LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — A new Spanish coffee and empanada shop found its home in the Highlands in February.
According to our partners at Louisville Business First, Lucia's Cafecito y Mas opened Feb. 28, taking over the former site of doughnut and hot dog shop Drip n Dough. The nearly 600-square-foot space is located at 1433 Bardstown Road near the J. Shepherd Cigar Boutique.
The restaurant serves regular coffee, signature drinks like the Spanish latte and cookie butter latte, along with bagels, doughnuts, teas and empanadas. The Spanish latte uses more espresso than a traditional latte, which gives it stronger, richer flavor.
Owner Melina Seifried launched the cafe with family values in mind. She was born and raised in Ecuador before moving to the United States when she was 13. There, Seifried's parents operated an Ecuadorian and Colombian restaurant in New York.
When Seifried and her family moved to Louisville three years ago, she wanted to follow in her parents' footsteps.
"Before, I had in mind opening up a small restaurant, but when we got the opportunity to do a coffee shop, I took it," Seifried said. "It's just something to start. I kind of grew up around it but never really opened up a business myself or anything."
Those family ties are also embedded in the work culture at Lucia's Cafecito y Mas. While Seifried runs the cafe by herself during the week, she regularly receives help from her mother-in-law and husband on the weekends.
"This is really a family-run business," Seifried said. "We have homemade syrups and whipping creams as well. The community has been fantastic, honestly — not just the people, but the businesses, like Murphy's Camera and J. Shepherd. They have been very helpful and very welcoming, checking in on us to see how we're doing. I think the people have loved Lucia's so far."
Lucia's Cafecito y Mas is open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
