The expansion comes as Cousins Maine Lobster continues to add locations across the country.
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Cousins Maine Lobster, a South Portland-based franchise brand founded in 2012 by first cousins Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac, is rolling into the Des Moines market with a new food truck.
The truck held its grand opening Saturday in Altoona, a Des Moines suburb with 22,796 people that grew by 16.5% between the 2020 and 2025, according to the U.S. Census. Iowa's capital city has a metro population of around 750,000.
The Des Moines franchise will be operated by Karan Singh, an existing Cousins Maine Lobster franchisee. Singh also owns and operates California food trucks in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara.
The rolling venue will offer lobster rolls at community events, breweries, local businesses and other gathering places.
"Des Moines has an incredible sense of community, and I'm excited to introduce Cousins Maine Lobster to customers across central Iowa," said Singh. "Our food trucks are built around bringing people together for a memorable experience, and we look forward to becoming part of local events and celebrations throughout the region. We can't wait to welcome everyone at our grand opening and share the authentic flavors of Maine."
Cousins Maine expansion
The expansion comes as Cousins Maine Lobster continues to add locations across the country. Since 2012, cousins Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis have grown the business from a single food truck to a roster of 85 total franchise units and mobile trucks nationwide.
