kickstarter for kevin sousa's new restaurant in braddock (2014, live)

[fleetiebelle]

Originally Posted by HeavenWood

SCR calling older, less-educated, blue collar PGH natives "urban rednecks" behind the safety of a computer screen is acceptable.

A woman who makes fun of you within earshot (for what exactly? Driving an "ecologically unsound" car?) and who for all you know could be from some suburb IS AN ELITIST PIG.

Just so I'm understanding you correctly?

That's what I don't get. SCR says he desperately wants to live in the East End, but he hates the people (both transplants and lifers,) he complains that there aren't enough chain restaurants, he doesn't like the housing stock, he wants wide streets and ample, free parking, etc. Sort of like how the loudest homophobes are probably secretly gay, SCR, deep down, really wants to live in Cranberry.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

That's what I don't get. SCR says he desperately wants to live in the East End, but he hates the people (both transplants and lifers,) he complains that there aren't enough chain restaurants, he doesn't like the housing stock, he wants wide streets and ample, free parking, etc. Sort of like how the loudest homophobes are probably secretly gay, SCR, deep down, really wants to live in Cranberry.

Uh, Oh, Fleetie, I think I hear the Yac-Meister coming.

There is a very active gay community in Soulless Cranberry. And monkeys just flew out of my butt.

To make sure this post doesn't get deleted, I hope Braddock turns the corner. I grew up about 5 miles East of that place, it started going downhill in the 60's.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by sskink

I suggest you try talking to a bank about starting a business in Braddock that's not manufacturing or processing. In my experience banks have no interest in lending to new business in the foodservice industry, even to someone who's developed and successfully sold a foodservice business.

I don't think there even is a bank branch of any kind in Braddock?

[Geeo]

No banks, no restaurants, no supermarkets, no laundromat, no dry cleaners, no jewelry stores, no clothing stores. There is a news stand, a small grocery, a pawn shop (I think). Contrast that with Braddock Ave in old photos that shows an avenue lined with so many stores that one didn't need to venture out of the town for most things. There was even a JC Penney until 1963 or 64 until it moved to Eastland Mall, plus the Famous (department store), Jaisson's (clothing), Isaly's, and three train stations.

[Yac]

Folks, remember to focus on the topic, not on each other.
Yac.

[fraulein maria]

Originally Posted by ferraris

How is using a kickstarter to expand your line of restaurants "taking a risk"? It's not like he's quitting his day job to start this restaurant, and if it fails, well it's not like they'll be defaulting on a loan or anything either.



I'm not a fan of him using the kickstarter approach really. I feel like his track record is such that he could get private backing, either from independent investors who would take partial ownership or from a bank. A similar thing happened in the movie industry: Kevin Smith says no to Kickstarter



Personally the kickstarter route just seems strange to me...if I'm "investing" even $250 of the $250,000 it takes to start up a business then I want a 1/1000th share of ownership.

The main difference between Kevin Sousa and Kevin Smith is that by using Kickstarter, Sousa isn't taking away resources from anyone else who wants to open a restaurant in Braddock. Nobody else wants to. And I imagine if they did, and if they had a good plan, Fetterman would be helping them get funding, too.

I was kind of put off by the Kickstarter thing at first, too. It felt like he was begging for money from the public for a venture that had a low chance of success. But then I realized that the only way to do what he's planning for the community- like offering job training and a sliding scale menu- is to keep overhead ridiculously low. No debt, no rent, growing own vegetables, using stagieres for labor? Really smart. It's also an indicator of how many people will actually support the restaurant when it opens. If nobody wants it, he's not going to build it.

[PreservationPioneer]

There's no way people are just going to give him $250,000. Times are tough. I'm actually shocked he has managed to raise $67k so far.

For $250k you could buy the whole city.

[mountainlove]

Maybe some folks can't get behind the project and the Kickstarter approach, but the project has raised over $104k so far though it still needs another $146k within 15 days to make it. The beauty of Kickstarter is that it lets the people decide, and if they don't raise enough then they don't raise enough. If it gets over the half way mark I've got to think they have an angel investor waiting in the wings to push it over the top and release the rest of the funds...we shall see.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by UKyank

If 25 of us chip in $400 we can have one hell of a party...

Out of all the pledge options, this is the best proposition. I'm in. Find 22 other people.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Out of all the pledge options, this is the best proposition. I'm in. Find 22 other people.

Make that 21.