Local drunkards host fundraiser to rebuild Deja Vu Cafe

Beloved Isla Vista late-night establishment Deja Vu Cafe burned on Aug. 18, scaring high-functioning alcoholics for miles. The Isla Vista community consequently started a GoFundMe, planned multiple fundraising events and called upon local elected officials to take action to rebuild the restaurant.

Deja Vu Cafe’s late hours, below-mediocre food and deafeningly loud Travis Scott soundtrack gained it a loyal following throughout the years. On any given Thursday through Saturday night, it could be found bustling with black tube tops, chicken tenders and soon-to-fail situationships.

After a kitchen fire threatened the continuation of the restaurant’s service, I.V.’s heaviest drinkers rose to the occasion.

“There was no way I was going to let such a pillar of community close,” fourth-year communication major and Alpha Sigma Sigma Vice President of Recruitment Hannah Feins said. “I have so many special memories there, like …”

Organizers of the movement based their activism on their professional expertise.

“Hannah is great at recruiting because of her sorority experience, Kevin has insane connections because he’s Sig Alpha’s coke dealer and I’m excellent at harassing the fuck out of people to give money because I’m CALPIRG’s secretary,” second-year environmental studies major and CALPIRG Secretary Ian Yoon said.

In just three days following the fire, the alcoholic coalition organized and held a “Pie a Crunk” event, a phone banking session and a “Pray for Deja Marathon Twerkoff” at the lagoon lawn. 

“I had a lot of fun at the twerkoff, but it was hard to keep twerking because I was so drunk. They kept shoving alcohol down people’s throats,” second-year global studies major Jane Ericson said. “After, I just wanted some greasy food and red lighting to sober me up. But there was nowhere to go.”

In total, the events raised over $8,000, which was donated to Deja Vu Cafe in its entirety. 

“Thank you, alcoholics. After giving us business for 40 years, you have saved Deja Vu once again. We hope to see you again soon,” Deja Vu Cafe owner and James Beard Award winner Jean-Claude Michel said.

Joseph R. Biden alone raised $7,000 by participating in the twerkoff.