Realtor Voltaire Lepe of eXp Realty confirmed that the twin parcels housing the 92-year-old Barrio Logan landmark have officially been sold. Lepe explicitly stated that the sale price was $2,275,000, although other media outlets have since reported it as $2,210,000. The sale covers 1851–1853 Logan Avenue (Assessor Parcel Nos. 538-250-21-00 and 538-250-22-00) and includes both the famed restaurant building and the adjacent mixed-use property known as La Victoria.
While the deed has not yet been filed with the County Recorder’s Office, Lepe confirmed via social media and in messages that the transaction has finalized. It was further reported to SanDiegoVille that Las Cuatro Milpas intends to close and vacate the building at some point this December, likely at the end of the month after the holidays.
While the deed has not yet been filed with the County Recorder’s Office, Lepe confirmed via social media and in messages that the transaction has finalized. It was further reported to SanDiegoVille that Las Cuatro Milpas intends to close and vacate the building at some point this December, likely at the end of the month after the holidays.
Though Lepe declined to identify the buyer, it has been confirmed that the purchaser is Iglesia del Dios Vivo Columna, Inc., the parent company of La Luz del Mundo. Also known as The Light of the World, La Luz del Mundo is a controversial international religious organization whose global leader, Naasón Joaquín García, is currently incarcerated - and as of late summer, facing new federal charges for racketeering, sex trafficking, and child exploitation. The congregation’s compound sits next door to the restaurant site, and its interest in the property has been the subject of months of speculation.
The purchase cements La Luz del Mundo’s presence in the heart of Barrio Logan, directly adjacent to its existing church compound - and bring a deeply divisive organization to the doorstep of one of San Diego’s most culturally significant eateries. Founded in Mexico in 1926, La Luz del Mundo claims millions of followers across the Americas and beyond. The church presents itself as a devout, family-centered Christian organization, but its leadership has been mired in decades of allegations of systemic sexual abuse, coercion, and financial corruption.
La Luz del Mundo's most recent leader, Naasón Joaquín García, is serving a 16-year state sentence in California following his 2022 conviction on multiple counts related to the sexual abuse of minors. In a separate federal case, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York announced on September 10, 2025, that García and five co-defendants were indicted on racketeering conspiracy, sex-trafficking, and child-exploitation charges tied to what prosecutors describe as a decades-long criminal enterprise operating through the church.
According to federal prosecutors, the alleged enterprise exploited the faith and obedience of church members to facilitate the sexual abuse of girls, boys, and women, the production of child sexual-abuse images, forced labor, and financial crimes. Authorities say García directed close aides to select and groom young teenagers for abuse and to create images and videos for his gratification. Investigators further allege that the pattern traces back through prior La Luz del Mundo leaders in García’s family, and that congregants’ donations were diverted to fund abuse, luxury travel, and efforts to destroy evidence. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty, and several alleged co-conspirators remain at large in Mexico while the investigation continues.
For Barrio Logan, the sale and impending closure of Las Cuatro Milpas represents a seismic cultural loss. The business has faced mounting pressures in recent years, including tax liens and a temporary health-department closure that was later resolved after remediation.
The sale of Las Cuatro Milpas marks a bittersweet closure for the Estudillo family, who has operated the restaurant since the Great Depression. Founded in 1933 by Petra and Natividad Estudillo, the humble counter-service spot became a citywide touchstone for handmade tortillas, rolled tacos, and simple border-style fare, with lines reliably wrapping out the door.
The property’s financial history, however, shows growing strain in recent years. Last year, county tax records published by the San Diego Union-Tribune revealed over $50,000 in unpaid liens, and the restaurant faced a temporary health department closure for nearly a month earlier this year following major violations. Eventually, it came to light that Las Cuatro Milpas would likely head to a mandated sale due to accruing unpaid taxes, growing to around $200,000. Despite these challenges, Las Cuatro Milpas continued to operate daily with long lines around the block - a testament to its enduring community importance.
It is not yet known how the new owner intends to use the site. The acquisition by La Luz del Mundo significantly expands the church’s footprint on the block and intensifies concern among neighbors who view the organization’s legal controversies as fundamentally at odds with the community’s values. Whether the building will be repurposed, demolished, or absorbed into the controversial church’s growing presence is still unknown.
With the sale finalized and closure imminent, the fate of Las Cuatro Milpas - and the future of its historic property - remains uncertain. What is certain is that the soul of Barrio Logan - long defined by its resilience, art, and culinary traditions - is losing one of its most sacred cornerstones. For now, Las Cuatro Milpas remains open as it prepares for a December farewell and a final chapter to a 92-year San Diego story.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Originally published on November 10, 2025. Updated with new price information on November 12, 2025.
