'Shark Tank' Fave 'Cousins Maine Lobster' Opens in LA

Cousins Maine Lobster, a food truck delivering fresh lobster from Maine to the streets of Los Angeles via overnight UPS, is opening its first brick-and-mortar shop in the heart of West Hollywood.

The company first gained local and national prominence as two likeable, hungry guppy cousins pled their case on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” securing a deal back in 2012.

On the eve of the July 2 store opening, select VIPs, friends, and family filled the Santa Monica Boulevard location, neighboring the Starbucks and Trader Joes in “boys’ town.” They will be serving up lobster rolls ($15), lobster tacos, lobster BLT’s, and a very dry lobster martini. (It’s just lobster chunks in a glass, no booze.)

Also Read: Ashton Kutcher to Appear on ABC's 'Shark Tank'

Back in October 2012, cousins Sabin Lomac and Jim Tselikis closed a deal with “Shark” Barbara Corcoran on the ABC hit show. Corcoran invested $55,000 for a 15% stake in the business, giving it a valuation of $366,666.

The “Shark Tank” alums keep a photo of their Shark on the wall of their new shop.

She’s prominently displayed in a frame near the door, nestled between Tselikis and Lomac. Their wall of fame is impressive, even by L.A. standards, with pictures of the owners with Katie Couric and Kathie Lee, and clips of the media savvy duo on the “Today Show”.

Also Read: Donald Trump's $50 Million Mexican Mess: What's the Cost of Calling an Entire Country 'Rapists'?

“We could not have done this without Barbara. Barbara is fun,” cousin/owner Sabin Lomac told TheWrap amidst balloons, giant ribbon cutting scissors, and West Hollywood elected officials. “Sometimes we work so hard she says ‘Are you going to the gym?’, ‘Who are you dating?’, ‘Are you having fun?’, ‘Are you taking some time for yourself?'”.

At the time they closed their deal on the Mark Burnett and Clay Newbill produced “Tank”, they had one food truck in Los Angeles. Now, they have 14 trucks roaming 10 cities and franchisees across the country. The WeHo shop though, is the first brick-and-mortar under the Cousins Maine Lobster name.

Also Read: ABC Holds Out for Higher Pricing in Upfront Negotiations

Fellow “Shark” Daymond John, who passed on the opportunity to invest three years ago, stopped in on Monday night during a pre-pre opening.

“After we went on ‘Shark Tank’ we had so many opportunities,” Lomac said. “We were young. We didn’t know anything. We were like ‘Yeah, let’s do everything!’ Barbara really honed us in and said ‘stay focused, stay to the path.'”

Proceeds from Tuesday night’s pre-opening festivities and the public grand opening itself will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles. Cousins is an official partner of the mentoring organization coast-to-coast with monthly events, and both cousin-owners are “big” brothers in the group. Several local “littles” got an advance munch on lobster rolls and fried clams at the opening party.

Also Read: 15 Times Donald Trump Courted Controversy (Photos)

The Cousins will get a second helping of TV time. They will be featured on “Shark Tank” spinoff “Beyond the Tank” this September on ABC.

Cousins Maine Lobster is at 8593 Santa Monica Blvd.

Party Report in Pictures: The Dalai Lama, Jessica Alba, Justin Bieber, Ryan Seacrest Helen Mirren, Zedd, Pharrell (Photos)

Macklemore rocked Major League Baseball's "All Star Bash" in Cincinnati on Sunday night ahead of Tuesday's mid-summer classic on Fox.
(L.G. Patterson/MLB Photos)
Macklemore shared the bill with Snoop Dogg, who went on at 1:30 a.m. on Sunday night and brought a double-fisting (joints) dog mascot on stage with him.
(L.G. Patterson/MLB Photos)
Frequent Super Bowl and major sporting event enthusiast Rob Riggle took in the party from the VIP section at the Old Enquirer building. (Riggle's wingman is Chad Lowe.)
Jonah Light Photography
This is branded entertainment. Pepsi, Budweiser, Sony Playtation, and Captain Morgan White Rum also sponsored the bash.
(L.G. Patterson/MLB Photos)
Gwen Stefani threw a high tea with 90 top Youtubers at the Ebell Theatre to promote her Harajuku Lovers line. Kandee Johnson and Bunny Meyer flank the designer/rocker. The event was part of Beauty Con L.A.
Stefanie Keenan/Getty Images for BeautyCon
The Dalai Lama spent July 4th with an intimate crowd at Rancho Las Lomas (a resort/event space near Irvine), where Forest Whitaker (right) introduced His Holyiess.
Peak Mind Summit
Michelle Phan, Maroon 5's Jesse Carmichael, rockers Chris Cornell and Linda Perry, and surfer Kelly Slater got seats. Aloe Blacc sang for the Dalai Lama at the stop hosted by the Peak Mind Foundation.
Peak Mind Summit
Mr. Brainwash could not help being Mr. Brainwash. For Brainwash, "spaz" is always the answer.
Peak Mind Summit
Later in his swing through SoCal, the Dalai Lama would play to a bigger room, filling the arena in Anaheim as part of his 80th Birthday Celebration.
Peter Ruprecht
Julia Ormand, Wilmer Valderrama, George Lopez, and Randy Jackson joined the Dalai Lama on stage.
Peter Ruprecht
Earlier in the 4th of July weekend, Bootsy Bellows through a "white party" at Nobu in Malibu, making a smart use of the prime real estate on a day when sushi is not anywhere on the holiday food pyramid.
h.wood Group
Jessica Lowndes and Brit Pixie Lott, whose fame is much greater in the UK than here, buddied up on the deck. H.Wood Partner Marcus Molinari brought his flair to the event, as the fashion designer Brian Lichtenberg ("Homies") was the chill one.
h.wood Group
Before beginning a press tour for his E! show "Sex with Brody", the perennial reality star DJ'd behind the guy who may or may not be in an illicit relationship with his half sister, Tyga. At the party but camera shy: One Direction's Harry Styles, Ryan Seacrest, Robin Thicke, and Brody's mom, Linda Thompson.
h.wood Group
Hamptons Time! Leigh Lezark and Emily Ratajkowski at the REVOLVE Hamptons House, where DeLeon Tequila flowed for the 4th.
Matthew Eisman/Getty Images for REVOLVE
Evan Ross took a spell from promoting his upcoming album to cheat at cornhole at the Kia Beach House in Malibu on Tuesday. They want you to know there are a pile of sponsors there like "JustFab" and "Gevalia Iced Coffee".
Dan Steinberg/InVisionn AP/ Talent Resources
Feeding the models: Chanel Iman, draped in a JustFab jacket, Jessica Stam and Jessica Szhor forked STK at Just Jared’s Just Fabulous Dinner Party at the JustFab Beach House in Malibu.
Justin Campbell
Ryan Seacrest and Pharrell Williams in Cannes, "Power Breakfast" headliner Helen Mirren scoops an award, and Jessica Chastain is looking up in London, amongst this week's top shots.

Also Read: Helen Mirren Uncensored on Hollywood ‘F-ing Outrageous’ Ageism, Sexuality, Royalty and Fear (Video)
Getty Images
Robert Rodriguez presented to Raquel Welch and "Orange is the New Black" star Dascha Polanco won the Lupe Award at NALIP's Latino Media Awards at the W Hollywood on Saturday night.
Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images
This is not your average "backstage-with-your-award" pose.
Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images
Meghan Trainor jumped up with Tori Kelly at Kelly's album release party at the Nice Guy on Thursday night. Justin Bieber and Scooter Braun took in the show from the front row. Biebs gave a standing "O".
H.Wood Group
"Orange is the New Black's" new breakout, Ruby Rose, hung with Justin Bieber backstage at Encore Beach Club.
EBC Photographer
Jessica Alba and her Honest Company bonded with other anti-chemical outfits like Naturepedic and Seventh Generation to lobby on the Hill. Here, the "Sin City" star lobbied Sen. Dick Durbin.
Ben Droz
Before "Million Dollar Listing New York's" season finale on July 1, real estate shark Luis D. Ortiz (far left) celebrated with some of his non-televised fellow agents.
Clint Spaulding for Patrick McMullan
2 Million Dollars worth of Grin: Ortiz and running mate Frederik Uklund at the Rainbow Room for the Bravo bash.
Clint Spaulding for Patrick McMullan
Evan Ross performed at the "reveal" of the new STK in the W Hotel in Westwood on Thursday night. The La Cienega location is moving there.
Jason Merritt/Getty Images
In town shooting the fall season of "Shark Tank", sharks Daymond John and Kevin O'Leary took up a table, modeling Mr. Wonderful's namesake wine.
Michael Kovac/Getty Images
The new location is a spitting image of the former hotspot on La Cienega.
Michael Kovac/Getty Images
Meanwhile in Beverly Hills on Thursday night, Michael Sheen served on the jury that handed out BAFTA's US Student Film Awards at the Annenberg Center.
David Buchan/Getty Images
In New York, Craig Robinson and Peri Gilpin promoted the upcoming "Mr. Robinson" at NBCU's Summer Press event on Wednesday afternoon.
NBCU
Meanwhile in Cannes, Ryan Seacrest, Pharrell Williams, and IHeartMedia CEO Bob Pittman took in the view from the Palais after a panel during the Cannes Lions.
Getty Images
As part of his duties as a guest editor for Vanity Fair at Milan Fashion Week, NBA star Russell Westbrook hung with Giorgio Armani at Armani's menswear show on Tuesday.
Courtesy of Vanity Fair
GQ, also in Milan, celebrated creative director Jim Moore's (left) 35th year with a party at Casa Degli Atellani and a performance by Miguel on June 20.
Getty Images
Over in London, Jessica Chastain looks up to "Game of Thrones'" Gwendoline Christie at Ralph Lauren and Vogue's Wimbledon party.
David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images
David Spade celebrated "Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser" on the Sony lot on Tuesday night, June 24. Child actor twins Allison and Lauren Gobuzzi flank Chloe Guidry and Mr. Dirt.
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Crackle
Colin Quinn and Spade buddy Kevin Farley (who is in the film) hit the after party, where there was a replica trailer.
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Crackle
Happy Madison's Doug Robinson and Crackle GM Eric Berger will release the film on Crackle on July 16.
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Crackle
Adam Sandler showed up to the premiere. Sandler is no stranger to digital feature film releases. He has a four film deal with Netflix.

Also Read: Rose McGowan Says ‘Wussy’ Agent Fired Her for Criticizing ‘Bulls–t’ Adam Sandler Movie Role
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Crackle
Up on Sunset, the documentary with 100 celebrity narrators, "Unity" had its world premiere at the DGA. David LaChapelle and narrator Pam Anderson arrived together, No Doubt's Tony Kanal, writer-director Shaun Monson, and narrator Moby formed a music crew, while narrator and "CSI" star Jorja Fox modeled the one-sheet.
Michael Buckner/Getty Images
"Jem and the Holograms'" Hayley Kiyoko hosted a party for the new lifestyle series she hosts, "Denim Hunters" at Riviera 31 at the Sofitel on Tuesday night. On "PopularTV", it is a surprisingly high quality short form video series on a channel from the former heads of Nylon, Marvin and Jaclynn Jarrett.
Michael Simon/StarTraksPhoto.com
L.A. Clipper Glen "Big Baby" Davis turned up at one of PATH's (People Assisting the Homeless) centers for families in downtown L.A. to captain story hour. He read his own children's book, "Basketball with Big Baby".
Courtesy of Path
Pitbull supported pal DJ Irie at the Miami-based (but nationally appreciated) artist's annual Irie Weekend in Miami.
Omar Vega & Thaddeaus McAdams.
Anthony Mackie and Daymond "The Shark" John joined the weekend of festivities in South Beach for Irie's foundation that counsels teens from middle school through high school via mentorships.
Omar Vega & Thaddeaus McAdams.
The World Jewish Congress awarded Helen Mirren a 1936 Kiddush Cup for her role in the film "Woman in Gold" in New York.
Getty Images
"I can't imagine having your family heirlooms stolen from you as (her character) Maria did," Mirren said. Whether it’s your mother's ring, or your grandmother's, or now your great-grandmother's - it's special to you and belongs to you. Mirren is starring in "The Audience" on Broadway.
Getty Images
Jason Reitman keynoted at the Palm Spring International ShortFest on Sunday afternoon. He spent time with fest Executive Direct Darryl Macdonald and Forums Producer Helen du Toit.
Mark Davis/Getty Images
Eva Longoria smacked a Svedka piñata, cozied up to the mariachis, and watched young Hollywood slug new grapefruit jalapeño flavored "Disco Cups" at the vodka's summer fiesta in Beverly Hills on June 16.
Michael Simon/StartraksPhoto.com
In downtown, the L.A. Chamber Orchestra celebrated the earliest era of Disney Animation at the Ace Hotel with live performances accompanying re-premieres of restored versions of 1920's and 1930's era Disney shorts, like "Oswald the Lucky Rabbit." The sellout raised $215,000 for the L.A. Chamber Orchestra.
LACO
A pile of reality stars got muddy together in New Jersey for the BattleFrog obstacle race, a course designed by Navy seals. The tired and dirty crew included (from top left): Nadiya Anderson (Survivor / Amazing Race), RC Saint-Amour (Survivor), Ryan Allen Carrillo (Expedition Impossible), Eliza Orlins (Survivor), Paulie Califorie (model), Gina Marie Zimmerman (Big Brother runner up), Nicole Zanatta (Real World), Natalie Anderson (Survivor winner / Amazing Race), Jay G (Real World), Joe Papas (Dating Naked)
Lee Holt/Special to BattleFrog Series
At Hangar 8, Zedd (far left) and Jason Derulo swiped right on an offer to play Tinder's party celebrating their new Tinder Plus service. Zedd pal Martin Garrix (19, to Zedd's right) turned up on the scene before both headed to Las Vegas.
Getty Images