Owner Adam Tilford discusses Milagro closing, possible new locations

Milagro Modern Mexican at 20 Allen Ave., in Webster Groves will close its doors after eight years. Tilford Restaurant Group owners and brothers Adam and Jason Tilford are looking for a new place for the restaurant to call home. The current location will close Saturday, March 24 after dinner service.

Adam Tilford said the restaurant’s location was the main reason for the move. “We’re in a horrible location,” Tilford said. “From day one, we had a hard time getting people to the restaurant. The fact we lasted so long is a testament to Jason’s food and our amazing staff.”

While the space no longer works, Tilford said the company, which also owns Mission Taco Joint, wants to keep Milagro in the same general area. “We’re focusing on places like Webster, Kirkwood, Rock Hill, Maplewood – places on Manchester, Big Bend, Kirkwood Road,” he said. “We want people to have easier access to us. We’d love to find a spot a bit smaller, maybe 80 to 100 seats.”

Tilford said there isn’t a timetable to find a new space. “We’re going to be selective,” he said. “We want to wait for the right place to be available. We don’t want to be in a similar situation in five years.”

When the restaurant does reopen, he said the menu will be more in tune with the original Milagro concept with more chef-inspired, shareable options. Once the relocation is complete, Tilford said he’d like to see more Milagros open. “We’d love to grow it,” he said. “I could see opening a second location in West County at some point.”

Matt Sorrell is staff writer at Sauce Magazine.