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People Line Up As ‘Abbott's Lobster' Opens For Season

The shoreline seafood joint in the Noank section of Groton had a line before it even opened for its 73rd season.

Summer on the shoreline is synonymous with lobster rolls.

The popular Abbott's Lobster in the Rough opened for the season Friday.

The shoreline seafood joint in the Noank section of Groton had a line before it even opened for its 73rd season.

Each year they hold the "Great First Customer Race."

This year, David and Karen traveled all the way from Manhasset, Long Island to be first in line. The couple said they woke up at 5:45 a.m. and left the house by 7 a.m. to be the first customers and get T-shirts for it.

Last year they were third, and said that wasn't good enough.

"We were determined this year. We had to do better," David said.

"We're a little competitive, maybe! I don't know. So we got up early this morning," Karen laughed.

Abbott's owner Chelsea Mears said people have traveled from Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to win the status as Abbott's first customers.

"You know, I think a lot of people really do make a day out of it, make a tradition, and frankly, they want lobster and they've been waiting for six months now," Mears said. "So they're ready to go!"

One woman told NBC Connecticut she traveled from Ohio partially for her mother's 93rd birthday and partially for the lobster roll. She even painted her nails, or what she calls "lobster claws" for the occasion.

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