Cielito Lindo Restaurant Coming to Cherokee Street

A hat tip to reader @FendiHotdugbun who alerted me to a sign in the window of 2812 Cherokee Street announcing that a new business, Cielito Lindo Restaurant, is coming soon. This address was previously home to Taqueria el Bronco, which moved across the street to 2817 Cherokee this summer.

The only active business with the name "Cielito Lindo" registered with the Missouri Secretary of State's office is a restaurant in Springfield. However, a permit in the window of the new eatery lists Rafael Dominguez and Alice Lima Dominguez of 2800 Cherokee as the applicants. That address currently houses Carniceria Latino Americana and its Don Carlos Restaurant.

At present, Carniceria Latino Americana is registered with the Secretary of State's office to a business called C & R Carnicieria, Inc. In turn, the registered agent of that company is Carlos Dominguez.

And that's where things get interesting.

In 2005, a pair of brothers named Rafael Dominguez and Carlos Dominguez each pleaded guilty in federal court to a felony count of selling contaminated meat. At the time, Rafael Dominguez was identified as the owner of Carniceria Latino Americana as well as Estancia La Bodega at 3500 Lemp Avenue.

According to a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in October 2005, Rafael Dominguez was given three years probation and fined $10,000 for violating the Poultry Products Inspection Act. Carlos Dominguez received one year probation, plus a $5,000 fine.

Attempts to reach either Dominguez have so far been unsuccessful. Calls to Carniceria Latino Americana also went unanswered. More as I learn it.