Midway Cafe seeks new owner as rent prices jeopardize the venue’s future

The Boston Globe · James Sullivan · 2026-11-03 19:47 UTC

Next year could mark the last year of the club’s long run, which would be yet another setback for Boston’s local music scene.

Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of live music at the Midway Cafe, the Jamaica Plain dive bar that prides itself on booking “everything” in terms of genre. Next year could also mark the last year of the club’s long run, which would be yet another setback for Boston’s local music scene.

“I’m hoping to have somebody else take it over,” said Jay Balerna, who began managing the old neighborhood watering hole with his brother, David, in 1987. Balerna has been the sole owner since buying his brother out in 2011.

After his father, Alfred, died last year, Balerna said the family sold the building at 3496 Washington St. The new owner wants to double the rent Balerna has been paying, he said, though the owner is willing to extend a grace period until this time next year. Balerna hopes to have a buyer in place long before that.

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