The Curious Case of Lucky Lou’s Café & Grill

Thanks to FiPS Tipster Zach for the photo and tip that as of this moment the joint is still shuttered.

For months I’d walk by Lucky Lou’s, a promising new joint that was to replace Kohzee Cafe, on Sixth Avenue and Seventh Street. Back in October, FIPS chronicled how the owner declined to apply for a full liquor license due to pressure from the nabe. Oh well… no new whiskey joint for me. But as one who also eats on occasion, I was still curious to try it out. On Feb. 25, after a gut renovation, the place finally opened. I stopped by and enjoyed a big breakfast of bacon-topped steak & eggs with pancakes, which was nicely priced. The rest of the menu looked interesting, and the staff was friendly. I looked forward to returning and trying some other grub from their menu of Latin-influenced cuisine.

But then they closed shop, almost immediately. At first, there was a sign in the window apologizing and said there was a death in the family. Then after a couple of weeks, another sign went up, looking for a cook.

It’s now April 11th and the doors are still shuttered, there is no phone number listed on their Yelp page and their website is fucked. Has there been a change in ownership? Did they run out funds? Are they going to re-open soon? Or has Lou simply run out of luck?