Support to Save Caffetto Coffee Shop from Closing

Let me preface this by saying that in the back of my mind I knew that if I ever started a fundraiser for one business, it would be Caffetto, my favorite coffeeshop on Earth. Only I thought that should this ever actually happen, it would be due to a new Starbucks being installed into one of those nearby condo buildings, an accidentally expired lease, or something less dire than a virus.

What a crazy uncertain time we're experiencing now. It seems we all have to say goodbye to our old way of living just out of nowhere. I find myself feeling especially strong feelings of love to all the people in my life that i wonder if i took for granted, and to the parts of my old way of living that meant a lot to me. One of those parts of my life I am referring to is the loveliest coffeeshop I've ever been to. I call it The Happiest Place on Earth™. I have spent a New Year's Eve sobbing to Brent at the counter right at midnight about how my life was going all wrong, as though he were some sort of bartender. Another time, I walked in Caffetto to see two of my very best friends giddy because they had JUST got engaged. I spent every other night here in college "studying" for classes with my best friend Maria, only to just end up talking the whole time while Kenny played Tom Waits in the background. Weddings have happened here. A cat (memorialized in a painting on the wall) "lived" here. If I need a hug, I know I can always count on seeing David with his Sharpies and coat of signatures.

I know I am not the only one who considers Caffetto a Minneapolis landmark that would be a huge loss should it go under. I understand we are about to lose a lot of businesses, and I know that once society returns back to normal, we all want to have some semblance of the life we knew before. I wanted to make this fundraiser as a way for others like me who are really concerned about the future of this staple of Minneapolis. A place oozing with character and with characters. 

Brent, the owner, is my good friend and one of the nicest people I know.The kind of person who buys all his employees a whole pie just because he had stopped at the best pie shop on his way back from a road trip. He was hoping to be able to keep paying his employees to help them through this time. This fundraiser would go to help that as well ensure that the business can stay going. I am very grateful for your consideration to donate. Hope everyone is as well as possible!  <3 

At the request of the GoFundMe team, my name is Krista Vosper. I am a longtime frequenter of Caffetto, located nearby where I live in Minneapolis. The owner of Caffetto, Brent Schimnoski, is my sister's boyfriend, and a close personal friend of mine. I do not have any affiliation with Caffetto, other than being a regular customer there. All of the money raised will support the business from financial struggles due to the COVID-19 virus. I asked Brent where the money will go to, and he says to rent and utilities as needed. He is hoping to get some business loans as well, and if so, the remaining amount will be distributed amongst the employees. If he is unable to get loans, then the funds will have to go to covering the basics until he can open Caffetto again.

I am extremely grateful for all of you who have shown support thus far, and to GoFundMe for providing a platform to raise that money. I set the goal at $11,111, but please keep donating, as there's no way of knowing how long this small business will be affected. I have also been informed that GoFundMe has partnered with Yelp, Intuit QuickBooks, GoDaddy, and Bill.com to donate grants to many small businesses affected by this virus. Hoping Caffetto gets a piece of this!

#SmallBusinessRelief