Popular Santurce food park Lote 23 closes after 10 years

Lote 23 in Santurce quickly distinguished itself as a “real‑world learning laboratory,” providing entrepreneurs with affordable space to test menus, refine business models and build client bases. (Discover Puerto Rico)

By THE STAR STAFF

After 10 years as one of Santurce’s most influential culinary incubators, Lote 23 LLC announced the closure of its physical operations, namely a popular food park in the downtown San Juan sector, marking the end of a project widely credited with transforming the local gastronomic and small‑business landscape.

Cristina Sumaza, executive director of Lote 23 LLC and co‑creator of the concept, confirmed the shutdown in a written statement.

“Lote 23 was born with a clear mission: to create real opportunities for small food businesses and support them during a crucial stage of their development,” Sumaza said. “This is not a goodbye; it is the culmination of a mission accomplished. Although the food park closes its physical doors, the legacy of Lote 23 will remain alive in the companies that grew from this space and continue contributing to Puerto Rico’s gastronomic and entrepreneurial landscape.” 

Sumaza attributed the decision to close to “structural changes and the current economic reality,” noting that rising operational costs and a broader economic contraction have placed disproportionate pressure on small businesses, making the continuation of the model unviable. 

Since opening in 2016, Lote 23 had become one of Puerto Rico’s most significant platforms for culinary incubation, hosting more than 90 small gastronomic businesses over the past decade. Many of the food concepts that debuted in the park later evolved into fully established restaurants, pop‑ups, or mobile businesses across the island. 

The project quickly distinguished itself as a “real‑world learning laboratory,” providing entrepreneurs with affordable space to test menus, refine business models, and build client bases. Its mix of kiosks, food stalls, and creative culinary concepts created a steady stream of visitors -- locals, tourists and food‑industry followers alike. 

Beyond food, Lote 23 played an important role in the economic and cultural revitalization of Santurce, a district that has become synonymous with arts, entrepreneurship and urban renewal. 

Lote 23 was developed by siblings Cristina and Fernando Sumaza, transforming an abandoned lot in Santurce into a vibrant culinary hub. When the project launched, it featured 14 kiosks and two Airstream trailers serving a wide variety of cuisines -- from pernil (roast pork shoulder or leg) and tacos to donuts, burgers and specialty coffee. 

The park was also closely tied to Sumaza’s broader vision for economic development. Before returning to Puerto Rico to develop projects including Lote 23, she co‑founded ConPRmetidos, a nonprofit focused on addressing the island’s economic challenges and stemming the ongoing “brain drain.” 

In 2021, Lote 23 formally became the testing laboratory for the Jump All In! culinary business development program, a structured incubator designed to support early‑stage food entrepreneurs. The program has supported more than 120 culinary businesses, giving participants access to mentorship, financial guidance, and a real‑world operating environment.

According to the company, the partnership between Lote 23 and Jump All In! was critical in fostering community, collaboration and sustainable business practices. 

The announcement of Lote 23’s closure comes amid a difficult economic environment for small businesses across Puerto Rico. High energy costs, inflation and the region’s broader economic stagnation have forced many entrepreneurs to reassess the viability of brick‑and‑mortar operations. Sumaza emphasized that those pressures made the continuation of Lote 23’s original model impossible.

Popular Democratic Party Senator Ada Álvarez Conde reacted on Wednesday to the announcement of the Lote 23 closure.

“Unfortunately, this closure, according to its spokesperson, is due to structural changes and the current economic reality, including high operating costs and a contraction that particularly affects small businesses, making the continuation of the operating model in its current form unfeasible,” the at-large senator stated.

“This is yet another indication of the challenges facing the current administration, where high energy costs continue to stifle the business community in Puerto Rico,” Álvarez Conde said. “As an entrepreneur my entire life, and now as a senator, my commitment is to all those new business owners who are starting out, as well as those who daily face the lack of support for their businesses.”

The senator added that from the Legislature she will introduce and support specific measures to promote economic development from the perspective of small and midsize businesses (SMEs).

“SMEs represent approximately 95% of businesses in Puerto Rico, constituting the main engine of the local economy by generating around 44.6% of jobs and contributing significantly to the gross domestic product,” she said.”We must support local entrepreneurs.”

According to data from the Department of Economic Development and Commerce, the SME sector includes small businesses with annual sales of less than $3 million and fewer than 25 employees, reporting substantial payrolls.