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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Fab Mab Returns

Community Campaign to Resurrect San Francisco’s Legendary Mabuhay Gardens as a Nonprofit Arts Hub
Where Punk Rock History Meets Future Creative Revolution at 443 Broadway

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — September 2025
The walls of 435–443 Broadway have absorbed the fury of Black Flag, the innovation of Devo, the chaos of the Dead Kennedys, and the defiance of thousands who transformed a Filipino supper club into the epicenter of West Coast punk.
Now, a coalition of artists, neighbors, and community leaders is fighting to ensure these walls continue to echo with creative defiance for generations to come. The campaign to resurrect Mabuhay Gardens — the legendary “Fab Mab” that defined San Francisco’s punk scene from 1976 to 1987 — represents more than nostalgia. It’s a battle for the city’s creative soul at a time when venues are shuttering and artists are being priced out.

A CALL TO ACTION

“We’re going for it; we’re not holding back. Mabuhay Gardens was such an important venue for so many people, and bringing that back as soon as we can is the least we can do for our community here.”

— Tom Watson, Revival Leader
The team has launched an urgent GoFundMe campaign to help acquire the 12,000-square-foot building and transform it into a nonprofit arts and cultural center. The goal: $4.5 million for acquisition, debt resolution, and essential renovations.
This is not corporate entertainment — it is community ownership. Every dollar keeps the space that birthed punk rock in the hands of the people who understand its true value. Donations are fully tax-deductible through fiscal sponsor.

LEGACY & FUTURE

Under legendary promoter Dirk Dirksen — the abrasive, brilliant “Pope of Punk” — the Fab Mab hosted more than 3,600 shows that shaped global music. The Avengers. Patti Smith. The Police. Iggy Pop. A young Metallica in 1982. Robin Williams once joked that hell was “opening for the Ramones at the Mabuhay Gardens.”

The new Fab Mab will honor that legacy while evolving for the future:

  • Dual performance venues on two floors

  • Recording studio and listening lounge

  • Youth workshops and mentorship programs

  • Artist residencies and exhibitions

  • Community-first pricing — access, not exclusivity

FRANCESCA’S VISION LIVES ON

This revival also honors Francesca Valdez (1955–2025), who owned the building from 1989 until her passing in July. A Filipina immigrant who began as a cleaner before buying the property, Francesca fiercely protected the space from commercial interests.

“These buildings tell you what they want to be. It’s not my space — it’s the community’s space.”

— Francesca Valdez

Her legacy lives on through this effort, carried forward by Tom Watson (philanthropist and creative space builder), Michael Sturtz (founder, The Crucible), Bobby Fishkin (community organizer), Joanna Blanche Lioce (nightlife veteran), and a coalition of artists and neighbors.

PROOF OF RETURN: UPCOMING EVENTS

  • September 6, 2025 — Opening show with Anthony Arya
  • October 3, 2025 — The Big Splash: Kelley Stoltz, Federale, The Boars on both Mabuhay and Ballroom stagesand ballroom upstairs)
  • October 2025 — Tech Week co-working activation
  • Grand Opening Party — Date TBD

About Mabuhay Gardens: From 1976–1987, Mabuhay Gardens was the epicenter of West Coast punk rock, hosting legendary acts that defined a generation and launched a global movement.

About Broadway Studios: A coalition of local investors, artists, and community advocates working to preserve and activate cultural spaces in San Francisco through community ownership and creative programming.