Help Save and Restore Samba Montclair!
Montclair’s beloved Brazilian restaurant Samba Montclair, located right in the heart of town off Bloomfield Avenue, has been devastated by the floodwaters of Hurricane Ida. The entire basement, including all food storage, supplies and air conditioning system, has been destroyed, along with the restaurant’s beautiful outdoor dining area and gorgeous plantings...all gone. The restaurant experienced damage to the main dining rooms, which were just expanded and beautifully renovated a few months ago.
You may not know this, but our most treasured small businesses (like this one) are unable to purchase flood insurance since this area is not considered a “flood zone.”
Owner Ilson Goncalves vows to reopen, but acknowledges the long road ahead to get Samba Montclair back to its pre-existing cherished state. He’s been a generous donor to so many Montclair community causes in his 11 years in business, and prides himself on his independence. Now, however, he needs his community’s help. Perhaps you know someone who has benefitted from his weekly delivery of meals to Toni’s Kitchen for the last 18 months.
If you’ve ever enjoyed a meal at Samba, admired the gorgeous flowers out front in summer, or have been inspired by Ilson’s ever-motivational social media posts, please consider a donation toward rebuilding this local institution.
This GoFundMe is being established by Samba’s longtime PR firm, diaz * schloss communications, and all funds will go to repair and restock the restaurant.
