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Sinaloa Mexican Food closes their doors after 70 years in downtown Bakersfield

Sinaloa Mexican Food Closed
Sinaloa Sign
Posted at 11:23 PM, Jan 21, 2019
and last updated 2021-05-05 17:28:18-04

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — A Mexican food staple in downtown Bakersfield has officially closed their doors. Sinaloa Mexican Food, a family business, posted a note on their front door saying they have "closed forever" after 70 years in business.

The original Sinaloa opened in May of 1948 as "Sinaloa Spanish Food" on 19th Street where Wool Growers is currently located. In 1957 the restaurant moved to the corner of 20th and P Street. Prior to the family purchasing the building, it was an orphanage called "The Kern County Children's Center."

Family member Sally Muñoz Santa Cruz said she believes in the rumors that the building is haunted.

"I just heard her, running across one Sunday, running across the dance floor and I went up there and there's nothing there," said Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz said the reason they're closed is because her brother passed away and the siblings, who grew up working in the restaurant together, said they wouldn't be able to do it without each other.

"Last year, May 6. That was a tragic time. The worst time in our lives because we always said if something happened to one of us, the four of us that were here working, we wouldn't go on. We couldn't," said Santa Cruz.

The downtown location went up for sale shortly after his passing in 2018 and is still currently listed at $1.75 Million. According to LoopNet listings, the building, including the restaurant's liquor license and fixtures, are included in the sale.