(FOUNTAIN, Colo.) — Luchals stands out in the COATI food hall, with its fusion of rich Southern flavors and sizzling seafood. Now, Luchals will be bringing those delicious flavors to Fountain.

Behind the counter, the passion and culinary expertise of Chef Chantal Lucas shines as she prepares a variety of favorite dishes.

“We want to bring something fun, something good, something with a little bit of soul, a little bit of flavor,” Chef Lucas said. “Something that you can say, ‘wow, I can’t cook that at home’ or, ‘wow this is what I’ve been wanting for years.'”

Her passion became evident when her husband, Travares Lucas, asked about her future career plans. Both stationed in Hawaii at the time, she realized that pursuing a culinary career would allow her to expand upon her love for cooking.

Their culinary journey took flight–first they were catering, then opened a food truck, and shortly after, took up residence inside of the COATI food hall in downtown Colorado Springs.

Chef Lucas shared the importance of being able to create dishes that not only are tasty but also cater to those who are gluten-free.

“So, for me, I love seafood,” Chef Lucas said. “Number one, my husband is from Saint Petersburg, Florida, so ultimately there is a seafood essence there. There’s also a southern essence there and then also there is that gluten-free, that celiac essence, we try to give all three.”

Luchals offers a wide variety of options for customers, with tempting dishes such as crab fries, catfish, wings, and their deluxe mac & cheese. Their full menu can be found online.

Courtesy:
Maggy Wolanske,
FOX21 News MMJ

Courtesy:
Maggy Wolanske,
FOX21 News MMJ

The support from the southern Colorado community fueled their ambition to expand their business. The newest Luchals location opening in Fountain will not only provide soul-nourishing food, but also play a role in shaping the future of the local community.

“I think bringing local small businesses, small businesses that are trying to grow into bigger businesses, can change how we look at these areas,” Chef Lucas said. “It brings more money to the area, brings more value to the area. It makes people want to come and work in that area, so, I think I was offering that to the community as well as working with our neighbors. Again, shout out to Roll Up who is out there doing an amazing job.”

As they prepare for the grand opening on April 19, employees are undergoing training to familiarize themselves with the specific technology for taking orders, as well as getting to interact with their new co-workers.

“I just feel like I’m at home almost like it’s comfortable, it’s warm, great people, great attitude, great smile, a lot of good energy going around,” Fountain Luchals employee, Jesus Urias, said. “I just thank God that I’m here with all these people.”

On Friday morning, employees met inside of the Fountain location to prepare for the grand opening that is one week away.

The opening of this new location also brough employment opportunities, further showcasing the talent of southern Colorado within the hospitality industry.

“I’m excited to be able to be a part of bringing that to this area,” said Kitchen Manager and Sous Chef at Fountain Luchals, Darren Fowlkes. “I think that it’s going to be a long-lasting, long-lasting thing for sure.”

The new Luchals restaurant is located at: 6436 S U.S. Hwy 85 87 Suite M/N

Regarding the menu at this location, Chef Lucas said it will be combining favorites from the COATI location, along with an expanded seafood menu with new items. As the grand opening approaches, updates can be found on their Facebook page, and you can also find details on how to join the elite group for reservations.

“We will be going by reservation only first,” Chef Lucas said. “Walk-ins are welcome, but we advise you to please put in a reservation, as we want to make sure that everyone gets the same experience. We do not want to have a problem with rushing and things of that nature.”