One of the central parts of the dining experience in the U.S. is going out to a Mexican restaurant.
This may seem counterintuitive, given that Mexican cuisine isn’t inherently a part of traditional American dining, but it’s been central to our dining culture for decades.
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It doesn’t really matter where you live. If you’re in Colorado, California, or Connecticut, most Mexican spots offer more or less the same thing — which is great for diners who know what they want.
The only problem is, Mexican restaurants often have a hard time differentiating themselves from competition.
If you’ve been to a few Mexican restaurants, you can probably roughly outline what the menu, drink list, and even decor look like.
There’s often the top items, like fajitas, tacos, nachos, maybe a salad, and plenty of cheesy entrees.
And any self-respecting Mexican eatery offers margaritas.
The top places will often sell large, fishbowl-style margaritas that often come in lots of different or inventive flavors.
There’s nothing wrong with this business model.
In fact, it’s usually quite a treat to go out to a Mexican restaurant, especially when you know exactly what you’re going to get.
But it can be hard doing business in a crowded area, especially if your competition offers something you don’t.
Las Cuatro Milpas is closing after nearly 100 years in business.
Image source: Getty Images
San Diego Mexican restaurant runs into problem
Las Cuatro Milpas, a popular Mexican restaurant in San Diego, Calif., is closing down after nearly 100 years in business.
The restaurant has been struggling financially.
It owes approximately $160,000 in unpaid property taxes and has incurred several health code violations, including vermin infestations that were not remediated after multiple checks.
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It was forced to close in the winter following the violation, and now, Las Cuatro Milpas is closing down for good.
The restaurant has put its historic site up for sale for approximately $1.99 million.
The property includes two buildings, living quarters, and even a church.
It’s located just blocks away from the San Diego Convention Center and the BNSF Freight Yard.
Las Cuatro Milpas braces for mounting issues
While the $1.99 million sales price seems to cover a lot, it does not actually include the restaurant operation itself, per Fox 5 San Diego.
Real estate agent Voltaire Lepe said the sale reflects the family’s desire to retire, rather than any kind of issues with the government.
“There has been some negativity painted about the reasons why they are selling, but the reason is just because they’re retired,” he explained. “They’ve been working here all their lives. Just like any business owner, everyone owes money to different government agencies.”
He added that the Estudillo family, which has operated the business since 1933, is open to offers that include the restaurant business.
They are accepting offers until August 6, 2025.
Customers remain hopeful that they may someday see the return of their favorite local hotspot, but with so much competition for Mexican food in the San Diego area, the future may be grim.