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Lucharitos

Lucharitos in Greenport. (Credit: Vera Chinese)

Lucharitos

We’re counting down the top coolest stories of 2015 on northforker.com. We will publish one story on our list per day, every day, until Jan. 1.

Coming in at number 8 is the expansion of Lucharitos.

It didn’t take long for hungry patrons to start filling the seats inside Lucharitos after the renovated eatery opened its doors in May for the first time since March.

“Since the first table walked in, everyone just piled in behind,” Lucharitos manager Sterling Smiley said while tending to customers at the Mexican restaurant in Greenport on the day it reopened.

The Main Street bar and restaurant had tripled its kitchen space and now has the ability to serve 50 customers at tables and another 21 at a new bar. That’s compared to the 16 it could previously seat at tables and the 12 it could fit at the bar.

Marc LaMaina opened Lucharitos in late 2012 after Hurricane Sandy dealt a heavy blow to the eatery he used to operate out of the same space — Butta Cakes, a cupcake shop. Since then, it has quickly blossomed into a popular destination, therefore requiring the expansion plans two years after opening up shop.

LaMaina said he knew he had to expand last year as his wait staff had trouble moving around the small restaurant.

“It is a blessing to be open,” he said. “It was a lot of work and a lot of money.”

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