A drive-thru lobster restaurant in Tucson — in the Sonoran desert? Apparently so! The restaurant concept based out of Phoenix, which serves lobster-inspired cuisine found in Maine, is coming to Tucson in 2024.
Angie’s Lobster was created by Tony and Roushan Christofellis, the same couple who created the Salad and Go drive-thru concept we’re now seeing here in Tucson. They’ve since sold the Salad and Go chain and are now putting their focus on Angie’s Lobster.
The concept currently has more than five locations in and around Phoenix, and has become pretty popular for its sandwiches, salads, and wraps — some starting at around just $6 each.
Here in Tucson, the Christofellis are planning two drive-thru locations. One of them will open on North Campbell Avenue near East Grant Road in the summer of 2024, and the second will open on East Broadway and North Wilmot Road in the fall of 2024.
The drive-thru lobster joint is an ode to Tony’s mother who moved from Greece to Boston, Massachusetts, and loved fried clams, broiled scrod, and lobster, of course. She even owned her own restaurants at some point in New England before passing away in March 2020.
“Angie’s Lobster will be a company — scratch that – a family that will carry on her legacy forever,” they shared online. “Angela Christofellis has passed away, but Angie’s Lobster will live forever. Live forever like her love that still guides us. The heart-shaped lobster claws in the logo will remind us of that every day. Her signature shown in the ‘Angie’s’ logo will show throughout America, one drive-thru at a time. America, the country she loved so much. The country she came to on a boat to achieve the American dream.”
The company sources its lobster off the boats from a wharf they own in Maine, then transports them 35 miles to their processing facility, where the meat is steamed and flash-frozen before being shipped to Arizona.
If the Tucson menu is the same as the menus in the Phoenix area, expect to find a la carte lobster rolls, a Spicy Honey Fried Lobster Sandwich, Fried Lobster Tails, and a Warm Lobster Roll with Butter. They also have a breakfast menu with classic breakfast sandwiches featuring eggs, bacon, and sausage, and then French toast and a Fried Half Lobster Tail and Egg sandwich.
To drink, they’ll have cold brew coffee, lemonade, iced tea, energy drinks, and soda.
Stay tuned for the exact locations but just know they’ll be on Campbell Avenue near Grant Road and near Broadway Boulevard and Wilmot Road.
For more information, visit angieslobster.com.
Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
