Seafood food truck chains Cousins Maine Lobster and Rock N’ Roll Sushi are realizing significant growth in the U.S., with several expansions in 2025 and more on the way in 2026.
Portland, Maine, U.S.A.-based Cousins Maine Lobster (CML) recently expanded its presence in the Southeast U.S. through a franchise agreement. Business partners and long-time friends Dave Blosser and Matt Cobb will spearhead the launch of new CML food trucks in Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina, as well as Birmingham, Alabama.
Blosser and Cobb have a background as former top-performing multi-unit franchisees in the waste management industry and plan to transfer those skills into the mobile food truck industry, CML said.
"The brand's focus on high-quality ingredients, great customer experiences, and a loyal fan base really stood out to us,” Blosser and Cobb said. “We're excited to bring this unique food experience into our communities, create jobs, build a strong team culture, and even involve our kids as they learn about entrepreneurship.”
Additionally, CML is gaining presence in the Midwest. Local deputy sheriffs and brothers-in-law Hussein Kourani and Al Obaid signed a franchise agreement to launch the first CML food truck in Gary and South Bend, Indiana, in March 2026. A second truck will follow in the Fort Wayne, Indiana, market, slated to open in 2027.
CML has opened nearly 20 new units this year by expanding into new markets, including Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Albany, New York; Morgantown, West Virginia; and Winston-Salem/Greensboro, North Carolina.
The company plans to open its 100th unit in the first half of 2026 across more than 35 states.
“CML is primed to bring high-quality seafood and the authentic flavors of wild-caught Maine lobster to even more communities across the country with its flexible food truck and restaurant models,” the company said.
Similarly, Mobile, Alabama-based Rock N’ Roll Sushi opened 11 new restaurants in seven states this year, expanding in markets where “consumer demand for its bold, creative dining experience continues to accelerate,” the company said.
Among the cities in which Rock N’ Roll Sushi expanded were Apollo Beach and Port St. Lucie, Florida; Clift Farms (Madison) and Oxford, Alabama; Hot Springs and Jonesboro, Arkansas; Sikeston, Missouri; Tucson, Arizona; Cookeville, Tennessee; and Woodstock, Georgia.
The Tucson opening in particular was a major milestone for the brand, Rock N’ Roll Sushi said, setting new financial records across the board. In the store’s first 90 days, it grossed over USD 750,000 (EUR 637,000), which is three times the brand’s average unit volume (AUV) and setting a new record for the company.
“2025 has been a milestone year for Rock N’ Roll Sushi,” CEO Chris Kramolis said. “Our progress reflects the dedication of our franchise partners and the connection guests have to this brand. As we look ahead, we remain focused on delivering memorable dining experiences, supporting operators, and building on the strong foundation set this year to take the Sushi Amplified experience even further.”
In 2026, the company plans to open more restaurants in Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas; Bowling Green, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Lafayette, Louisiana; Las Vegas, Nevada; Richmond, Virginia; and Tucson.
