GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A family-owned Mexican restaurant in Grand Rapids' Creston neighborhood, La Huasteca, is closing after being open since 2017.
"I call him, I text him and I'll respond. Finally, I got a response. The next day in the morning. All he said was I gotta sell the building," said restaurant owner Salvador Oliveros.
La Huasteca has been open since 2017 but will be closing its doors on April 15. The lease expired and Oliveros says he received a letter dated March 28 saying he must terminate his tenancy effective May 1.
"To be honest, we don't even know. Our lease was done. Last year, about Christmas time. We talked to the landlord, asking about a new lease. He said he was gonna raise the rent on it. I said okay I understand… No, no response. He never have like a answer for me… he just came, dropped the envelope, saying that we got 30 days to move out," said Oliveros.
Customers said the Mexican restaurant is a favorite in the community.
"I am bummed that they're closing because the location is very close to where I live. But wherever they go from here, I'll be following for him to drive across town for it. I'm there," said one regular customer, James Kozakiewizz.
Oliveros said the menu was created from authentic Mexican recipes and he's looking for a new location.
"A lot of people are not able to go to Mexico to eat. So I tried to learn a lot. I even got family down there. So I really like asking for recipes and then make it here. So you know, so they can have the best authentic Mexican food," said Oliveros.
The landlord was called for more information but the call was disconnected.
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