Sinister Bakery & Cafe
Donation protected
Sinister Bakers has signed a contract with the State of Colorado and the Front Range Community College Boulder Campus to take over the Cafe. We are committed to beginning operations on the first day of classes for the Spring 2023 semester (January 17). Everyone we talk with is so excited to have the cafe open after 3 years of an empty space. Unfortunately, we have a very short runway to gather the necessary funds and obtain the minimum equipment, supplies, and products we need to open.
Why is this a rare and phenomenal opportunity?
- Our potential customers represent a “captive” audience with little opportunity to buy coffee, baked goods, or lunch in a reasonable amount of time without significant inconvenience.
- There is little to no overhead! The college will not be collecting rent or utilities (electricity, water, heat).
- The college is fully supporting our effort by financing two of the major capital expenses. They are purchasing a coffee brewing system and an espresso machine for Sinister Bakers to use during our tenure.
- There is potential to expand services to the local businesses that might not have the time to purchase a craft coffee or gourmet sandwich from their work location.
- As an initial donor, you will be a Charter Sinister Baker Executive Laboratory Assistant! You will receive in the mail a certificate expressing our gratitude for your generosity toward our inaugural Cafe. Wait - it gets better! You will also receive a Sinister Baker Executive Laboratory Assistant Membership Card which entitles you to one free anything upon visiting the Cafe. But that’s not all! Each year you will receive a baked good of your choice to commemorate your creation as an earthly science experiment! And, of course, you will be the first to hear about Sinister Bakers News and Creations!
We Need Your Help
We are asking for your help because we have very little time to raise funds through typical channels. Currently, we are working with a consultant from the Small Business Development Center in Boulder with considerable financial contacts in the traditional finance community and with non-profit lenders looking to support local businesses. Unfortunately, these financial routes typically take between 60 and 90 days to generate real spendable cash.
Your donation will be used strictly for the equipment and supplies necessary to provide food and beverage services to the students, faculty, administrators and support staff. We need to buy coffee, dairy products, cups, lids, dispensers, sugars, expand our Point of Sales system, and many more items. We have a list of items and products if you are interested in helping with certain specific items or want to see what and how we intend to use the funding.
As a gift for your generosity, feel free to stop by the Cafe anytime for a free coffee or pastry.
Where did this opportunity come from?
A friend of mine works at Front Range Community College and mentioned the Cafe on the campus was empty. So I took a trip to nearby Longmont only to find this information to be absolutely true. It turns out, the students, faculty, administrators, and staff had zero food or drink services on campus since the global pandemic started almost three years ago! So I started calling around - and by the way - every college and university has a directory on their website making it easy to figure out who is responsible for what!
Starting at the top with the Vice President I worked my way to the right person, and they were tremendously excited to have someone with interest in the Cafe. We had a meeting to learn the history, understand the needs of the building occupants, and reviewed the financials from the previous provider.
Things were starting to look good. Especially when she started introducing me as “the pastry chef we are trying to convince to run the cafe.”
So, here we are today, a fresh contract in hand, the skills and knowledge to create a thriving Cafe, and the business experience to make something sustainable, however, the only things we are missing are a few small pieces of equipment. Like an oven. A freezer. A hot and cold display case. Just small, little, inconsequential things.
Why is this so Difficult for Me?
Even as a youngster my motto was “self do it” so I have always had a difficult time asking for help (well, except for my father, to whom my debt is beyond repayment). However, now I am reaching out to lean on you for more than I might be deserving of. I officially signed a contract with the State of Colorado and Front Range Community College to provide food and beverages to their Boulder, Colorado Campus Cafe. Now I must deliver and make good on my commitment. My integrity is at stake, however, I know I can’t do this without you.
Regardless of what I need, I am determined to make this happen. Come hell or high water, we will begin operation on the first day of classes for the Spring 2023 semester on Tuesday, January 17th. Even if I need to buy 5 Mr. Coffees I will be serving coffee and pastries on January 17!
Please make a donation and come along for the ride!
Organizer
Christopher McCarthy
Organizer
Erie, CO