As Lucharitos opens in Station Yards, owner 'wouldn't change a thing'

LONG ISLAND, NY — As the popular Lucharitos prepares to open in the Station Yards mixed-use development on the Long Island Rail Road in Ronkonkoma, owner Marc LaMaina reflected on its expansion — and the journey it took from a small space in Greenport to a name known throughout Long Island.

The North Fork-based Tex-Mex chain will lease 1,500 square feet of space in the mixed-use development.

Lucharitos began as a 750-square-foot space in Greenport, after Superstorm Sandy's flooding destroyed LaMaina's former cupcake business, Butta Cakes.

Instead of letting the damage scare her, LaMaina pivoted and Lucharitos taqueria and tequila bar was born.

Since then, LaMaina has grown, opening locations in Mattituck, Center Moriches and Melville. Little Lucharitos also opened in Aquebogue, which has now expanded into Good Juju's, offering barbecue and seafood on the menu.

LaMaina's LucaCubano revolves around Burgercade, which closed in 2023 — but has plans to expand that menu to the Mattituck location.

The latest Lucharitos location appears to cater to a wider audience, serving customers in the center of the island, TRITEC said.

LaMaina said he and his team “couldn't be more excited” about the new location.

“When the opportunity arose to work with TRITEC on their Station Yards project, we jumped at it,” he said. “The professionalism and commitment shown to us before we even started was amazing. As an emerging regional brand with hopes of eventually going national, we plan to use the Ronkonkoma location here at Station Yards as another stepping stone to making that dream a reality.”

Construction is expected to be completed in late spring or early summer.

Speaking to Patch about the new location, LaMaina said, “We think the Core will be a destination not only for LIRR riders but also for the local community coming in for a night out or a work lunch or weekend dinners. The array of other restaurants, bars, shops and the Great South Bay Brewery that was there sealed the deal for us that we wanted to be here.”

Since the location is less than 2,000 square feet, the space is considered a “Small Lucharito” relative to LaMaina's three business models, he said. These three include a full, sit-down restaurant of 2,000 square feet or more with more than 60 seats. 1500 square feet or less; and the “build your own model” in Mattituck. The Ronkonkoma location will have “great outdoor patio seating and some really cool features unique to this space,” he said.

Diners, LaMaina said, “can expect what we feel we're good at. Fresh, chef-driven Tex Mex with a super refreshing 16-ounce margarita. As we grow, we learn what works best, and for the most part, it keeps menu simple and good so we can focus energy on the guest experience. That's the most important aspect of this — creating a memorable experience for all the right reasons.”

LaMaina quipped, it wasn't his plan to be in Mineola, literally 100 steps from the train station in the Morgan Parc building.

“And we certainly never expected the Ronkonkoma train station to be where it is right now and to be a part of its very bright future. Yet here we are,” he said. “These two locations will open this year and I hope they set the tone for what's to come with this little taco shop that we opened 10 years ago.”

Looking back at the tapestry of his life over the past decade, LaMaina said it's hard to pinpoint a prouder moment. “We have so much going on. We do so many cool things and we don't really have time to celebrate much – we just love what we do. I'm not sure what my job description is anymore. It changes so much every day. But the team and the family they make me proud. Seeing ex-employees open their own businesses or follow their dreams, using Lucha as a launch pad — that makes me proud. Growth.”

LLaMaina said it's hard for him to give advice to new business owners. “We're still figuring it out. I don't have a road map,” he said. “This is all new to me. But I know you have highs and lows that come and go without rhyme or reason. So I'd say be prepared for the highs and the lows. Embrace both. Learn from both. Stay in as high as you can, ride that wave — and get out of the lows as fast as you can. It's a struggle every time. But getting out of the lows is when you'll build the character you need Be an entrepreneur for the rest of your life. If you can take the lows and know that they're temporary and they're trying to teach you something, eventually you'll win. If you never give up, eventually you'll win. I believe that.”

For the most part, he added, people who are entrepreneurs are networked in some form — and that takes a lot of high-frequency energy.

“There is no high without an equal low. Again, it's important to understand the balance there,” LaMaina said.

Discussing his new project, LaMaina said, “What's crazy is that the opportunity came to walk into Station Yards on the Ronkonkoma LIRR as we were coming down from our giant Mineola project — and we just couldn't pass it up. The possibilities are limitless. And it's fun because now we can take the train from Greenport to Ronkonkoma to Mineola and literally walk out and find a Lucharitos. Pretty cool.”

There are also new plans for Riverhead, he said. “I would love to open Downtown Riverhead Lucha before the summer of 2025 and then focus on warm weather locations.”

Family is everything to LaMaina. he and his wife Jen have three sons.

“The best advice I ever got was from my wife. Not really advice, just a confirmation that we weren't set up to stay. That we're here for a short visit. We're here to live and leave here a little better than we found. It helps me put everything in place and I'm really not afraid to lose. At the end of the day, I was just as happy as a restaurant running food to the tables,” he said. “I just always wanted to see how far we could go this brand. And we have people who are all with me on the journey. So we're going to take this thing to places we never thought it would go.”

He added: “When I stop and think about how far we've come and what's ahead, I get emotional. So many scary moments and little triumphs. I wouldn't change a thing.”

No matter how meteoric his rise to success, LaMaina is a North Fork success story, a hometown man whose roots are forever intertwined in the community that nurtured his vision. And his values ​​and heart are firmly centered on the family that makes up his world.

“I'm very lucky to have my wife in my corner. She's also an entrepreneur, and we seem to have our highs and lows at opposite times, so we have this rhythm of picking each other up when the other person is down.” he said. “I can't stress enough how important she is to keeping me whole and things moving forward. She's our anchor. Find your anchor — person, place or thing. You'll need it on your business journey.”