Cemita Shack Eyes August Opening

STREET owners Michelle Lozuaway and Josh Lanahan hope to open the new Cemita Shack restaurant on Lafayette Road by the end of August.

Lozuaway said they are working hard to get the former Taco Bell restaurant ready to serve as many as 10 different types of cemita sandwiches in what will be a BYOB restaurant with 70 indoor seats and some outdoor seating.

“We’re really excited about being there in that space. We are being really creative with our signage.”

They had hoped to serve alcohol even though they knew before they signed the lease to create the new restaurant at the Southgate Plaza that a lease held by the Ninety Nine restaurant blocked them from doing so. The Ninety Nine has a unique lease that allows it to decide whether surrounding establishments can serve alcohol.

Lozuaway said they are still in the process of filling some management and staff positions for the new eatery, which will feature veggie burger, fried chicken and seafood style cemitas, three of which are currently available at STREET.  She said they will have some non-fried and gluten free options, as well as a gluten free fryer. The new menu will also include a special ceasarita salad.

She said the new restaurant will have a drive-thru window a few months after it initially opens.

When asked how she feels that they will be opening at the tail end of the summer season, Lozuaway replied, "It's not a seasonal restaurant."

When the new Cemita Shack does open, Lozuaway said the menu will make it well worth the wait. 

“I think it’s going to be great. People are going to find some new and fresh things they haven’t tried before."