Cinco de Mayo is a family-owned restaurant in New Brunswick, NJ. It has been a legendary home to hardcore since 2023 and a spot to go after DIY and hardcore shows in the city long before that. It is home to many music scenes and is a vital organ for live music in the entire tri-state area. The restaurant gives a lot to live music and it now needs help from the greater community in return.

The restaurant currently holds a balance of about $47,000 in back rent. We are asking for $50,000 to offset tax burden. Rent was never frozen during COVID-19 and regular business has continued to be inconsistent outside of shows as people ride the wave of an unstable economic period in America. The landlord is now threatening to evict the business come December 2026, so those of us who volunteer at the space have decided with the restaurant to go public with asking for help.

If you are not familiar with the space or have not been in touch with the scene in a while, it cannot be understated how devastating it would be for the family to lose the restaurant and for the community to lose this venue. This business is the family’s livelihood. This family has been very kind and welcoming to all who walk through its doors. Many of us look for community through local live music because we have been rejected and ostracised in other walks of life. Without Cinco, New Jersey’s only mid-size DIY venue will disappear. 15 to 20 shows happen at Cinco a month. With no venues with reasonable room fees nearby, these shows would have no homes. Most of the bands playing the space are, at most, breaking even on the average night. The volunteers who manage the calendar and make sure shows run smoothly and as safely as possible don’t take home any kind of wage. Losing Cinco would be a major loss for a family, the DIY and hardcore music community within the tri-state and likely the entire east coast.

If you care about people of all ages having a space to gather, if you care about community-driven arts, or you care about supporting a hard-working family and their business, please donate. Please also spread the word, especially if you cannot donate. At just a $20 donation, we would need to reach 2500 people able to donate. At $50, just 1000 people. Our communities live by word of mouth, so please do everything you can to share this within your immediate scene and whatever other communities you are a part of. Economic hardship is destroying community spaces all across the country. Please lend us your support and help keep Cinco de Mayo open.