“Shark Tank,” the business-minded reality series that matches entrepreneurs with investors, touts itself as “the show that dares to dream.”
For Danielle Mahon, that dream paid off on Friday night.
A New Jersey native now living in North Carolina, Mahon pitched her at-home seafood boil company, Topsail Steamer on the second episode of the show’s 16th season. She landed a deal with investors Todd Graves, founder of Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, and Laurie Greiner.
Topsail Steamer sells take-home steam pots filled with fresh seafood and spices. The business launched in North Carolina in 2017 and now has stores in New Jersey, Delaware, Alabama, and Florida. The pots are also sold online.
There is a seasonal location at the shore in Ship Bottom. Other New Jersey locations include Ocean City, Sea Isle City, and Wildwood.
“I just love the idea of being able to align myself with other entrepreneurs like me to be able to … grow the brand,” she said on the show.
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When making her pitch to the investors, including Mark Cuban, Daymond John and Kevin O’Leary, Mahon poured out a seafood bucket and invited them to dig in.
“Think about that feeling that you get when you’re sharing a meal with friends and family on vacation,” she said. “The stories, the laughs, just enjoying great food together and having extra time around the table.
“I’m originally from New Jersey, and some of my favorite memories are going down the Shore with friends and family and eating steamers, seafood. We would roll the brown paper out on the table, dump the food, pick the crabs, peel the shrimp and just have so much fun doing it,” she said. “With Topsail Steamer, you don’t need to be on vacation and you don’t need to be at the beach to get that same experience.”
Mahon was seeking a $350,000 investment in return for 8% ownership of the company. Her goal, she told the investors, is to open 400 stores.
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Graves offered $350,000 for a 20% stake in the company, and Greiner offered to partner with him. They and Mahon ultimately agreed to $350,000 for 18% ownership of Topsail Steamer.
“I am so excited to have Todd and Laurie as Sharks on board,” Mahon said afterward. “To think that we went from one store in 2017 and an idea on Topsail Island to ‘Shark Tank’ here and two Sharks… It’s just unbelievable.”
Sarah Griesemer joined the USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey in 2003 and has been writing all things food since 2014. Send restaurant tips to sgriesemer@gannettnj.com, follow on Instagram at Jersey Shore Eats and subscribe to our Jersey Shore Eats newsletter.
