Dear friends, my name is Matt Leum, and Roma's is not just my restaurant, it's my life and my dream. Since opening nearly 2 years ago (in the early days of the pandemic), we have built a successful business serving authentic Italian food in a fun, “Bodega style” atmosphere. We have also been a strong supporter of the local community during these difficult times, providing meals to hospitals, AIDS hospices, Women’s shelters, fire stations and charitable organizations in need of assistance.

When the Buffalo Bills trailed the Houston Oilers 35-3 in the third quarter of a playoff game in 1992 nobody expected they would come storming back to make the biggest comeback in NFL history. The Bills coach said, "If we went down, we'd go down fighting." I can't and won't go down without a fight. I am asking you to be part of the fight - part of the team.

I’m raising $20K to meet payroll, pay rent and pay vendor bills. Roma's opened during the pandemic (unplanned as we started the purchase of the previous restaurant in 2019 yet closed escrow on March 16, 2020, the day SF closed all restaurants). We opened on August 1, 2020 by pivoting to a gourmet Italian grocery with take-out and delivery food, which made us an essential business. Community outreach has been and continues to be a key element that sets Roma's apart and now I am asking for YOUR help.

Omicron ruined our holiday business, and when the City cancelled the NYE fireworks due to Covid it killed our business that night as well as we are just blocks from the Bay Bridge. What should have been a “line out the door” night turned into 3 tables…all night.

We are a proven success, with a solid 5-stars on Yelp (only 2 of 240 Italian restaurants in San Francisco on Yelp have that rating and we are one) and we are 4.9 stars on Google. We LIVE for great food and an amazing customer experience. Both happen nightly at Roma’s.

Small business is the backbone of any community and I am personally asking for your help to keep Roma's alive. Any donation large or small would be appreciated and will be accepted with humility and gratitude. A donation of $1,000.00 or more will be recognized with your name on a brass plaque mounted on our host desk under the grand photo of Roma and myself. If you’d like to put a team together we will honor 4 names on one plaque. We thank you all for any help you can provide at this critical time. Covid keeps putting up roadblocks for us. We will overcome it once again with your help.