Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck Returned To Roosevelt Island Yesterday With RIOC Permit This Time - Residents Lined Up Early For Yummy Treat, Some Went Back For Seconds

After an all too brief taste last January 9, Roosevelt Island residents waited anxiously for the Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck to return. Last time Cousins Main Lobster Food Truck set up on the street in front of Good Shepherd Plaza, they were forced to leave by the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department 

because they did not have a RIOC food vending permit, although they did have a NYC Food Truck permit.

Five week after Roosevelt Island first took a yummy bite from a Cousins Maine Lobster dish, the Food Truck returned yesterday to a spot across from the Tram Plaza and residents quickly started to line up.

So, were Roosevelt Island residents happy with the Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck return? I think so. Some reviews from very happy customers:

• Both the Connecticut and Maine lobster rolls were delicious! The location worked for us! 
• Enjoyed my Connecticut Lobster Roll today, it was delicious.
• Yes, the lobster tots& quesadilla was delish. The location was fine.
• It was delicious for lunch and dinner!Location was perfect!
• Indulged twice Delish! Hope they come back soon! They can be located anywhere on the island, just not in front of our existing food vendors!
  

I asked when they will come back to Roosevelt Island? Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck operator replied:

We will work with RIOC again to schedule a future visit. We will request a location closer to the buildings but like last time, it's up to them to what location they will allow us to be

Hopefully, it will be less than 5 weeks for their next visit.

Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck Returning To Roosevelt Island Monday February 15 With Permit From RIOC For A Spot At Tram Plaza - Location Selected By RIOC Due To Winter Weather Conditions

Long lines of Roosevelt Island residents greeted the Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck on a frigid Saturday morning last January 9. 

As reported that day:

Unfortunately, about 45 minutes after the Food Truck began serving hungry residents, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department ordered the Food Truck to shut down and leave Roosevelt Island. 

The reason for the PSD order was that the Food Truck did not have a Roosevelt Island Food Truck permit. The Cousins Main Lobster Food Truck operator had a NYC Food Truck permit but did not know they also needed a Roosevelt Island Food Truck permit.  

The good news is that Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck will return to Roosevelt Island with a RIOC permit. According to the Food Truck operator:

...we will be in Roosevelt Island on Monday, February 15th, from 12-8pm, at the Tram Plaza Vending location.

I asked RIOC today:

Why is Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck being located at the Tram Plaza on Monday? Is that the Vendor's choice or is it RIOC's choice? 

There are more convenient locations for residents to have the Food Truck. The Tram Plaza might be good for tourists but not for residents. 

In past years, Food Trucks were located on Main Street across from the Starbucks at 455 Main Street. See example here. 

Also, the Good Shepherd Plaza location used by Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck last month at Good Shepherd Plaza is a very good spot and convenient for residents.. Any comment from RIOC regarding selection of location for the Lobster Food Truck? 

RIOC Public Information Officer Amy Smith replied:

During warmer months, we agree that other locations may be more convenient. Taking into consideration winter weather conditions, Tram Plaza offers the safest option.

The Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck Operator added:

Location was allocated to us by RIOC. We requested the same location we were last but they didn't give it to us. I guess they wanted us to be somewhere that people could spread out and keep social distance, in regards to covid, and also away from other stores maybe? But that's just our guess.

We are very excited to be back too, even at this location. Hopefully, the weather will be good and residents will enjoy it.

All reports from those who were able to order food from the Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck in January before it was shut down say that it was delicious.

Roosevelt Island Residents Wait In Frigid Cold And Long Line For Tasty Cousins Main Lobster Food Truck, But RIOC Shuts Them Down In Less Than An Hour For Failure To Have RI Permit Even Though They Have NYC Permit

If a business offers an appealing and desirable product on Roosevelt Island, residents will come out  and spend money for quality offerings, even if they have to stand on a long line in frigid temperatures.

That's what happened this afternoon as the Cousins Main Lobster Food Truck made an unexpected arrival at Roosevelt Island's Good Shepherd Plaza. 

Unfortunately, about 45 minutes after the Food Truck began serving hungry residents, the Roosevelt Island Operating Corp (RIOC) Public Safety Department ordered the Food Truck to shut down and leave Roosevelt Island. 

The reason for the PSD order was that the Food Truck did not have a Roosevelt Island Food Truck permit. The Cousins Main Lobster Food Truck operator had a NYC Food Truck permit but did not know they also needed a Roosevelt Island Food Truck permit.

So they were forced to leave Roosevelt Island and set up on Vernon B'lvd in Long Island City near the Roosevelt Island Bridge. Many frustrated and disappointed Roosevelt Island residents waiting on line said they would follow the Truck to Long Island City to order some food.

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Matt Katz was the last resident to buy from the Cousins Main Lobster Food Truck before they were shut down. Mr Katz wrote to RIOC Acting President Shelton Haynes this afternoon:

I'm writing regarding an old problem that has reasserted itself. I learned that there was a food truck, Cousins Maine Lobster, parked in front of the Good Shepherd Plaza today. Not surprising, the line to take advantage of this new treat stretched halfway down the block despite the cold weather and bitter winds blowing off the river. As my wife and I finished receiving our order, two Public Safety officers came over and told them to close up shop as they didn't have RIOC permits. This has got to stop.

Many food trucks, providing foods not found in our few groceries or even fewer restaurants, have left, unwilling to pay a second fee to RIOC despite having already paid for a City permit. Roosevelt Island is, after all, owned by New York City and only leased to the State for 99 years. City permits should be sufficient for them to do business here. And further, RIOC needs to live up to its designation as a "public benefit corporation" and find more and better ways to serve Roosevelt Islanders. Chasing away food trucks does not satisfy this requirement. The dozens of my neighbors willing to brave the elements so as to buy a lobster roll (delicious!) should be accommodated, not thwarted, by RIOC regulations. You can certainly afford the piddling loss of revenue. ...

Roosevelt Island NYC Council Member Ben Kallos heard about the incident and wrote to Mr Haynes:

Could food trucks be offered a warning on the first day together with an application for them to complete on site so that they can return the following day or following week?

RIOC Acting Presdident Haynes replied to Mr Katz: 

Good afternoon everyone,

Thank you for your email Mr. Katz. After looking into this matter, I was informed that our Public Safety team responded to a complaint regarding a food vendor blocking a fire hydrant.

The vendor presented PSD with a NYC permit, which is not applicable on R.I. as we have a separate process from NYC. We are certainly open to exploring the option of modifying our permit approval process when NYC permits are in place while taking into consideration other factors like vendor location, line monitoring and traffic control before approval.

Our team will work with this vendor to secure a permit and invite them back to vend on the island.

Mr Haynes also replied to Mr Kallos:

We will explore all options as we examine our current permit process. Our team is willing to work with any vendor to help expedite the approval process and ensure that we have special locations in place for them. The ultimate goal is to attract more vendors to Roosevelt Island and we feel that we can accomplish that.

How tasty were the Lobster Rolls? Vicki Feinmel was one of the few lucky residents who ordered 

before the Food Truck was shut down and told me:

The food was delicious.

Matt Katz agreed reporting:

Having braved the bitter cold and long line in front of the Good Shepherd Plaza, Sherie and I placed and received our order quickly. We scooted home to sample our now-revised lunch.  

We ordered two lobster rolls, a Maine (with mayonnaise) and a Connecticut (with butter and lemon) that came to a total of just over $40. The rolls were smallish but crammed with lobster and absolutely delicious.  

I speak as one who has celebrated every birthday for 35 years with a lobster dinner (I give my lobsters names, usually Hortense if they are female).  

I hope RIOC will have the good sense not to chase these folks off the Island and that Cousins Maine Lobster will be impressed with our enthusiasm and return on a regular basis.

Here's the Cousins Main Lobster Food Truck Menu

More on RIOC's Roosevelt Island Food Truck policy at this 2012 and 2015 post.