Can you imagine 6th and Franklin without the smell of slow-simmered oxtails on Soul Food Friday? Without the heat and tang of authentic Chicago-style Italian beef, dripping with flavor? Joppa Experience is more than just an amazing restaurant. It’s a feeling. It’s the comfort of a home-cooked meal, the joy of being greeted by name, and the warmth of a space created with care and intention.

Christine Johnson took what was once a run-down convenience store and turned it into something extraordinary. She did the majority of it on her own dime, taking a space in disrepair and making it a vibrant restaurant. The building required far more work than anyone expected, and because of the lease terms, Christine was responsible for those repairs. Plumbing. Electrical. Flooring. Kitchen infrastructure. She poured her time, money, and soul into every inch.

Joppa Experience has become a beloved gathering place and a neighborhood employer. Christine has created jobs for local residents, giving others the same opportunity she carved out for herself. If the restaurant closes, it won’t just be customers who feel the loss, it will be the team who shows up each day to serve their community with pride.

She has the customers. She has the revenue to cover her monthly bills. But the cost of deferred maintenance and necessary upgrades put her behind on rent. Without immediate support, she will be forced to close.

When Christine shared the news of her possible closure on Facebook, nearly 900 people reacted. Those are 900 people who believe in her, believe in this place, and want to see it continue. If each of those people gave just $10, Joppa Experience would be saved.

We are trying to raise at least $10,000 to keep the doors open. That’s the minimum needed to catch up and stay afloat. But anything beyond that would give Christine some much-needed breathing room—to make additional improvements, to plan for the future, and to work with a financial advisor to help ensure the restaurant stays on solid footing. A stronger Joppa Experience benefits the entire neighborhood, and every dollar gets us closer.

Christine’s presence has transformed that corner of 6th Avenue. Before she came along, the property was often a source of concern for the neighborhood. If she’s forced to close, we don’t know what might go in next and whether it would share her same commitment to this community.

This holiday season, let’s give the gift of hope. Christine has given so much to our community. Now it’s our turn to give back.

Please contribute what you can, and share this appeal widely. Every dollar helps. Let’s show Christine, and all the diverse entrepreneurs like her, that Des Moines shows up for its small businesses. Joppa Experience matters. Let’s not lose something so special.