Last month, the Mitote Food Park in Santa Rosa’s Roseland neighborhood shut down for a brief period, causing concern among its vendors and patrons. Fortunately, it reopened quickly, but the future still feels uncertain.
Over the past ten days, the food park has been operating day-to-day, as its fate hinges on construction plans for the surrounding area. However, there’s good news: owner Octavio Diaz has announced that Mitote will remain open for at least three more weeks, possibly longer. “We are very grateful to have this opportunity,” he said, highlighting the park’s role as a community hub that brings together diverse groups of people.
Mitote Food Park was established in 2022 after Diaz secured a temporary lease from Sonoma County in 2019. The site is part of a bigger project called Tierra de Rosas, which plans a mixed-use development featuring affordable housing and a public plaza. Although construction was delayed for years, it finally kicked off last summer.
As construction progresses, parking has become more challenging, especially since a nearby lot that previously provided easy access is now closed for building. Diaz worries that more construction fencing will hinder access for food trucks. Yet, he’s been reassured that the vendors will still have access through June 9, thanks to adjustments being made around the construction zone.
Though the vendors knew Mitote wasn’t a permanent setup, the news of its possible closure caught many off guard. Many had assumed they would have more time to operate. On what they thought was their last day, feelings of disappointment filled the air. Yet just a day later, they were back in business, keen to keep serving customers despite the uncertainty. “It’s been pretty slow this week,” said one vendor, noting that people often assumed they were closed. “Today, I saw some regulars who only knew we were open because they happened to drive by.”
Diaz is actively looking for a new spot nearby, eager to keep the community of 70-plus workers together. “This is a family,” he said. “We’re all in this together.”
