East Siders Raise $31K For Local Restaurant Ahead Of Big Move

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Following the news that a longtime Yorkville fixture of the restaurant scene is preparing to move, neighbors are rallying around Maz Mezcal and have raised more than $31,000 so far.

A GoFundMe campaign, organized by Kaena Clark and Marc Berman, aims to help the Silva family — who have operated the restaurant at 316 East 86th St. between First and Second avenues for 39 years — cover the costs of moving to a new location and supporting the many generations of employees they consider family.

Maz Mezcal has become an Upper East Side institution over the years, feeding locals, donating to nearby schools, and even providing meals during the height of the 2020 lockdown, Clark and Berman said. They also said the restaurant has played a role in their personal lives.

"My son’s first birthday party was in the back room of the restaurant," Clark wrote. "Recently, he came home for his first Fall Break from college and went straight from the train station to Maz Mezcal, where Maria greeted him with open arms, a hug, and a fresh plate of Nachos Combinados."

According to the organizers, memories like these are shared by countless families who have celebrated within Maz Mezcal’s warm walls for decades.

The Silva family acknowledged the significance of the moment in a recent Instagram post, writing:

"For 39 years, Maz Mezcal has been more than a restaurant — it’s been our family’s heartbeat. Every milestone of my life has somehow circled back to this place. From my baptism to birthdays, graduations, my wedding, and countless ordinary days turned extraordinary around a table. This building at 316 E. 86th has held laughter, tears, celebrations, and generations of memories."

As the Maz Mezcal team navigates its upcoming move, Clark and Berman hope the fundraiser will help the Silvas create a new home where those traditions can continue.

"Let’s show the Maz Mezcal family just how big their village is," Clark and Berman wrote.

The new location has not been announced yet.

Know of a business opening or closing in Manhattan? Email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.