lobster Roll, a sandwich stuffed with chilled lobster meat and a smear of mayo on a New England style sub roll. Equally popular is the Connecticut roll, a warm version of the Maine roll served with butter and lemon. Less conventional options include lobster quesadillas, lobster tacos, lobster tater tots, and a luxurious 4-5 oz. lobster tail in-shell, served with drawn butter. The lobster bisque and clam chowder are popular winter items.
The brick-and-mortar locations feature an extended menu with additional rolls and sandwiches, as well as lobster nachos, lobster grilled cheese, and a Maine Harvest salad with hazelnuts, butternut squash, dried cranberries, avocado and goat cheese. Even more lobster can be added to any item on the menu for additional charge. Harrison hinted that the new Marietta Square Market location will offer exclusive options not found at the Lenox Square restaurant, including fish and chips and fried whole belly clams.
Unfortunately, a legendary Cousins Maine lobster ice cream will not be offered as a full-time menu item. The lemon butter-infused vanilla ice cream with chunks of actual lobster might sound like a dare to Cobb County foodies, but it was good enough to impress Queen Latifah. Harrison said that serving ice cream would put them in competition with fellow Market tenant Four Fat Cows Ice-Cream, but the item could possibly make a brief appearance as a summertime special.
Cousins Maine joins Grand Champ BBQ, Lucky’s Burger & Brew, Tiny Bubbles Tea Bar and many more food and retail options in the Marietta Square Market. For more information on the Market, read Cobb County Courier’s earlier coverage of Marietta city developments.
The grand opening of the Marietta Square Market March 28, and Cousins Maine Lobster will open shortly after that. Business hours begin at 7 a.m. every day, closing at 10 p.m. on weekdays, 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 9 p.m. Sundays. The Market address is found at 68 N Marietta Pkwy Marietta, Ga 30060.
