Luchacubano To Open On Main Street In Downtown Riverhead

CENTER MORICHES, NY — A new day is dawning in downtown Riverhead as the owner of the popular Lucharitos taquerias prepares to open an eatery on Main Street.

Marc LaMaina told Patch this week that plans for Luchacubano, a sandwicheria and rum bar, are unfolding at the site of the longtime Sunny's Riverhead Diner & Grill, which closed due to the pandemic in September after being in business since 1932.

Luchacubano, which will be located at 87 East Main Street, will serve up roast pork and plaintains, coffee and mojitos, and be infused with "Miami vibes," LaMaina said.

LaMaina announced plans for the business just days after Riverhead officials gathered to watch the demolition of the former Swezey's building downtown; two buildings will be razed to make way for a new Town Square, joining Main Street with the Peconic Riverfront.

"I'm looking forward to being a part of the Riverhead revitalization. I have been waiting and waiting to jump into an opportunity here. And things lined up," LaMaina said. "Not the best timing as we have a lot going on but we have a really strong leadership team and it allows me to keep pushing forward. When you have 100 percent trust in your teams competency it allows for so much growth as a whole."

Luchacubano, LaMaina said is slated to open in mid-December, with a focus on a Cuban sandwich line and branching off into a Cuban style menu "with our play on it."

The eatery will serve breakfast, lunch, and reservation-only dinner, as well as a specialty coffee program, he said.

"It will be a simple and fun place to be. Family friendly with some of the nostalgia still visible and alive. This dining cart is the oldest in Long Island. It’s special. We don’t want to change too much. The bones will stay, the layout, the floor, and ceiling, the stainless steel. We are just putting some lipstick on it."

Another Lucharitos also was recently unveiled in Melville, with a Center Moriches location launched in March. Lucharitos also branched out to the concession stand of the Mattituck Cinema.

The new sites for the popular taqueria and tequila bar joins the original Lucharitos location in Greenport and Little Lucharitos in Aquebogue, as well as the Lucharitos Burrito Bar, which recently opened in Mattituck..

Last year, the Center Moriches Lucharitos location was in the spotlight when famed chef Alex Guarnaschelli came to shoot an episode of her Food Network digital show, "Fix Me A Plate."

Lucharitos, which opened after Hurricane Sandy caused extensive damage to the Greenport building, was born after LaMaina's former business at the site, Butta Cakes. Lucharitos soon became a staple in the village, with an expansion in 2015.

Reflecting in a past interview on what the journey has meant, rising from the devastation of the Sandy, to not only create Lucharitos but now, add new locations, LaMaina said, as a businessman and a father, "95 percent 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. The other five percent is purely based on competitiveness."

LaMaina, who also earned a masters degree in restauranteurship, said he has felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude while building his businesses.

"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. What we have . . . is magical at times. There are moments, sometimes when we are flashing the lights and the entire place is singing 'Happy Birthday' to a five-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 — I can't believe we built this from scratch."