The update comes amid conflicting public accounts about how long the nearly century-old institution may remain open following the sale of its property last month. While some reports have suggested Las Cuatro Milpas could continue operating for months or even years under the new ownership, employees on site told SanDiegoVille that the restaurant plans to shut its doors after Christmas Eve service and remain closed for at least a couple weeks, with the possibility that the closure could be permanent.
Earlier this month, NBC San Diego reported that the restaurant “might serve customers a bit longer” after the sale, citing comments from the current owner that she did not yet know how long the family would be allowed to stay and was awaiting guidance from the new owners. According to that report, the new ownership could permit the business to operate for “a couple more months - or even years.” However, as of this week, staff working inside the restaurant conveyed a far more imminent timeline, pointing to December 24 as the last day of service.
Las Cuatro Milpas has continued operating daily since the sale, drawing long lines of customers eager to visit what many consider one of San Diego’s most important culinary landmarks. Founded in 1933 by Petra and Natividad Estudillo, the cash-only counter-service restaurant became renowned for its handmade tortillas, chorizo, rice, beans, and rolled tacos, with generations of families returning to the modest Logan Avenue storefront for decades.
The property at 1851–1853 Logan Avenue, which includes the restaurant building and the adjacent La Victoria structure, sold for approximately $2.275 million. The buyer has been identified as Iglesia del Dios Vivo Columna, Inc., the parent organization of La Luz del Mundo, whose neighboring church compound has long fueled speculation about the site’s future. No formal plans for the property have been publicly disclosed.
The sale followed years of mounting financial pressure on the Estudillo family, including unpaid property taxes, liens, and a temporary health department closure earlier this year that was later resolved. Despite those challenges, Las Cuatro Milpas remained one of the city’s busiest and most beloved eateries, with daily lines stretching down the block.
While the current owner has publicly stated that discussions with the new owners are ongoing, the information shared by staff suggests that any extended operation may not materialize. No signage has been posted announcing a final closing date, and the restaurant has not issued an official public statement confirming its plans beyond Christmas Eve.
For now, Las Cuatro Milpas remains open in the days leading up to December 24, as customers continue to line up amid growing uncertainty. Whether the closure following Christmas Eve marks a temporary pause or the definitive end of a 92-year San Diego institution remains unresolved.
Originally published on December 22, 2025.
