The New Jalisco bar, one of the longest running Latino gay bars in downtown Los Angeles, has turned to GoFundMe to avoid closing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The New Jalisco opened in the 1990s to cater to LA’s growing LGBTQ Latino crowd. Now, more than 20 years later, the bar faces permanent closure due to mounting debts amid the ongoing pandemic.
Rosa Maria Hernandez and her husband, Sergio Hernandez, took over the bar in the 1990s. Together, they transformed it into a vibrant nightlife venue, known for its drag shows and strong drinks, and a community gathering space.
“Our doors have been closed since March 2020 and we have not been able to obtain financial relief to support our business expenses or rent commitments,” the owners said in the GoFundMe post. “Unfortunately, we now owe our landlord 10 months of rent with interest. This debt puts us at risk of closing down permanently,” they said.
Since launching the GoFundMe campaign December 20, the owners have raised more than $40,000 of an $80,000 goal.
To donate visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-save-the-new-jalisco-bar
