Help La Fleur Reopen!

Hi, I’m Dee! Founder of La Fleur Cafe, a cozy, woman-owned space in the East Village dedicated to community, creativity, and wellness.

As a Brooklyn native and someone who’s spent over 15 years working in childcare and education, creating spaces where people feel safe, inspired, and supported has always been at the heart of what I do. La Fleur was born from that same passion; a dream to build something rooted in care, culture, and connection. Alongside a small but mighty team of NYC locals, we’ve poured everything we have into making this place feel like home.

In the past couple months, we finally started seeing the momentum we’ve worked so hard for: more daily visitors, more neighborhood love, and a growing reputation for our vibrant community events. Just as things were picking up, we were suddenly shut down by the Department of Health over a few minor but unresolved maintenance issues — including, unbelievably, a fine for not having plastic straws.

We’ve now been closed for a month. While we acted immediately to fix everything, we’re now stuck in limbo as DOH bureaucracy drags its feet on setting a re-inspection date. Every day closed means lost income, but we're still pushing forward, working behind the scenes and doing everything in our power to reopen.

This comes after nearly three years of personal sacrifice, rebuilding, and growth. I started La Fleur with my own savings, family support, and a deep belief in the power of community. We've hosted hundreds of events, championed small businesses, supported creatives of all backgrounds, and built something truly unique...all while bootstrapping and scraping by.

Now, we need your help. We’re raising funds to cover:

Rent and expenses while closed

Support for our incredible team

City fines, fees, and repairs

Costs to restart when we’re finally cleared to reopen

We're also using this time to evolve. La Fleur is coming back as something even more intentional: a true third space where creativity, culture, and community intersect. We're excited for our supporters to witness this next chapter and be part of our continued growth.

Any amount you can give brings us closer to reopening our doors and returning to the work we love: serving up good vibes, thoughtful drinks, and meaningful experiences.

Thank you for helping us hold on, and come back even stronger.

With love,

Dee & The La Fleur Cafe Family