New restaurant on Marco Island: Custom-made lobster roll shop opens

The booming Marco Town Center has another new tenant, and it’s a tasty one: Mystic Lobster Roll Co. opened its first Marco Island location June 28.

It’s a good idea to place orders in advance; there was a line out the door on day three.

Joey DiPierro is the franchisee. He’s from New Jersey, where he attended culinary school and owned-operated Joey D’s pizza parlors.

His love of cooking originated from watching his grandmother Vincenza, who everyone called Jean, make spinach rolls.

“Ever since I was a kid, I was throwing the dough around. She showed me how to rise the dough. I was fascinated by her style and the love she put into it,” said DiPierro.

A local connection

When I told DiPierro we had Joey D’s pizza on Marco and Naples, he mentioned that his parents are friends with owners Joseph and Jennifer DiPascale.

“They’re from the Seaside-Toms River area and knew our business. They asked us to come do it, but we were so tied up and busy. They asked if it was okay to use the name, not that they needed to,” DiPierro said.

Mystic Lobster's other locations

The crustacean sandwich chain was founded nearly 30 years ago in New Jersey by Philip and Renee Tretola (more DiPierro family friends) and is famous for customizing its rolls to fit each patron’s preferences.

Their daughter, Alexis “Lexy” Cuomo, was on hand Sunday to provide corporate training to DiPierro's staff. Her family still operates the Seaside, New Jersey location; that state has nine other outposts.

Locally, there's a Mystic Lobster at Galleria Shoppes on Vanderbilt Beach Road. According to the company's website, Fort Myers is in the works, bringing Florida's total to eight.

Elsewhere, singular locations include Chattanooga, Tenn. and Las Vegas. The first Texas spot is planned for Fredericksburg.

What to know

• Where to go: 1035 N. Collier Blvd., Marco Island; 239-970-0127; marcoislandlobsterrolls.com

• This new shop also sells snow crab and shrimp rolls. Consider carryout because there are six counter seats inside and one four-top table outside.

• GF lettuce wraps are available instead of bread.

• Catering is another option; a $100 spend serving four includes choices of rolls, cole slaw and lobster bisque. Trays of savory goodies are available too.

• Roll prices range from $17 for shrimp to $27 for a lobster roll topped with filet mignon. Offerings also include soup, tacos, and all things lobster, from pizza to pot pies to mac and cheese.

• Summer hours: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. DiPierro plans a 9 p.m. nightly closing starting in October.

Diana Biederman is NDN's food and restaurant writer. Connect via [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Marco Island's new lobster roll restaurant is open