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BEAT KITCHEN #SAVEOURSTAGES

Hey Everyone-

My name is Christina, and I would like to take a minute to ask you all for your help in keeping my home, BEAT KITCHEN, afloat during these terrible times.  BEAT KITCHEN, as well as many other independent music venues throughout the world, has been shuttered since mid-March due to this pandemic.

Many of you have already been so gracious in supporting our individual staff members and families during this time by donating to our employee relief fund as well as supporting us by ordering carry-out food and beverages. I cannot even begin to express how grateful I am to all of you.  It has sincerely been one of the most beautiful and humbling experiences of my lifetime.  As the stay-at-home order persists for the good of our cities and communities, and BEAT KITCHEN faces longer necessary closure, I am once again asking for your assistance for our great establishment. Even once we are permitted to open our doors it will be at a drastically reduced capacity and our overhead is simply too great to be sustainable. As the whole world is being asked to pivot on a dime. Your support would help cushion this transition from pandemic-approved-open back into the BEAT KITCHEN you know and love. It is vital that we make it through this transition and with your help we know we can.

Who am I?

I’m the one that played around the sawdust as the stage was being built by my father in 1990. I’m the one who has worked at this magical place since 1996 (please do not do the math). I’m the one you’ve said “hi” to every time you walked in. I’m the one that wouldn’t let you in without your ID. I’m the one that helped you out of that awful blind date you were having. I’m the one who got you ice and sat with you after you got that black eye. I’m the one who made sure you got home safely. I’m the one  that wouldn’t serve you a drink.  I’m the one that looks familiar. I’m sorry, did you do the math? I’m the  one that kicked you out the night you decided to NOT be nice. I’m the one that took a video of you proposing to your girlfriend. I’m the one that ignored you as you yelled. The bottom line ... I am the one that is always at BEAT KITCHEN and I am the one that loves BEAT KITCHEN.

What is BEAT KITCHEN?

BEAT KITCHEN is more than just an independent music venue. When Robert Gomez (owner as of 2005)   asked me, what is BEAT KITCHEN, I replied, “ We are everything. We are a music venue, a neighborhood tavern, and a restaurant.”  We opened our doors in October of 1990. To most of you, BEAT KITCHEN was where you caught one of your favorite bands or comedians. Or maybe you were one of thousands of performers who got to hang out in the glamorous greenroom in the basement (for those of you who have, I hope I just made you smile).  For others still, maybe BEAT KITCHEN has been your neighborhood spot, the place you stopped before you went out for the night, when you’ve had a bad day and needed a moment, or when you locked yourself out and had nowhere to go. You always knew you could come to BEAT KITCHEN. There are those of you who have worked here at BEAT KITCHEN and for you maybe it’s always been a double edged sword.  You love it, you hate it, it’s not your life, it is your life….the truth is BEAT KITCHEN has always been that place. The fact that most of our staff has worked here for an average of 10 years is astounding and speaks volumes to the fact that BEAT KITCHEN is a home to many.  BEAT KITCHEN  has  always been a place for a warm “hello” or the “I need to feel at home” and a place for many to take a moment to “catch a breath.”  For 30 years BEAT KITCHEN has been here, it has been my home, it has been my family, it has been a community staple and a hub for musicians, comedians, and other performers from around the globe! I can honestly say I’ve been one of the lucky ones who have gotten to spend my everyday life with the people I love. I am determined that BEAT KITCHEN and the staff will get through this. I have no doubt that we will all get through this, but I know that it will take more then just me to succeed...this is an “all hands on deck” equation my friends.

So on that note, if you can, please support us by donating, buying gift cards or carry-out food and beverages. Every dollar counts. 100% of all donations will go towards financial obligations of the BEAT KITCHEN and its sister venue SUBTERRANEAN.

Owner Robert Gomez is a founding member of CIVL (Chicago Independent Venue League) and an active member of NIVA (National Independent Venue Association).  To further your support, please check out the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA). A group of more than 1,450 locally owned music venues and promoters, in all 50 states, that have come together to collectively urge Congress for specific federal support for independent venues. For those of you who do not have the financial means to support you can take action and learn more about

NIVA here: https://www.saveourstages.com/.

If it’s not BEAT KITCHEN that has your heart then please support the small independent venue in America that does. Each one of us needs you!

Thank you and love you,

Christina Kirts
GM & Bartender of the BEAT KITCHEN
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Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $200 
    • 3 yrs
  • Mary Pat Stefan
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • Colleen Citro
    • $35 
    • 3 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $100 
    • 3 yrs
  • George Hart
    • $20 
    • 3 yrs
Donate

Organizer and beneficiary

Christina Kirts
Organizer
Chicago, IL
ROBERT GOMEZ
Beneficiary

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