[4] El Rio describes itself as a neighborhood bar, and its location in the Mission District has contributed to its commitment to Latino communities.

[4] El Rio is “the longest-running multigender, multicultural, multigenerational live Latino music dance party in the city that attracts queers, straights, and others.” [5] El Rio is organized as a profit sharing business and community benefits are a fundamental element of their business model.

[4] El Rio has hosted some of the longest running cultural events “that provide an anchor for LGBTQ communities of color in San Francisco.”[4] Some of the events include: El Rio has also hosted after parties for both the Trans March and Dyke March.

As stated by the San Francisco Bay Times, an LGBTQ News and Calendar for the Bay Area, legacy business recognize “the cultural importance of long standing, community-serving businesses.”[8] The San Francisco Historic Preservation Commission noted that “El Rio’s back patio, garden, and massive lemon trees” should be “safeguarded.” Similarly, they also mentioned that their large font interior bar, wooden painting of Carmen Miranda and Marilyn Monroe, should be preserved as well.

In terms of a legacy business, El Rio is 30 years or older, it contributed to the history and culture of its neighborhood, and it was nominated by Supervisor Hillary Ronen, District 9 in 2017.