A pillar of East Austin's culinary and cultural scene, Cisco’s Restaurant, Bakery & Bar, is looking forward to its 75th anniversary with a little extra cash in hand, thanks to a sizable preservation grant. The longstanding Tex-Mex eatery, known as a gathering spot that transcends demographics, has been awarded $50,000 by the National Trust for Historical Preservation and American Express to help keep its history alive.
Despite the rapidly changing landscape of Austin's food scene, with new and trendy eateries cropping up, Cisco's has remained steadfast. According to a report by KXAN, the funds will go towards crucial maintenance, including updates to "amazing murals" and the preservation of the restaurant's "cool, vibey, and historic feeling." Founded by Rudy "Cisco" Cisneros in 1950, the restaurant is currently manned by his grandson Matthew Cisneros, who purchased the business in 2017.
This financial nod acknowledges Cisco as the only Central Texas restaurant selected among 50 other small, historic businesses across the United States. The MySA report highlights the restaurant's classic menu, ranging from huevos rancheros to sizeable margaritas, which has fed Central Texans for over seven decades. This grant, part of a program that has distributed $3 million in the past four years, comes as a boon not only for Cisco but also serves as a beacon for the importance of preserving local history amidst ongoing economic hurdles.
Ensuring the restaurant's legacy isn't just about the physical upkeep, but also about continuing to be a place where "cultures to [integrate], to be inclusive of all types of life" as Matthew Cisneros explained in a statement obtained by KXAN. With the restaurant’s walls echoing stories from its inception in the historically Hispanic part of town, the emphasis remains on celebration and inclusivity.
Not forgetting about the old guard, as Austin continues to evolve and modernize, is a sentiment voiced by Matthew Cisneros. "Eat at all the places you want to eat out, but remember how the city got to where it is," Cisneros told MySA.
