The Mexican restaurant opened all the way back in 1933. The Barrio Logan neighborhood is one of the most diverse in all of San Diego, as two businesses located there, the Pacifici Tuna Canning Company and the Van Camp Seafood Company, provided jobs for Mexican, Italian, Portuguese, and Japanese immigrants.
These workers sought fresh and affordable food following their shifts at work, and this San Diego area provided just that. The area is also home to many people serving or retired from the United States Navy, adding a number of other hungry residents seeking out delicious food.
The Area Around the Restaurant is Predominantly Mexican
With San Diego being so close to the Mexico border, people of Mexican descent have been coming to live in Barrio Logan for more than 100 years. The first group came in 1910 during the Mexican Revolution, laying down their roots in the area.
And generations of those people have supported this eatery. It is an incredible milestone for any restaurant to last for nearly 100 years, and the Mexican restaurant was able to do just that while adapting to the changes in the area.
Restaurants Are Facing Significant Challenges Right Now
It is not easy to run a restaurant in the year 2025. There are several obstacles right now to being successful. COVID-19 and shutdowns hit many eateries hard, and many haven’t been able to recover from the loss of business.
Thanks to rising inflation, many people have changed their habits when it comes to going out to eat, some cutting back and some stopping altogether. Many people are also opting to get their meals from delivery services and thereby cutting back on how often they dine out at a restaurant.
San Diego Can Be an Especially Hard Place to Run a Business
San Diego has a lot to offer a business. An upwardly mobile customer base, incredible scenery, and near-perfect weather almost every day of the week. But those very things that make San Diego an attractive destination can also make it harder to run a business.
The rental prices are very high in the area, making it hard to turn a profit. California also has a higher minimum wage than the national average. And the restaurant industry is competitive in a way that makes businesses have to thrive in order to hold onto staff.
The 90+ Year Old Restaurant Is Being Closed With the Owners Filing Bankruptcy
Restaurants have been struggling to make ends meet for years, with many being hit hard by both the COVID-19 pandemic and rising inflation costs. As a result, many people have driven up to their favorite restaurant in town, only to see a closed sign outside the front door.
That was the case with people who visited Las Cuatro Milpas, located in San Diego’s Barrio Logan neighborhood. Las Cuatro Milpas has been a staple of the community for decades. But now the owners have put their buildings up for sale, and the owners say it is not because of financial difficulties.
The Property is Being Offered for Sale for $1.95 Million
The current owners, the daughters of the original owners, are offering the property where the restaurant stands for $1.95 million. In addition, the new owner will receive a second building, residential units, and a church located nearby.
As of now, the business is not included in the package for the property, and it may or may not be sold. According to the family’s real estate agent, the business could be sold to the right person, but there is also the chance that it will not be sold at all.
The Restaurant was Having Some Financial Problems
The owner’s decision to sell should not come out of nowhere. According to sources, the restaurant is facing a tax debt of $190,000. This represents a hefty sum for any restaurant to pay while still staying profitable, especially considering that the food at Las Cuatro Milpas is not very expensive.
According to the family’s real estate agent, the owner’s choice had nothing to do with their current debt problem. He claimed that the decision was made by the sisters to move on from the restaurant for other reasons.
The Health Department Shut the Restaurant Down For Some Time
Las Cuatro Milpas has also had issues with the health department after vermin and unclean surfaces were found. The eatery was initially shut down in late December 2024. Las Cuatro Milpas then failed a reinspection and was closed into mid-January until finally passing the test.
One may think that a lengthy health department shutdown could really cause problems for the restaurant, but in the end, that wasn’t the case. According to locals, the Mexican spot still regularly had lines for tables going out the door even after being shut down.
The Owners Simply Wanted to Retire
The family’s real estate agent, Voltaire Lepe, said that the decision had nothing to do with any financial problems and that the sisters who are running the restaurant simply want to retire.
Both of the owners are in their 70s, and if there are no obvious successors to run the business, it makes sense for them to retire. While they have left it open whether they would sell the actual business, it seems like the owners have earned their rest.
Conclusion
It is rare for a restaurant to be able to close with grace. The business is especially tough. It is estimated that 17% of all restaurants close within the first year, 30% close within the first three years, and a whopping 50% close within the first five years.
Las Cuatro Milpas was not only able to last more than 5 years, but it was able to last for more than 90. Generations of people growing up in Barrio Logan ate there and passed it down to their relatives. A landmark in the neighborhood, Las Cuatro Milpas might be replaced, but it will be very hard to duplicate.