Cousins Maine Lobster joins a growing list of shuttered businesses on Santa Monica Blvd., including Starbucks next door.
The business was founded in 2012 as a food truck by Maine natives Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac. The truck’s runaway success got the pair on TV’s “Shark Tank,” leading to a partnership with judge and investor Barbara Corcoran.
The closing of the WeHo location isn’t indicative of greater problems with the franchise — Cousins Maine Lobster had 42 trucks and 6 other brick-and-mortar restaurants, with an annual revenue of $29 million as of March 2022.
[…] Within the Ramada are vacant storefronts which include the Big Gay Starbucks, Supercuts and Cousin’s Maine Lobster. […]
A business of 10 years doesn’t close because the service and/or the food is subpar. In general a business closes after 10 years for financial reasons. Not enough revenue to support the costs incurred is most common. I have no knowledge of this business financials. I am just stating my opinion developed over decades of owning businesses.
Many businesses have closed on Santa Monica BLVD. My opinion is that this will continue. Critical mass. High cost of doing business. Crime. Etc.
Actually NO SURPRISE Cousins Maine Lobster went out of business. Tried them 3 times, always give businesses 3 chances. But each time was worst than the previous. Overpriced with bad service is a bad combo. When a business is going to charge high prices for “take-a-way” fast food, then the quality must be really good, and the service must be really good. Surprised they lasted this long. PLUS of course, they could not control the homeless issue with people begging for food from the ‘al fresco dining’ patrons. Until WeHo gets the homeless issue under control, more businesses will go… Read more »
I agree… not great. But as a vegan now, for 2.5 years and counting… I’m happy for the lobsters.
Unfortunate location. Not surprised.
I ate there once after they opened. Completely underwhelming and very expensive. Their business model didn’t consider the foreseeable soaring costs of a pricey crustacean like lobster. It is always the among the most expensive dishes in any restaurant (with the possible exception of Red Lobster, which is on life support these days). I love a good lobster roll and they didn’t have it. The price point for a casual dining place on SMB simply was a fail. I’m surprised they lasted this long. My guess is they had a 10-year lease (2012-2022) and and it made no sense to… Read more »
So overpriced and underwhelming
Uhhh… did they do a business plan or marketing plan before… BEFORE… they opened in West Hollywood. Or did they just believe they had a great idea?
I never went to this location but I did try it from one of their trucks in South Carolina last year. The most overrated, overpriced and least quantity lobster roll I’ve ever had. I’m surprised they stayed in business at that location. As long as they did. I thought they would be closed a long time ago.
I always thought that this was kind of a “god why?” I’m from New England and I love a lobster roll, but not enough to pay to fly a lobster out here from Maine to get one.
Ditto, I lived in Boston almost 25 years. I think the lobsta was frozen. After a while it tasted bland and rubbery, usually an indication of frozen not fresh. There is nothing like a lobster roll from the coast of Maine.
I’m guessing it is indicative of the soaring commercial rents. I loved this place.
You’d have to guess seeing how the article didn’t say. Wish there was more info in it…..
Every service business is challenging and, especially to patrons who show up with bad attitude. Food was good, service acceptable. Restaurant business in Los Angeles is rough. Give it a shot
i never understood the thinking behind choosing this location for their only brick and mortar in LA. I’d imagine they were already hemorrhaging during and after the Covid shutdown and never rebounded. Then came the big rent hike and Starbucks moving out and that sealed the coffin.