Meet the Team/ Our Cast
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Tora Dress - Manager & Hostess
A former photographer’s model and designer, Tora is one of the original ladies that opened Lucky Cheng’s back in 1993. She supervises the floor and brings with her decades of experience and wisdom with a great pair of legs!
Follower her on Instagram
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Lola Michele-Kiki - Saturday Show Host
Wise cracking and hilarious, Lola has brought her unique style of hosting a show to Lucky Cheng’s since 2019. Popular in the NYC bar and nightlife scene, we are lucky to have Lola with us and a member of the family!
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Gretchen - Performing Waitress
Affectionally called “Mother”, Gretchen came to Lucky Cheng’s in 1994 and brings her sassy style of hospitality, shocking and thrilling the audience every time leaving a lasting impression.
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Tobell Von Cartier - Waitress
A former ‘90s Club Kid and host at NYC’s famed nightclub Limelight, Tobell joined us in 1998 and released several Electroclash dance hits with Producer, Larry T. She is also a fashion designer, designing all her own clothes.
Follower her on Instagram
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Prima Love - Performing Waitress/ Show Host
Lucky Cheng’s newest addition is not only a sexy and gorgeous burlesque dancer, but a fashion accessories designer, and charming show hostess! Prima’s exotic and energy packed performances are sure to amaze you!
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Luca Tessadrelli - DJ
Our in-house audio and lighting technician, Luca sets the mood in the room and is also a photographer’s model, actor, and hair designer.
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Godiva Romance - Performing Waitress
Godiva joined us in 2021 and with a background in the quick food & beverage industry, has been a great professional and asset.
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Svetlana Stoli - Sunday Show Host
Svetlana is campy high energy queen, with big hair, big costumes and full of surprises. She loves to do parodies and brings the naughty and raunchy performances sure to make you blush and squirm.
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How it all began…
Lucky Cheng's opened in 1993 in NYC's East Village as the first Chinese Restaurant & Bar where all the staff were exotic Asian Drag Queens and transgendered women.
Named after former busboy and later co-owner, Cheng Mi Cheng, Lucky Cheng's featured a delicious California-Asian menu created by Executive Chef, Chris Genoversa of the famed China Grill and was the most unique spot in all of NYC. Mr. Cheng himself was a star character going from table to table each night speaking with every guest and offering shots of liquor if they were celebrating an occasion.
Fame!
Lucky Cheng's was catapulted into the spotlight in 1994 when Prince Albert of Monaco came in for a drag dining experience and liked it so much that he asked for two Asian Drag Queens to serve for his table. Suddenly, Lucky Cheng's became an overnight sensation attracting celebrities, musicians, and artists through the years such as talk show host Joan Rivers, Robin Leach (Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous), Ivana and Ivanka Trump, Mary McFadden, Patrick McMullan, Grace Jones, Luther Vandross, Gary Coleman, Elvira, Boy George, The B52s, Bananarama, Britney Spears, Madonna, Mick Jagger, Taylor Dayne, Cyndi Lauper, Sarah Michelle Geller, The Cast of All My Children, Jack Wagner, Heather Locklear, Kelly Ripa, Leonardo DiCaprio, Danny Bonaduce, Stephen Baldwin, Bernadette Peters, Amy Irving, Sam Harris, RuPaul, Lady Gaga, and many more.
In 2004, the Ladies of Lucky Cheng’s were featured in the documentary, New York Drag directed by Roger Sewhcomar.
Lucky Cheng’s and several of the staff were also featured in Allure magazine, Season 1 of Sex and the City, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, The Jersey Shore, Bethany Ever After, America’s Next Top Model, and The Long Island Medium to name a few TV shows.
Lucky Cheng’s left it’s East Village home in 2012 and moved to the Times Square/ Theatre District. After the passing of original owner Hayne Suthon in 2014, Lucky Cheng’s has passed hands and is now in the control of new creative people under the leadership of Gioconda Productions.
