Lucharitos, the popular Tex-Mex chain hailing from North Fork, is poised to open a new location in Ronkonkoma.
The restaurant, positioned within TRITEC Real Estate Company’s Station Yards project, has secured a lease for 1,500 square feet of space. TRITEC’s Steven D’Orazio, Maria Valanzano, and Jake Horowitz of Colliers facilitated the transaction.
Founded in 2012 in a modest 750-square-foot space in Greenport, Lucharitos has steadily expanded its reach to Mattituck, Center Moriches, and Melville. The addition of the Ronkonkoma location, marking the chain’s fifth establishment, underscores Lucharitos’ commitment to reaching a broader audience and catering to patrons in the central region of Long Island.
“Creating a space where people can step into vacation mode, even if just for half an hour, has been the cornerstone of the Lucharitos brand since day one,” Marc LaMaina, the owner, said. “The combination of tacos, margaritas, nostalgic pro wrestling, and genuine hospitality has really caught on Teaming up with TRITEC on their Station Yards project was an opportunity we couldn’t pass up. Their professionalism and commitment have been amazing, and as an emerging regional brand with aspirations of becoming national, we see the Ronkonkoma location as another stepping stone toward making that dream a reality.”
Lucharitos, born after LaMaina lost his first small business to Superstorm Sandy, features chef-inspired Tex-Mex dishes and famous margaritas with a vintage luchador twist.
“Lucharitos perfectly encapsulates the spirit of community and innovation we’re fostering at Station Yards, “Steven D’Orazio, vice president of Colliers, said.,”Their commitment to leasing the first pad site of 1,500 square feet sets a dynamic tone for the development.”
Station Yards, a transformative project by TRITEC, aims to create a vibrant hub for Long Islanders, featuring 1,450 apartments, 195,000 square feet of retail space, and 360,000 square feet of office space. The development is set to generate thousands of jobs and housing options at the busiest train station in Suffolk County. TRITEC expects construction to be complete in late spring or early summer.
“The inclusion of Lucharitos at Station Yards signifies a major milestone in our development as we continue to fill spaces with dynamic tenants,” Jimmy Coughlan, vice president of development at TRITEC, said. “Lucharito’s lively atmosphere and flavorful dishes are the perfect complement to make Station Yards a culinary and community destination.”
