Radio Habana's Parklet Recovery

Help Save Radio Habana

Radio Habana is a key establishment in the Mission. It preserves the Bohemian charm of the old Mission and remains essential to San Francisco’s community fabric.

I remember when I first moved to Valencia St in 2021. I would always walk by Radio Habana and be amazed by the large crowds enjoying lovely music. I was always tempted to step in, but at first Radio Habana terrified me. I was worried that I would be seen as an outsider and wouldn't be welcomed. Boy, was I wrong! I finally took the leap and stepped in their front door on a fateful Friday. I quickly found myself learning how to play dominoes with Maria and chatting with Leila. I was blown away by how welcoming and friendly the atmosphere was. I fell in love with the quirky art work, the delicious sangria, and the lively music. Radio Habana became a place I could go to on any night of the week to have a good time with good people.

It's no secret that Radio Habana has been struggling. As the city gets more expensive it's harder to draw in a regular crowd. We have started to get creative to drum up more excitement. The community has really stepped up to help. Chef Manny has been using his culinary talents to bring phenomenal meals to Radio Habana, we've set up a new Instagram to have a place to publish events, and others have been helping improve the space by installing new lights and speakers. We really felt like we were on the cusp of moving in the right direction.

Just as we were gaining momentum, the parklet disaster was the last thing that needed to happen. With the parklet destroyed, there is no place to host live music in this beautiful summer weather nor space for chef Manny to set up his grill. It has put the establishment in a precarious position. Thankfully, Commissioner Cartagena and his non-profit Clecha are helping rebuild the parklet, but Radio Habana is sadly in a spot where we need financial support to weather this storm. Thus we are reaching out to the community to see if they can help us ride through this low point.

If you love Radio Habana—or just want to help keep the heart of the Mission beating—we hope you’ll consider donating or stepping in to enjoy a glass of sangria. Every bit helps us rebuild.