Downtown’s Decline: The Golden Age of Punk Rock + Toy Drive!

Downtown’s Decline: In the shadow of downtown Riverside’s postwar decline, a raw and powerful punk scene took root. This presentation explores how vacant storefronts, fading glamour, and economic stagnation in the mid-20th century created the perfect breeding ground for underground music. Venues like Spanky’s Cafe transformed empty spaces into electric stages, drawing legendary punk acts and energizing Inland Empire youth. But as the city began its push for redevelopment -culminating in the Mission Inn’s grand reopening in the 1990s- the scene was pushed out, ending a chaotic and creative golden age.