Little Lucharitos A Dream Realized For Owner: 'I Am Grateful'

AQUEBOGUE, NY — Little Lucharitos, which opened last weekend in Aquebogue, is a dream realized for owner Marc LaMaina.

Plans for the eatery, located at 487 Main Road in Aquebogue, were born after the success of the first Lucharitos in Greenport — and the new spot opened almost exactly a year to the day that LaMaina signed the lease for the building last November.

Describing his vision for Little Luchas, LaMaina said, "The vision was to open an original size Lucharitos. We wanted to duplicate it exactly. Creating the same vibe and the same quality."

And now, he said, what makes both spots special is their unique appeal. "There is absolutely nothing like it out here," LaMaina said. "From our team members to our regular customers, we created this ever growing family of taco and margarita lovers. We use quality ingredients, and we don't cut corners. It makes a difference. Like anyone, we have our off nights but for the most part everyone, customers and our crew just enjoy being here. It is a very easy place to feel welcomed and let your guard down and enjoy life for a bit."

Working with Riverhead Town to open Little Lucharitos has been a great journey, LaMaina said. "We had hiccups but that all falls back on me and my naivety with the process. Like any risk taken, it's all a learning process. Especially one that encompassed so many different entities. It's a lot of paperwork and waiting and money and stress. In the end it all worked out — and now we don't look back."

Fans of Lucharitos are thrilled to hear that their favorite Taco Tuesday is offered at the new locale, too.

The new Little Lucharitos was born also almost 5 years to the day that Superstorm Sandy ravaged LaMaina's former business, Butta Cakes, in Greenport. After that business sustained heavy damage in the storm, LaMaina decided to reopen as a new business, reborn as Lucharitos.

Reflecting on what the journey has meant, rising from the devastation of the story to not only create Lucharitos but now, a new location, LaMaina said, as a businessman and a father, "95% of my drive is family based. We all want our family to be safe and happy and content. They motivate me, as cliche as that sounds. It's the same for most dads out here. The other 5% is purely bases on competitiveness. I want to be the best in the niche. Thats attributed to being involved in sports since a kid. My life was upside down 5 years ago and I'm right where I should be right now. I'm happy. I'm pressing forward."

He said he didn't even realize 5 year anniversary of Sandy was upon him until a media outlet contacted him to do a story "and it hit me," he said. "There was a picture of me in the old shop, with this look of confusion on my face. I felt bad for that guy in the picture. He deserved better."

But from the first, Lucharitos has been a home run — with plans for its future still unfolding. LaMaina said he just met with architects to design the upstairs layout of the future party space at the original Lucharitos on Main Street.

At the Aquebogue location, LaMaina said he had a long list of individuals to thank, including his contractor on the project, John Cook from Sublime Contracting in Aquebogue.

"We went with a local guy and from day one we worked hand and hand on the build and design. He knows his stuff and were now actually pretty good friends. He moved this project along. There is a list of guys — if they were not involved this wouldn't have worked."

Artists who designed the space, Tom Dash and Ricky Sietta, "contributed their skills to create a concept that can't be duplicated," he said.

General Manager Kevin Sage, LaMaina said, "helped create the vibe and flow of the space. This stuff is our passion. We sit for hours and argue about the location of soda coolers. We don't hold back our thoughts. — you need partner like that or this won't work. Without him there is no Lucharitos. He is a bigger part of this than he knows. Once he sees this I'll probably have to give him a raise," he laughed.

His longtime friend Ike Israel also played a huge behind the scenes role, he said.

LaMaina also thanked his wife Jennifer. He says he can be difficult when stressed. "And I have been stressed out since Nov. 1, when I signed the lease. She has so much going on in her own business life — the support and encouragement she blesses me with is everything," he said.

Despite the hectic pace of running two businesses and raising two boys with his wife, LaMaina said his life today is a dream realized.

Secrets to success

Compared to his former life, when he used to commute to work in New York, LaMaina said even with long hours, today he doesn't feel as busy. Commuting, he said, "would take a huge chunk of my day. I called it lost time. I wasn't doing anything productive for myself or my future. I wasn't producing. Now I try to accomplish 6 things a day. I have been doing it for over a year. It's not as easy as it sounds. But you will realize some days, 'I've only done two things and its already 2 p.m. And they could be anything. Going to the bank. Paying bills. Having lunch with Mom. Taking the boys to soccer. 6 things. It keeps me moving."

No matter how busy his work life, LaMaina said he will always make time for family and friends. "I'll close the restaurant for a day if I think we need a team event or just a day to all rest and get on the same page. I'm very anti-whatever you think a normal restaurant should be. My motivation to create this space and my desire to create more like it stems from wanting the ability to one day soon spend all my time with my family. That's the end game."

'What we have in Greenport is magical at times'

What he's accomplished since the flood waters ravaged Butta Cakes makes him take pause, LaMaina said.

"When I walk into Lucharitos in Greenport I am often hit with this feeling of 'Wow, what is this place? What did we create here?' It amazes me. I go out to eat a lot and like anyone in this business, I compare and contrast. What we have in Greenport is magical at times. There are moments, sometimes when we are flashing the lights and the entire place is singing 'Happy Birthday' to a 5 year old wearing a luchador mask and holding a real championship wrestling belt that I'm choked up. Or moments where our staff is hanging out after a shift and laughing and letting off steam that I can't believe we built this from scratch."

LaMaina said he's planning to infuse the Aquebogue business with the same wonder and joy.

"Aquebogue is a special place. The community here is real. They show up and support. It's not just a spot on a map between Jamesport and Riverhead. I know I am blessed. But I'm even more grateful. I want Little Lucharitos to become a fixture here."

LaMaina, who also just earned a masters degree in restauranteurship, said over the past year, building the Aquebogue business, he has felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

"It was total team effort. The year it took was a blessing. We would not be able to do this in the summer. To test and develop systems and procedures takes time and many failures. This fall and winter will give us the time we need to fine tune little Lucharitos. So I'm looking at the year it took as a positive."

Looking around the bright new space, LaMaina said, "Little Lucharitos has something very special about it. I'm anxious to see its growth."

Little Lucharitos is open from 11 a.m to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.