Long delayed, the renovation of Mi Tierra in Seaside shows new signs of life.

When Mi Tierra, a Mexican market and taqueria in Seaside, closed for renovations at the end of August 2022, the notice on its door read that owners intended to reopen in spring of 2023. It was tough news for local taco lovers, as the store’s taqueria served arguably the best tacos in Monterey County, and the store itself has long been a beloved Seaside institution.

But the first step of the renovations – a complete overhaul of the building’s interior – was delayed by challenges related to the building’s age: Once workers started removing the asbestos-laden flooring tiles, the rebar underneath was laid out haphazardly, meaning workers couldn’t use a concrete saw to cut in a straight line for fear of damaging the building’s structural integrity – the work had to be done painstakingly by hand.

In August 2023, the project’s architect, Oswaldo Mejia, told the Weekly he expected construction would start soon, and take six to eight months.

But Seaside City Attorney Sheri Damon, who Mejia previously told the Weekly has been a big help moving the project forward, says a building permit was recently pulled for reconstructing the store’s interior. Among the changes, the taqueria will be moved to the entrance.

But given that permits expire after one year, the clock has started. One challenge, she says based off her conversations with Mejia, is getting the ducks in a row for each step of the renovation, so that various contractors and appliances are ready.

According to Damon, Mejia is still refining the outside plans, which include an overhaul of the parking lot, and that those plans have not yet been submitted to the city.