Help launch a creative coffee house & craft studio!

  • A
  • A
  • D
32 donors
0% complete

$2,615 raised of $20K

Help launch a creative coffee house & craft studio!

Donation protected

Update: The Cozy Artist has taken a journey since this gofundme kicked off and is now an employee wellness program aiming to heal our workforce through creativity. The long term plan is still a coffee house & craft lounge, but that's not the focus for now.

Please see the latest update post to learn more!
__

Hi, I'm Jessica! I'm raising money to open as a coffee house and craft studio called The Cozy Artist. My intent is to build a creative space that incites joy and delight, healing our community through art and connection. I need your help so that I can open by the end of this year!

What is The Cozy Artist?
We're more than just a coffee shop - we're a hub for artistic expression and connection. Whether you're craving a hands-on craft project, seeking serenity in a yoga class, or simply yearning for a cozy corner to sip tea and dive into a book, we've got you covered.

-Coffee & Tea House-
The coffee and tea house vibe is cozy and inspiring. The walls are adorned with local art, interesting thrift finds, and unique goods. Mismatched colorful furniture creates a welcoming environment to cozy up with a book or catch up with an old friend.

Perfect for date night or friends night out, artisanal non-alcoholic beverages will be available including tea, coffee, kombucha, and craft beverages. Later, we plan to add kava to the menu, becoming the first and only kava shop in the Boston area.



-Craft Studio-
The uniqueness of The Cozy Artist comes from the continuous availability of crafting alongside and integrated with the coffee house. No other craft night business offers on demand creativity to keep solo creatives and friends entertained. Although scheduled craft workshops like terrarium building will be a popular and regular occurrence, the ability to walk-in and create something accessible and cool at a moment's notice is a real treat.

The idea of on-demand crafting came from a visit I had to New Mexico where I was looking for a night activity that didn't center around talking and drinking alcohol. This is when I discovered The Tumbleroot pottery pub in Santa Fe where you can get a bucket of air-dry clay and get lost with your inner child. There was no structured plan or organized group event, just pure spontaneous creativity. An introvert's heaven!



-Community room-
The community room at The Cozy Artist is an open convertible space to be used many types of experiences, such as live music, meditation, yoga, poetry reading, guest speakers, art fairs and more.
When not hosting an event, the community room will convert to a tea house with pillow seating and cozy nooks. The community room can also be rented for hosting parties or private events.



Imagine: You walk in the front door of The Cozy Artist. It's bright and colorful and inviting, there's plants everywhere, and as soon as you enter you feel happy and calm.

As you gaze about you find an eclectic mix of seating, cozy nooks, up-cycled furniture. Colorful rugs are strewn about and there's unique lamps with various colored lighting set upon antique tables. Looking around feels like being in the world's most laid-back museum with art and oddities hanging about the walls, inviting curious eyes to look about.


Example Floor Plan


_____
Meet the Founder


I'm Jessica, an artist and experienced entrepreneur, with over a decade managing products in high tech industries. My diverse background covers every area of running a small business; fundraising, people management, marketing, sales and strategy in commercial, retail and service industries. I have a bachelor degree in management and entrepreneurship and graduate degree in innovation.

The idea for The Cozy Artist came to me during a reflection period where I considered my future career path. I was feeling burnt out from the corporate product management cycle and as I jotted down this quick note, the seed of the idea of The Cozy Artist formed.


From that moment the idea took root in my mind and I committed myself to making it a reality.

My intention is to create a sanctuary for creatives like me. A place to find peace, community and connection with our creative selves. Creativity is a healing experience and my path to bring more beauty and connection to my community.

___
How you can help

Thank you for your support!

Funds raised for The Cozy Artist will go directly towards
the first couple months of rent, as well as minor renovations.

Major costs for the project include leasing about 2,000 sqft space ($5,000/month and up) and renovating it to meet the needs of a coffee shop and art studio ($50k+). Although recycled and up-cycled furniture and decor will be the bulk of the interior design, funds will be needed to create a simple food & beverage prep space and any other required infrastructure.

Unfortunately for new small businesses, especially brick & mortar locations, funding sources are incredibly limited. Loans are not available until after a year in business.

This means that all funds will come from my own savings and the generosity of friends, family and supporters like you. Even a few dollars really helps-- and sharing it can amplifies our reach!

If you think The Cozy Artist sounds like a community you would be excited to part of please consider donating to this gofundme.

Interesting in volunteering your skills?
We need help in the areas of graphic design, construction, legal, accounting, and more. If you have a skill that you think could be useful, please sign up on the volunteer form.

We're also looking for artists to donate to the art auction fundraiser in trade for wall space once open, and volunteers to help on the day of the fundraiser.



Organizer

Jessica Rayno
Organizer
Somerville, MA
  • Creative
  • Donation protected

Your easy, powerful, and trusted home for help

  • Easy

    Donate quickly and easily

  • Powerful

    Send help right to the people and causes you care about

  • Trusted

    Your donation is protected by the GoFundMe Giving Guarantee