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Anti-poverty activists started a new regular picket of a restaurant in the Downtown Eastside tonight; one they say is causing gentrification and pushing out low-income residents.

The protest started at 6 p.m. Friday night outside Cuchillo, a new latin restaurant in the 200-block of Powell Street between Main and Gore, half a block east of Gastown.

About 30 protesters gathered outside the restaurant’s glass doors carrying placards reading “Be Part of the Solution – Don’t Go In” and “The Gentry Has Landed.”

Customers could be seen weaving through the protesters and entering the restaurant early Friday evening.

Many of the protesters are familiar faces from the Pidgin restaurant picket, which recently ended after the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council said they disagreed with the demonstration.

Upstairs from Cuchillo are the York Rooms, recently purchased by Steven Lippman who owns several properties in the Downtown Eastside.

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Protesters say they want to “close the restaurant down” and “stop gentrification.”

“They’re not building condos, but opening this will bring the condos,” says Wendy Pedersen, who organized the protest.

Vancouver Police are observing the protest from across the street.