Erin's 'Wheelys Cafe' Recovery Fund
Donation protected
Erin Westover, a current resident of Salt Lake City, has been my closest friend for over twenty years. She has many amazing qualities, but her fierce independence and entrepreneurial spirit are two that inspire me most.
Since high school, Erin has dreamed of owning her own business. At sixteen, she was already brainstorming ideas for her own café or restaurant. She went on to study Recreation Management at Utah State University and entered the workforce in the hospitality industry after graduating. In March of 2016, she made her first move in making her dream a reality by joining forces with Wheelys Café, a chain of organic bicycle cafés that does not yet exist in Salt Lake City. Taking a huge leap of faith, she used the majority of her savings to purchase the cart, which would function as the city's first mobile, eco-friendly full-service coffee cart.
The was the first step in a long journey to get the business up and running. In addition to obtaining the necessary licenses and establishing a commissary, she was hit with a few unexpected expenses when the cart had to be modified to meet health department standards.
At 2:00am on October 26th, she hit her biggest roadblock yet. The cart, along with the trailer it was stored in, was stolen from the parking lot of her apartment complex in Millcreek. The culprit, who was visible on camera, wore a gray hooded sweatshirt, a white backwards cap and white sneakers. He drove a dark, low ride truck. He used tools to cut through the locks used to secure the trailer. Erin does not recognize the individual and the truck had no front license plate. The rear license plate was not caught on camera. The police have no leads.
If the cart and trailer aren't recovered, Erin is essentially out of luck. She will have lost $10,000 (again, nearly her entire life's savings) and left to start completely over. Here's where we ask for your help. We hope to raise enough money to cover the cost of another cart and storage trailer, as well as enough to cover the cost of modifications required by the health department.
Whether you're a friend of Erin's, a supporter of small businesses or just a coffee-lover with a couple of bucks to spare, your donation could give this story a happy ending!
Since high school, Erin has dreamed of owning her own business. At sixteen, she was already brainstorming ideas for her own café or restaurant. She went on to study Recreation Management at Utah State University and entered the workforce in the hospitality industry after graduating. In March of 2016, she made her first move in making her dream a reality by joining forces with Wheelys Café, a chain of organic bicycle cafés that does not yet exist in Salt Lake City. Taking a huge leap of faith, she used the majority of her savings to purchase the cart, which would function as the city's first mobile, eco-friendly full-service coffee cart.
The was the first step in a long journey to get the business up and running. In addition to obtaining the necessary licenses and establishing a commissary, she was hit with a few unexpected expenses when the cart had to be modified to meet health department standards.
At 2:00am on October 26th, she hit her biggest roadblock yet. The cart, along with the trailer it was stored in, was stolen from the parking lot of her apartment complex in Millcreek. The culprit, who was visible on camera, wore a gray hooded sweatshirt, a white backwards cap and white sneakers. He drove a dark, low ride truck. He used tools to cut through the locks used to secure the trailer. Erin does not recognize the individual and the truck had no front license plate. The rear license plate was not caught on camera. The police have no leads.
If the cart and trailer aren't recovered, Erin is essentially out of luck. She will have lost $10,000 (again, nearly her entire life's savings) and left to start completely over. Here's where we ask for your help. We hope to raise enough money to cover the cost of another cart and storage trailer, as well as enough to cover the cost of modifications required by the health department.
Whether you're a friend of Erin's, a supporter of small businesses or just a coffee-lover with a couple of bucks to spare, your donation could give this story a happy ending!
Organizer and beneficiary
Carlie Wynn
Organizer
Salt Lake City, UT
Erin Westover
Beneficiary