For nearly 20 years, Mi Pueblo – and its iconic retro sign – have been landmarks on Euclid Avenue in University Circle. The Mexican restaurant was opened in 1998 by Adrian Ortega, who relocated to Cleveland from Chicago. The long-running restaurant changed hands a number of times, most recently rebranding itself as Pinatas. That restaurant closed a few months back.

The building, as you can see, has been demolished in its entirety by the landlord, who intends to build apartments and retail on the property.

No word back from him on the location or status of the sign.


This article appears in Jun 22-28, 2016.

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.

7 replies on “Long-Running Mi Pueblo Restaurant Has Been Reduced to Rubble”

  1. “Squashed flat, like a tortilla…” (Karen Black, FIVE EASY PIECES, 1970)

    Chuckles the Clown

  3. Oh man, where else will underage Case kids be able to get plastered for cheap??

    The end of a legend.

  4. The sign could have been a neighborhood landmark incorporated into the new project; but it may be in the rubble.

  6. My girlfriend and I used to frequent this establishment. Sad to see gentrification taking away the little diversity the area had.

  7. Uptown is Yuptown, for all those out-of-state and out-of country geeks and dweebs at Case Western. That’s supposedly a college-oriented area? Yeah, right, and so are Crocker Park and Legacy Village.

    Whatta fucking joke that street (Euclid from Mayfield to E. 118th) has become, and they have destroyed it in order to “save” it”…good morning, Vietnam. That’s America, buddy…ain’t it grand?

    Did these residential-and-retail rapists…oops…developers…at least call the Cincinnati Sign Museum first? Not bloody likely. Assholes probably scrapped it for a few extra shekels.

    Erased by an army of steamrollers…sniff…

    Chuckles the Clown.

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