Lobster roll restaurant sets opening date at St. Johns Town Center

Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls will open Oct. 23 in St. Johns Town Center, the company said in an Oct. 16 news release.

The restaurant at 4668 Town Crossing Drive, Suite 105, will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

It is in the former Tossgreen space near Lenscrafters and Fidelity Investments.

On opening day, a free side or beverage will be given with every lobster roll purchase.

With that purchase, customers are entered into a drawing for free lobster for a year.

The Maryland-based restaurant company founded in 2014 is making moves into Florida. It has a location at 708 Centre St. in Fernandina Beach and will open in The Pavilion at Durbin Park at 120 Durbin Pavilion Drive, Suite D1, in St. Johns County in November.

The company is named after CEO and founder Dan Beck's son, Mason. The "famous" part of the name is a bit of marketing, he told the Daily Record in June.

"I always say, come on and find out. It kind of gives the impression that it's been around a long time," he said.

Its website lists 38 locations in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Washington, Washington, D.C., and Milan, Italy.

Besides Jacksonville, there are Florida stores in Belleair Bluffs, Bradenton, Fort Myers, Miami, Orlando, Panama City Beach and St. Petersburg.

Another will open soon in Fort Lauderdale.

Beck was a restaurant seafood buyer who worked with Maine lobster fleets before starting his company.

"(Jacksonville is a) coastal city has a rich history in its seafood, and we believe this location is the perfect spot to share the fresh flavors of Maine lobster with locals and visitors," said Sergy Smirnov, owner and operator of Mason's Famous Lobster Rolls Jacksonville, in the release.

The lobster rolls are served in New England-style split-top hot dog buns.

The Fernandina Beach menu includes:

• The Bar Harbor is a lobster roll served with 50% more lobster meat: $27.95.

• The classic lobster roll is served chilled with mayonnaise and lemon butter: $20.95.

• The Connecticut lobster roll is served warm and tossed in butter: $20.95.

• The lobster salad roll with large lobster pieces tossed with celery and mayonnaise and lemon dressing: $20.95.

• The BLT lobster roll with bacon, lettuce, tomato and lobster chunks: $20.95.

• Crab roll is served with lump crabmeat with mayonnaise and lemon dressing: $19.95.

• The shrimp roll replaces lobster with jumbo shrimp tossed with mayonnaise and lemon dressing: $16.95.

The menu also includes a lobster grilled cheese, lobster mac & cheese, salads and soups.