TOGETHER WE OPEN NENG JR.'S

Hey everyone, thank you for being here. You’ve all been so supportive of the dream that is Neng  Jr.'s! This isn’t my first choice, but I need your help with the final push to get my doors open!

 

I announced my original GoFundMe November 8, 2020 raising $25,221.

 

Between generous community members, spaghetti pop-ups in the dark, summer cookouts and various dinners I have been able to raise an additional $30,000.

 

We got our building permit and general contractor locked in April 2021. My original build out estimate was quoted at $65k and due to delays in the supply chain, shortages and inflation my build out has a 30% markup over what we originally estimated.

 

Which brings me to this GoFundMe. Neng Jr.’s is set to open April 23rd, 2022, and it without your help, it will not.

 

If I had a better sense that the real number was going to be this much higher, I would have been more realistic about my first fundraising goals. Alas, here we are and I'm grateful to be as far along as I am! We’re obviously dealing with so much out of our control (in addition to the run of the mill stopping and starting of construction due to labor shortages and covid breakouts, my contractor has lost three family members this year, dealing with immense heartbreak and hardship). but all are affecting the timeliness of Neng Jr. 's buildout which of course results in unplanned costs.

 

The money raised thus far has been put towards the various basic costs it takes to open a restaurant, like contractor payments, rent to a landlord and equipment (for transparency, below is a spreadsheet of some of the costs it’s taken to get me this far). Of course, doing this without investors or beneficiaries is a choice and one I am proud to make-- but this is the other, less glamorous side of things that is now a harsh reality.

 

This past Tuesday I was notified a payment agreement established previously is no longer honored and I am at risk of a lien. If a lien gets placed on our building, we won’t be able to open, preventing mandatory cash flow of which the business plan is predicated on. I would love nothing more than to close this chapter and move on from the buildout phrase to being an actual, open restaurant, cooking and serving food to the community I love. I MISS COOKING FOR YOU SO MUCH.

 

As much as I wish there was another way, I am in need of community support one last time to get my doors open.

 

I am here to raise an additional $25K by APRIL 1st, 2022. IF I DO NOT REACH THIS GOAL THERE MAY BE NOT BE A NENG JR.’s.

 

Living in Asheville through ups and downs for 11 years, I have rolled through the punches of change. So many buildings and restaurants, so much R&D over the years, I worked everywhere in this town and see the potential of where we could be. I have worked hard to get here and will continue to do everything I can to keep this dream alive.

 

If you’ve made it to this page, and you feel compelled by my story, if you’ve had my food and it moved you, if you wanted to see representation or can understand the importance of food diversity in a white city: please please consider donating. My gratitude for your consideration does not go unnoticed. THANK YOU. I can’t wait to feed you at Neng Jr’s.