Fast forward from humble beginnings in a 14ft trailer to a successful 32ft Freightliner food truck by 2020, and you’ll find the heart of Maine Lobster Lady beating strong in the Phoenix area. For years, our family dedicated ourselves to serving the community, traveling from San Diego to Las Vegas, and earning accolades for our signature Maine Lobster Rolls. We built a loyal following and cherished every moment of it. Looking back, we feel incredibly blessed by the journey and the people we’ve met along the way.
Alt text: Diana, the Maine Lobster Lady, smiling warmly from inside her vibrant food truck, ready to serve her famous lobster rolls.
Thinking back to our first Arizona event in January 2012, it’s hard to believe how far we’ve come. I remember leaning out of the trailer window, offering hesitant passersby toothpick samples of our lobster. There were many polite refusals in those early days! But from those slow beginnings, we grew to see lines stretching for up to four hours – a testament to the love for authentic Maine lobster in the desert.
Then, in 2020, everything changed with the arrival of COVID-19.
We were fully stocked and ready for the 2020 Scottsdale Festival of the Arts when, at the last minute, it was canceled. In a moment of desperation, we reached out to “Brett the Vet” in Scottsdale, a location we had visited before. We asked if we could set up in his parking lot to try and sell the inventory we had prepared for the festival. He graciously welcomed us, and you, our amazing community, showed up in force on very short notice. That event, selling out completely, became the unexpected finale for the Maine Lobster Lady Food Truck in Arizona.
(Yes, it’s true. Our beloved food truck will no longer be gracing the streets of Arizona. It’s okay to feel a little sad – we certainly did!)
The decision to close the truck wasn’t taken lightly. As the pandemic unfolded, it felt socially irresponsible to encourage long lines and close gatherings when a new virus was spreading rapidly. My family’s well-being was my top priority. I couldn’t risk putting them or our customers in harm’s way. So, I made the difficult call to end our Arizona season prematurely.
Alt text: Maine Lobster Lady, Diana, playfully peeks out the window of her food truck, hinting at the delicious Maine lobster rolls inside.
Our dedicated family crew, including my partner Greg, daughters Rachel and Ruby, Rachel’s husband Patrick, and myself, had always been the heart of the food truck. My youngest daughter Rozalyn, along with her husband Luther and grandkids, were based in Maine. Rozalyn manages the Maine-based version of the truck during the summer, as the kids needed to remain in Maine for school after years of traveling with us. Sally, who initially brought us to Arizona, had also returned East to be closer to her family.
With our season unexpectedly cut short, the desire to reunite our entire family became paramount. The long winter separations, coupled with the anxieties of the uncertain times, became overwhelming. And, let’s face it, I’m not getting any younger! We made our way back to Maine, arriving around Memorial Day in late May 2020.
It was clear I needed to find a way to continue sharing our Maine Lobster Rolls with our loyal customers while staying close to my family in Maine. The answer, like for so many others during that time, was online ordering and delivery. Why not bring Maine Lobster Lady Lobster Rolls directly to doorsteps across the country? Maine Lobstah Love, delivered in convenient kits, eliminating lines and wait times. We had perfected the lobster roll recipe on the food truck; now, we just needed to figure out how to ship them.
It took almost a year of planning and preparation before our first shipment went out on July 27, 2021. Since then, we’ve shipped our Maine Lobster Roll Kits and other delectable lobster meal kits to 21 states and counting. We continue to operate as Team Lobstah, a family business through and through, just in a new format. We are deeply committed to the quality of every box and the care with which it’s packed. We appreciate every order, recognize returning names, and cherish the connections we’ve made. We may miss seeing your faces at the food truck window, but we are grateful for your continued support online. Your trust and loyalty have been incredible, and we will never forget it. We love you all!
Alt text: The Downeaster Combo meal kit from Maine Lobster Lady, featuring fresh lobster and all the ingredients needed for a perfect Maine lobster roll experience at home.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to my family for their unwavering love and support. For years, they have uprooted their lives each October, packing up their belongings and pets to travel across the country, working tirelessly to help me realize my dream. Family is everything. Family IS The Maine Lobster Lady. I could never have accomplished the last decade without them, nor would I have wanted to.
Finally, please know that this isn’t an ending, but a new beginning. It’s about adapting, being resilient, learning from experience, and understanding what truly matters. This is a new chapter in our story, and we hope you’ll continue to follow along. Stay connected with us on my YouTube channel, Facebook or Instagram to stay in touch.
We always welcome your questions, comments, and photos.
