Chef Chad Rosenthal has announced that he will be closing The Lucky Well in Ambler on December 31st. He pointed to rising costs associated with running a restaurant, especially when it comes to BBQ, and the impact of the pandemic. He plans to stay in the hospitality business through The Lucky Well – Experience Group, which will “deliver the quintessence of the live-fire and BBQ experience directly to your homes, farms, wineries, rooftops, and everywhere in between, both virtually and through vibrant live experiences.”
Rosenthal also announced that the building has been sold to the ownership of Cantina Feliz, a Mexican restaurant in Fort Washington and that they intend to open a restaurant at the downtown Ambler spot in 2024. We have reached out to the ownership to clarify whether this is a new restaurant or if Cantina Felize will move.
Below is his full statement from Rosenthal:
With a bittersweet mix of gratitude and excitement, I’m happy to share a significant update about our beloved haven of BBQ, Comfort, and Whiskey – The Lucky Well. The past 10+ years have been a wonderful chapter filled with memories and shared experiences. We’ve laughed together, celebrated milestones, and witnessed the growth of Ambler Borough into a vibrant and dynamic community. However, as the saying goes, the only constant in life is change. This cool can’t last forever!
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A sincere thank you to my incredible staff, some of whom have been with me since day 1, for their unwavering dedication and hard work. You have been the backbone of our success, and we wouldn’t be where we are today without you.
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You know, BBQ ain’t easy, and it’s expensive as heck. I’ll speak for everyone in the BBQ world that won’t say this but wants to – raise your prices 1000%! A rack of ribs for $60? Yup… If done right, we work harder and longer than any other concept in the world and have to charge the same price for a rack of ribs that gets popped in the oven and gets covered with Sweet Baby Ray’s… by the way, I love Sweet Baby Ray’s!
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The challenges of the past few years, especially in the aftermath of the pandemic, have urged us to reevaluate and adapt. It’s with mixed emotions that we’ve decided to bid farewell to our current physical location on December 31st, 2023. This is not a goodbye to Ambler but rather a transformation to embrace new, smarter, and healthier opportunities for us.
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Speaking of our physical space, it was of utmost importance to me to introduce a concept that would contribute to the growth of this town in the best way possible. The building has been sold to our friends Cantina Feliz in Fort Washington, and they are set to open in 2024. They were eager to become a part of Ambler Main Street, and I’m genuinely thrilled for them and can’t wait to sip a Mezcal at the bar!
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We are thrilled to introduce our latest venture, The Lucky Well – Experience Group. In alignment with the evolving industry landscape, we aspire to deliver the quintessence of the live-fire and BBQ experience directly to your homes, farms, wineries, rooftops, and everywhere in between, both virtually and through vibrant live experiences. Our unwavering commitment to crafting memorable moments remains unchanged. Stay tuned for more exciting updates in the coming weeks as we delve deeper into this new chapter.
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Thank you for a wonderful 10+ years of support and love. We look forward to embarking on this new chapter with you as we introduce The Lucky Well – Experience Group. Stay tuned for more updates, and let’s continue this adventure together.
Photo: Google