Here’s an entertaining and informative podcast-style summary of the article with the key facts you need to know:

🎙️ Podcast Summary:

Raleigh seafood lovers—your weeknight dinner game is about to level up. Topsail Steamer, the viral seafood brand that made a splash on Shark Tank, is bringing its ready-to-cook coastal cuisine to the Triangle. Franchisees Dave Riley and Kristen Thompson-Riley, once regulars at the original shop on Topsail Beach, are turning fans into founders by opening the brand’s first Raleigh storefront this fall in the Quail Corners Shopping Center. And what’s on the menu? Steamer buckets packed with shrimp, crab, potatoes, corn and more—just add water (or beer!) and boil at home. It’s fast, fresh, and cleanup-friendly. “We just really believe in the product… and how easy it is to cook and clean up,” Riley said. With no in-store dining, the 1,075-square-foot shop is all about grab-and-go, and if this launch goes well, expect more Topsail locations to follow.

🦐 Key Takeaways:

• Topsail Steamer is opening its first Raleigh location in Fall 2024 at 5003 Falls of Neuse Rd. inside Quail Corners Shopping Center.
• The shop specializes in pre-assembled steamer buckets full of fresh seafood and sides—customers simply steam them at home with water or beer.
• Franchisees Dave Riley (who has 20+ years of restaurant experience) and Kristen Thompson-Riley (construction tech expert) were longtime fans of Topsail Steamer before joining the franchise.
• The Raleigh store will not offer dine-in service—it’s purely grab-and-go with lobster, shrimp, and crab on ice and customized bucket orders from a chalkboard menu.
• Topsail Steamer buckets generally cost between $60 and $230, with various portion sizes and ingredient combos.
• The couple hopes to expand with more locations in the Triangle region after a successful Raleigh debut.
• The brand, originally founded by Danielle Mahon in Topsail Beach, now has stores in NJ, AL, DE, FL, and NC—and recently ranked No. 49 on Yelp’s Top 100 Seafood Spots.
• Riley and Thompson-Riley plan to hire 4 to 6 employees and explore local partnerships, possibly with breweries and local sporting events like NC State or Carolina Hurricanes games.

🦞 Product Shoutout:
Topsail Steamer’s signature steamer buckets are the main recommended product—offering easy, gourmet-style seafood at home without a mess.

📺 Fun Fact:
The business saw a surge in sales after appearing on ABC’s Shark Tank, though the article doesn’t mention if a deal was made—just the exposure alone seemed to boost the brand.

Stay tuned—your next beach boil might be just a bucket away.
Link to Article