Portland Lobster Co
Portland Lobster Company is a privately held, seasonal waterfront seafood restaurant and bar at 180 Commercial Street in Portland, Maine's Old Port district, serving tourists and locals with fresh Maine seafood, live music, and harbor views, while also shipping live lobsters and branded merchandise nationwide via e-commerce.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersPortland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Portland Lobster Co does
Portland Lobster Company is a privately held, seasonal waterfront seafood restaurant and e-commerce operator headquartered at 180 Commercial Street in Portland, Maine's Old Port district. The restaurant serves a full menu of fresh Maine seafood — including lobster rolls, steamed lobster dinners, clam chowder, crab cakes, steamers, fish and chips, fried clams, and steamed mussels — alongside local beers and wines, and operates daily from 11AM to 10PM during its season. Lobsters are sourced directly from the company's own pound on Bailey Island, Maine, providing vertical integration on its core ingredient. The restaurant's outdoor deck and dock overlook Portland Harbor and host nightly live music performances featuring rotating local and regional entertainers, an offering that has won it "Best Music Venue" recognition in Portland.
Beyond the physical restaurant, the company runs a Shopify-powered e-commerce operation (shop.portlandlobstercompany.com) that ships live Maine lobsters directly to consumers nationwide in three tiered packages — the Duo Delight ($40, two lobsters), Family Feast ($75, four lobsters), and Downeast Feast ($100, six lobsters) — available in 1 lb, 1.25 lb, and 1.5 lb sizes. The same Shopify storefront also carries a branded merchandise line that includes men's and women's T-shirts ($20+), a lightweight pullover hoodie ($45), trucker and bucket hats ($25–$35), plus novelty items (stickers, keychain/bottle openers, collapsible dog bowls, bandanas), and a growing FLYN "Sid the Seagull" character merchandise sub-line. Gift cards are sold through a third-party SwipeIT platform in denominations from $25 to $500.
The company serves three distinct customer segments: tourists and visitors to Portland's Old Port (its primary segment), local Portland-area residents, and remote nationwide e-commerce customers purchasing live lobsters or merchandise. Its go-to-market motion is direct-to-consumer across both physical and digital channels, with online ordering for takeout via Toasttab. The business is independently owned with no disclosed institutional investors, parent company, or funding rounds, and is operating at a single physical location, accepting employment applications from May through October to support seasonal operations.
Portland Lobster Co firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Portland Lobster Co
- Legal name
- Portland Lobster Company
- Website
- https://portlandlobstercompany.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Portland Lobster Company is a privately held, seasonal waterfront seafood restaurant and bar at 180 Commercial Street in Portland, Maine's Old Port district, serving tourists and locals with fresh Maine seafood, live music, and harbor views, while also shipping live lobsters and branded merchandise nationwide via e-commerce.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Portland Lobster Co industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Waterfront Seafood Restaurant
- NAICS
- Fish and Seafood Retailers (44525), Fish and Seafood Merchant Wholesalers (424460)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Wholesale-Groceries & Related Products (5140)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants (THAFACAE)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Live Seafood & Tank-Based Distribution Wholesale (AFAIADAI)
Keywords
Where Portland Lobster Co is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Portland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Portland Lobster Co business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Dine-in and Takeout Restaurant: Traditional restaurant revenue from dine-in meals and takeout orders featuring fresh Maine seafood including lobster rolls, lobster dinners, clam chowder, fish & chips, and other seafood items.
- Live Lobster Shipping: E-commerce sales of live Maine lobsters shipped directly to consumers nationwide. Products include Duo Delight (2 lobsters), Family Feast (4 lobsters), and Downeast Feast (6 lobsters).
- Gift Cards: Gift cards sold through SwipeIT platform in denominations from $25 to $500.
- Merchandise and Apparel: Branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies), hats, accessories, and novelty items sold through Shopify store.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Duo Delight - 2 Live Lobsters |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Family Feast - 4 Live Lobsters |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Downeast Feast - 6 Live Lobsters |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Gift Cards |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Branded Apparel |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Portland Lobster Co product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Portland Lobster Company runs a seasonal, full-service waterfront seafood restaurant on Commercial Street in Portland, Maine's Old Port (May–October), serving lobster rolls, lobster bakes, chowder, and related seafood fare alongside live music. It complements the restaurant with a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store shipping live Maine lobsters to the lower 48 states, branded apparel (T-shirts, hoodies, hats, tanks, shirts), souvenirs (stickers, keychains, lobster-themed dog items), and gift cards, with live lobsters sourced from its own Bailey Island, ME lobster pound.
Product overview
Portland Lobster Company operates as a single-location waterfront seafood restaurant and e-commerce business in Portland, Maine's Old Port. The core offering is its restaurant services at 180 Commercial Street, featuring fresh Maine seafood including lobster dinners, lobster rolls (claimed as Maine's Best), clam chowder, crab cakes, steamers, fish and chips, and fried clams, complemented by local beers and wine. The business extends to an e-commerce operation powered by Shopify selling live Maine lobsters shipped directly from their pound on Bailey Island in three package sizes: The "Duo Delight" (2 lobsters), The "Family Feast" (4 lobsters), and The "Downeast Feast" (6 lobsters). Additionally, the company sells branded merchandise including apparel (men's and women's T-shirts, retro shirts, PLC seal shirts, hoodies, FLYN "Sid the Seagull" branded hats and beanies) and novelty items (stickers, keychains, dog bowls, bandanas). Gift cards are available through a third-party SwipeIT platform. The company also offers live music entertainment with regular performances on its outdoor deck, featuring rotating local and regional musicians.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Waterfront seafood restaurant service Full-service, family- and pet-friendly seasonal seafood restaurant on the Old Port waterfront at 180 Commercial St., Portland, Maine, offering dine-in seating, takeout, and live music for tourists, locals, and families.
- First Taste live lobster shipping package Entry-tier bundled live Maine lobster package sold online and shipped within Maine, sourced from the company's own Bailey Island lobster pound, targeted at consumers wanting an introductory live lobster shipment.
- Lobster Lovers live lobster shipping package Mid-tier bundled live Maine lobster package sold online and shipped within Maine for consumers seeking a larger quantity of live lobsters than the First Taste package.
- The Whole Maine Experience live lobster shipping package Top-tier bundled live Maine lobster package sold online and shipped within Maine, designed as a comprehensive Maine lobster experience for gift or personal consumption.
- Portland Lobster Co. Unisex Tee Branded unisex T-shirt carrying the Portland Lobster Company identity, sold online as part of the company's apparel line for tourists and brand fans.
- Lobster Bisque Unisex Hoodie Branded unisex hoodie carrying the 'Lobster Bisque' design, sold online as part of the company's apparel line for tourists and brand fans.
- Lobster T-Shirt Branded lobster-themed T-shirt sold online as part of the company's apparel line, targeting Portland visitors and lobster-themed gift purchasers.
- Portland Lobster Co. Hat Branded baseball-style hat sold online as part of the company's apparel line, targeting Portland visitors and lobster-themed gift purchasers.
- Portland Lobster Co. Tank Tops Branded tank tops sold online as part of the company's apparel line, suitable for summer Portland visits.
- Portland Lobster Co. shirts Additional branded shirt offerings sold online as part of the company's apparel line beyond the named Lobster T-Shirt and Unisex Tee.
- Portland Lobster Co. Sticker Branded sticker sold online as a low-cost souvenir or gift top-up item.
- Maine Lobster Keychain Maine-themed lobster keychain sold online as a small souvenir item for Portland tourists.
- Lobster Dog Bowl Lobster-themed dog bowl sold online to extend the brand into pet-owner gift purchases, consistent with the restaurant's pet-friendly positioning.
- Bow Tie Bandana Lobster-themed bow tie bandana sold online for dogs, extending the brand into pet merchandise consistent with the restaurant's pet-friendly positioning.
- Portland Lobster Company gift card Digital gift card sold online for use at Portland Lobster Company, suitable for out-of-town gifting and tourist purchases.
- Live music entertainment On-site live music programming running alongside the restaurant's seasonal waterfront dining experience, recognized by Best of Portland in 2020.
Quantifiable outcome
- Named Best Music Venue, Best Patio/Outdoor Bar, Best Waterfront Dining, and Best Lobster Roll in Portland
Companies that use Portland Lobster Co
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Portland Lobster Co technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration10 records
Portland Lobster Co partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- ShopifycoreE-commerce platform powering the company's online store for merchandise and live lobster shipping. Provides the technical infrastructure for processing online orders and payments.
- ToasttabcoreOnline ordering platform used for takeout and delivery orders. Customers can order directly through Toasttab at order.toasttab.com/online/portland-lobster-company-portland-maine
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Portland Lobster Co competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- J's Oyster: Iconic Portland, Maine waterfront oyster and seafood bar on Commercial Street. Competes for the same Old Port tourist and local seafood dining occasions as Portland Lobster Company.
- Eventide Oyster Co. Highly-rated seafood restaurant in Portland, Maine with strong national brand recognition. Competes directly with PLC for Portland seafood diners and tourist traffic in the Old Port area.
- Maine Lobster Now: Largest direct-to-consumer live lobster shipper in Maine, offering nationwide shipping of live lobsters and seafood. Direct competitor for PLC's Shopify-driven e-commerce lobster shipping business.
- Lobster Anywhere: Online retailer shipping live Maine lobsters and seafood directly to consumers nationwide. Comparable e-commerce business competing in the same DTC live lobster shipping category as PLC.
- Red's Eats: Legendary Maine lobster roll stand in Wiscasset. Famous for its lobster roll - comparable product offering and Maine lobster tourism positioning to Portland Lobster Company.
- Gilbert's Chowder House: Long-standing Portland, Maine seafood restaurant on the waterfront. Direct competitor for casual seafood dining and tourist traffic in the Old Port district.
- The Pearl (Portland, ME): Portland waterfront dining establishment offering seafood and oyster bar service. Direct competitor for Portland's seafood dining and waterfront dining tourist spend.
- Diamond's Edge Restaurant: Waterfront seafood restaurant in Portland, Maine. Comparable venue offering seafood dining with harbor views competing for the same Commercial Street tourist market.
Broad incumbents
- Luke's Lobster: Multi-location Maine-based seafood restaurant chain and wholesale lobster supplier with own processing. Broader scale and footprint compete with PLC's lobster roll and live lobster e-commerce offerings.
Regional players
- Saltwater Grille: Waterfront seafood restaurant in South Portland, Maine. Comparable oceanside seafood dining experience but located slightly outside the Old Port tourist zone.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Customer concentration
Portland Lobster Co social profiles
Digital presencePortland Lobster Co financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Portland Lobster Co leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Portland Lobster Co funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Portland Lobster Co M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Portland Lobster Co
What does Portland Lobster Co do?
Portland Lobster Company runs a seasonal, full-service waterfront seafood restaurant on Commercial Street in Portland, Maine's Old Port (May–October), serving lobster rolls, lobster bakes, chowder, and related seafood fare alongside live music. It complements the restaurant with a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store shipping live Maine lobsters to the lower 48 states, branded apparel (T-shirts, hoodies, hats, tanks, shirts), souvenirs (stickers, keychains, lobster-themed dog items), and gift cards, with live lobsters sourced from its own Bailey Island, ME lobster pound.
Is Portland Lobster Co a public or private company?
Portland Lobster Co is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Portland Lobster Co founded?
Portland Lobster Co was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Portland Lobster Co based?
Portland Lobster Co is headquartered in Portland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Portland Lobster Co make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Dine-in and Takeout Restaurant is the primary driver. The others are live Lobster Shipping, gift Cards and merchandise and Apparel.
Who are Portland Lobster Co's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are J's Oyster, Eventide Oyster Co., Maine Lobster Now, Lobster Anywhere, Red's Eats, Gilbert's Chowder House, The Pearl (Portland, ME) and Diamond's Edge Restaurant. Luke's Lobster is listed as a broad incumbent. Saltwater Grille is listed as a regional player.
Does Portland Lobster Co have an API?
No public API is recorded for Portland Lobster Co.
What industry is Portland Lobster Co in?
Portland Lobster Co's product category is Waterfront Seafood Restaurant. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAE, Steakhouses & Seafood Restaurants, with a secondary code of AFAIADAI, Live Seafood & Tank-Based Distribution Wholesale. Its NAICS code is 44525 and its SIC code is 5810.