<div><strong>Save Luna's Market on Park Street - 30 Days to Prove Our AfroLatinx Community Store Can Thrive</strong>
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<div><strong>Goal: $60,000</strong>
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<div>Story:
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<div>My name is Mariam, founder of Luna's Market on Park Street.
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<div>This is not just a grocery store.
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<div>Park Street is where I learned English at Centro Hispano, where I started at MATC, and where Urban League of Greater Madison gave me my first professional job. This street gave me my start. I wanted to give something back.
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<div><strong>My vision is a multi-service Afrolatinx-owned store: a hot food counter for the hungry walker, groceries that satisfy the soul of Park Street, a house for local vendors, music, education, and a neighborhood store that says Diaspora is welcome.</strong>
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<div>In 2023, we signed the lease with 18 months to open. That same year, I had to make the decision to end my marriage. I tried to split efficiently. Emails, calls, lawyers. In Wisconsin, banks won't finance you without a divorce decree. So I had no financing. But we had a lease.
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<div>So my tribu and I opened anyway. Day-to-day sales, good relationships with my distributors, and $135k from three angels.
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<div>Opening day: almost 300 people showed up. We danced. We showed culture.
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<div>Then we got hit. All our left-side fridges broke down. We paid nearly $40k trying to fix them. Food was wasted despite trying to save it. Then 4-6 customers a day.
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<div>Today: daily sales are $150/day. Total invested: $280k with no return. I'm now officially divorced, and I have no more personal money to put in.
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<div>I am not a failure. I am God's daughter. And I'm praying for a clear sign.
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<div><strong>I know this concept is profitable, but I cannot do it alone.</strong>
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<div><strong>Your $60k will go to exactly this, not debt:</strong>
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<div>$25,000 - New commercial refrigeration (buy, not patch repair)
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<div>$15,000 - 3 months' rent security so we breathe
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<div>$10,000 - Hot food counter build-out (highest margin, what Park Street asks for)
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<div>$6,000 - Marketing + grand re-opening with vendors
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<div>$4,000 - GoFundMe fees + small reserve
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<div><strong>If we don't hit $60k in 30 days, I will use what we raised to close with dignity - pay vendors, clean the space, and pivot Luna's to pop-ups, catering, and vendor markets until I can finance properly. Every dollar will be honored.</strong>
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<div><strong>This is Park Street's decision now. I did my part. Im trusting the universe/God/trusting supportive help me. Will you be part of my dream?</strong>
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<div>No raffles, sweepstakes, giveaways, or returns on investment are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe.
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marla rybowiak

Katie Crawley

Elizabeth Macasaet

jessica doyle

Anonymous

Gia Euler-Plath

Ashley Smith

Bill Stahl

Ramon A Alejo rincon

Lara Mainella

Linda Ketcham

Rachel Wagabaza

Erin Loiselle

Joya Headley

Jose MADERA

Leila Godkin

Charles Taylor

rowan childs

Quendy Toribio

Revive Luna's Market: A Community Effort

Revive Luna's Market: A Community Effort

Still $1,919 to go. Help us build momentum.