As the globe collectively turns its focus to health and safety, and rightly so, there are a lot of looming thoughts as to how we'll all be able bounce back to a new normal in a post-Covid world. With millions unemployed, and countless businesses shuttered there's not one person whose livelihood is not at stake.

When Covid-19 officially put a pause on New York, we were approaching our 7th month of being open -- and what would've been our busiest month yet in terms of programming and collaborations. It was just last August when we opened our doors to the community after 2+ years of ideating, planning, construction and building up our brand presence. We hit the ground running, working tirelessly to keep the momentum going and foster a community environment rooted in love, creativity and inclusivity. Good vibes only!

As a cafe and bar, we considered staying open for takeout and delivery, but ultimately did not want to compromise the health and safety of our staff and customers. We decided to close our doors temporarily, but with that -- no revenue coming in.

They say it takes 3-5 years for a bar to become profitable. Despite the warm welcome from the community, we still had a long ways to go and were not at all financially prepared to weather the situation we're currently in. When the rent freeze ends on June 20th, we will face the harsh reality of not being able to pay our dues, and ultimately risk eviction. Our goal is to be able to cover the last few months of rent and prepare for a very slow return to normal once bars are allowed to reopen. 

We know that this is a very ambitious goal, but all we can do is try! Any support -- no matter how small, would mean the world and bring us one step closer. We can't wait to get together in person to celebrate the end of these dark times and to continue to provide a safe, positive place for our staff, community and the culture!

Forever grateful,
Team Rise Radio
Alfred, Vanina and Shawnti