Mitote Food Park in Roseland, Santa Rosa, is closing by January 31st. The announcement came on social media over the weekend. The county, which owns the land, previously terminated the park’s lease. Mitote opened in 2022 and quickly became popular for its variety of Mexican food trucks.
In a recent post, the park’s operators expressed their sadness about the situation. They mentioned that they were told by the county to leave by the end of January due to an expedited construction schedule. Despite the news, they are hopeful about relocating soon. They encouraged their customers to support the food trucks in these final weeks.
However, Michelle Whitman, director of the Sonoma County Community Development Commission, clarified that the county actually provided a lease termination notice that allows Mitote to stay until June 9. She said there was no instruction for an earlier move, and she was surprised by the closure announcement.
The land currently occupied by Mitote is part of a larger development project called Tierra de Rosas. This project aims to transform the area into a hub with affordable housing, a public plaza, and a food hall. The county has been planning this since acquiring the property in 2011, and construction started last June.
Mitote’s current location features a variety of food trucks and has been a space for community celebrations. It’s also a common stop for local bicycle events like the Taco Tuesday ride. The park has fostered a vibrant community atmosphere, which makes this closure especially impactful.
Whitman mentioned that she and Mitote’s operators have regular meetings. In one of those discussions, they talked about potentially moving the entrance for the food park to accommodate construction. There’s even a commercial space in the new development where Mitote might set up shop, although details are still unfolding.
Sonoma County Supervisor Chris Coursey acknowledged the positive impact Mitote has had on the community but emphasized that the food park cannot continue in its current location. The county is committed to the Tierra de Rosas project, which has received grants based on the understanding that a park will be developed there.
Tiffany Ordonez, whose family runs La Churroteka at Mitote, shared that food truck owners were informed about the impending closure. She and her family are now looking for a new location for their business but are concerned about losing the customer base they built at Mitote.
Despite the uncertainty, Ordonez remains hopeful and credits much of their success to the community and the platform that Mitote provided. “We hope that business continues to be good to us, regardless of where we’re relocated,” she said, reflecting the spirit of resilience that characterizes the food park community.
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