The sale follows mounting financial pressures tied to years of unpaid property, sales, and federal income taxes. As previously reported, the Estudillo family - which has operated Las Cuatro Milpas since its founding in 1933 - faces nearly $200,000 in total debt, including more than $60,000 in delinquent property taxes that must be paid by March 2026 to avoid a government-mandated sale. Additional liens include $103,000 in unpaid state sales tax and nearly $18,000 owed to the IRS.
Despite these looming financial obligations, listing agent Voltaire Lepe of eXp Realty insists the current sale is not “distress-driven,” pointing instead to the family’s desire to retire after nearly a century of continuous operation. “They won’t be operating the restaurant anymore,” Lepe told reporters. “Everyone is really sad that it will be closing, but they’ve been working for a long time so they want to retire.”
The $1.995 million listing includes the Las Cuatro Milpas property at 1853 Logan Avenue, which features the restaurant and a detached single-family home with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and an optional third bedroom. Also included is the neighboring parcel at 1851 Logan Avenue, known as La Victoria. That site includes three additional structures: a front building with a ground-floor retail unit, a full studio apartment, and four dormitory-style studio units upstairs; a separate three-car warehouse with alley access and parking; and a duplex consisting of two 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom residential units.
In total, the mixed-use offering presents a rare development opportunity in the heart of Barrio Logan - one of San Diego’s most culturally rich and rapidly evolving neighborhoods. All eight upstairs residential units are currently vacant.
Although the restaurant business itself is not included in the listing, Lepe said he would not rule out the possibility of selling the Las Cuatro Milpas name, recipes, and goodwill if the right offer comes along. "If someone comes in and says, we love your food, you’ve been in the community forever, and we want to offer you X amount of dollars for the business, I’ll present that to the owners," he said. "But every time I meet with the family, they say they’re up there in age and don’t want to work anymore."
The sale announcement marks the most definitive step yet toward closure for the beloved eatery, which only months ago was forced to temporarily shut down following multiple failed health inspections related to a serious cockroach infestation. The restaurant reopened in February 2025 after addressing the violations, but its long-term stability had remained uncertain amid escalating debts and internal pressures.
Notably, SanDiegoVille previously reported in October 2024 the family’s intention to retire and sell the restaurant in 2025, following a direct phone conversation with one of the owners. However, after that information went viral, the family appeared to backtrack - likely overwhelmed by the unexpected public attention. This week's official property listing confirms that those early reports were accurate, and that the restaurant’s near-century run may soon come to a close.
Beatrice Estudillo, great-granddaughter of founders Petra and Natividad Estudillo, said in a statement that her "family is ready to retire with full hearts. This moment is about celebration and timing."
Las Cuatro Milpas remains open at 1857 Logan Avenue, but for the first time in its storied history, its future is tied to a real estate listing. Whether a new operator will step in to carry the torch, or the space will be transformed for new uses, remains to be seen - but it’s clear that one of San Diego’s most cherished institutions is nearing the end of an era.
Beatrice Estudillo, great-granddaughter of founders Petra and Natividad Estudillo, said in a statement that her "family is ready to retire with full hearts. This moment is about celebration and timing."
Las Cuatro Milpas remains open at 1857 Logan Avenue, but for the first time in its storied history, its future is tied to a real estate listing. Whether a new operator will step in to carry the torch, or the space will be transformed for new uses, remains to be seen - but it’s clear that one of San Diego’s most cherished institutions is nearing the end of an era.
Originally published on July 17, 2025.