Charlie's Pizzeria and The Hi Ho Club - Funding

Aim

I need to raise the funds to replace funds lost due to covid 19 to get the last bit of my bar open. I will not give up x

I am opening a Bar/Restaurant im the city center of York. I had spent 2016-2019 creating the business and finding suitable premises. In August 2019 I found my dream premises, not for the business I had spent the last 2 years creating and preparing.  I looked round 10 Feasegate as a wild card, by the time I had completed my viewing I had created Charlie’s Pizzeria and The Hi Ho Club.  During my research in to the origin of sprits and cocktails, I came across a lot of cocktails created in prohibition times in USA in speakeasies and one particular one was The Marlene Deitrich - it was the famous german actresses take on an Old Fashioned, Canadian Dry Whiskey, orange curaçao, bitters and Lemon, she drank this in a venue called The Hi Ho Club, I loved the name and the vibe these places used to have. After years of research into the origins of Hospitality culture,  I had many ideas in my head for things I would love to do in the future, one being a genuine Speakeasy experience, this building was made for it.  So I went home and 48 hours later I had a business plan, brand and financials, and I applied for the lease.  I had had a lot of bad luck over the previous 2 years of been turned down by archaic York Estate agents, who wanted big established brands and turned me down endlessly as I was a start up.  I had to do a ton of work to get the lease but the London based landlord loved the idea and the lease was mine in principle of me getting the alcohol licence and A3 usage.  I managed both in 6 months and one week before lock down in March 2020 I had signed a 10 year lease for 10 Feasegate.  I couldn't believe it, I had the building and the cash to do it, but as for many others Covid put a stop to it.  We didn't qualify for any government help and I was out of work, so funds went fast, so I retrained as a support worker in an assisted living facility for young adults with extreme autism and disabilities. I love this job. Whilst working here I tried to keep things moving but just had to sit on it. At Christmas we served Mulled wine from the door and this qualified us for government grants.  This started in January 2021, brilliant - so we got to planning contractors etc all was moving nicely.  In February 2021 I got diagnosed with Triple Negative grade 3 Breast Cancer, this was obviously devastating, and after losing my sister to the same in 2010 the race was on to save my life.  I had a Bilateral Mastectomy in March 2021 and 2 weeks after surgery got the great news that it hasn't spread and they got all the cancer in the op.  However, I still needed to do 6 months of chemotherapy.  So, I have, with the help of amazing friends and family worked through it all and got us ready to open one half of the business, but I am out of funds, I have used my full sick wage every month to get jobs done and with some of the grant that didn't go on rent, I bought most of our equipment, furnishings and decor. The business is ready but I can't afford the stock, insurance, intruder alarm and the rest of the equipment (kitchen fridges, freezers, glasswasher and dishwasher) I can't afford to get a loan and am so close to getting her open,  failure is not an option,  I need to get open and trading so  I can afford to open the full business.  The original opening costs were 60k with 23k been a deposit.  I have spent close to 90k just been empty, and now am 10k short, which is devastating. I have worked in hospitality for 20+years, I have also worked at many festivals (artist liaison and stage manager), and in 2015 I quit my career in pub and club management to follow my dream of owning my own business.  I did some consulting for independent businesses and took a receptionist role at a car showroom to pay the bills.  I needed not to be running a business to create my own. Over this time I developed my brand, got a business plan together inc 4 year forecast etc.  It was meant to be.  I have always wanted to have my own premises.  It has felt like a destiny of mine.  But I didn't want just any venue, I want a venue that delivered 5 star service as standard, had personality, quality and delicious food, innovative, tasty and creative cocktails and a spirits and wine menu that are there for flavour and quality. I want my guests to have an exceptional experience with us. The team is also incredibly important to me and the success of the business. They need to be invested and have ownership and pride in the venue. I have always been a great team coach, educating and coaching my teams to be the best version of themselves they can be and making them realise their potential. You're only as good as your team. All my team will be knowledgeable about all products with passion and trained for their roles thoroughly, they will be active in the ideas and creative process of the brand and all confident of their roles and opportunity's, paid a real salary with great benefits and bonus schemes and most importantly paid on time, on the books and with a generous holiday package. I have the starting of one of the best teams I have ever created, all passionate, hungry and talented at what they do.  I have a GM - Sam Dodd - Excellent Bartender and operationally brilliant, he is new to management but has got the minerals and just needed the opportunity to shine. 

An AM - Evie Carruthers - She is a great catch, she has got the makings of an excellent manager and is vivacious, confident and passionate.

And a Kitchen Manager Jake Sellers, who is passionate, skilled and makes delicious food, whilst running a very efficient and tight ship.

I will need 8 more staff when the full business opens and already have some of Yorks finest asking to be involved.  

In summary this business isn't just for me, its for the guests, its for the team and mostly it's to prove that you can run your business responsibly and treat your staff and guests how they should be treated. I would like to open multiple sites nationwide using this brand model and with your help we can achieve it all together.

thehihoclub.com 

This project successfully funded on 9th September 2021