Help Franks Food Market Stay Open
Donation protected
Franks Food Mart
2800 Madison Street, Denver,Colorado 80205
Please help Love UpRising raise $15,000 by 31 January 2017 to keep the doors of Colorado non-profit grocer Franks Food Mart open by donating or more importantly shopping at the market.
If the property owner does not receive $9,000 on January 31, 2017 for past due rent November ($3,500) December ($2,500), and January ($3,000) Payable, he will foreclose and close the market again. We do not see the market reopenning this time. We must make payment on January 31, 2017 or turn over the keys.
Franks Food Mart has served soul food to the community since 1952 providing fresh meats, produce, and groceries. The grocery had been in continual operation until June of 2013 when it was closed due to the prior owner not being able to meet landlord obligations. After a year, the property owner who ran the business successfully from 1975 to 200 reopened in June 2014.
Love UpRising agreed to work with the owner at the store in the Spring of 2014 to reopen the market, to secure funding to purchase the business operations. The intent of Love UpRising was to help develop community by providing access to fresh food in the NE Denver Food Swamp.
Love UpRising purchased the grocery store operations in February 2016. The first year of operations has been a challenge for Love UpRising. The business had no employees, no inventorysystems, and the main distributor refused to transfer the account to Love UpRising due to the property owners low prior purchases which made the account unprofitable.
Franks Food Mart now has a staff of 4 that live in the neighborhood, a POS Inventory System in place. The market is increasing in sales each month, and will be self sustaining in 3 months with advertising and securing a new local distributor.
The market has used its original funding of $150,000 from the Colorado Fresh Food Financing Fund, Denver Office of Economic Development,and Colorado Enterprise Fund to purchase the business, and pay over $119,000 in payments to the property owner ($47,600 rent, $72,000 Inventory, Business Purchase) as well as $60,000 in payroll to neighborhood employees. The original funding was delayed which directly impacted the ability of Love UpRising to hire and train staff, and implement systems to increase sales $20,000 a month to meet property owner obligations.
Love UpRising has implemented a youth job training program with 2 youth employees. This job training program will be expanded to include SNAP recipients that need volunteer hours to meet requirements. This staff will receive food safety certifications, and entrepreneurial job skills development as they will help with the fresh food prepared meals Love UpRising has added to the market.
Love UpRising will use the funds to continue operate the nonprofit grocery store through inventory purchases from a distributor and marketing and advertising as well as a cushion to move the market out of cash flow crisis management.
Love UpRising will need to raise another $25,000 for inventory, advertising, and equipment to increase sales to make the market sustainable.
Love UpRising needs the funds by January 31, 2017 to avoid foreclosure from the owner. We do not believe the market will reopen.
Love UpRising is a Colorado nonprofit whose mission is organic community development. Love UpRising purchased the grocery store operations and executed a lease with the property owner. Love UpRising is not a registered 501(c)3 with the IRS, and cannot provide tax dedcutible donations.
Love UpRising dba Franks Food Mart
2800 Madison Street
Denver, Colorado 80205
Love UpRising
2800 Madison Street, Denver,Colorado 80205
Please help Love UpRising raise $15,000 by 31 January 2017 to keep the doors of Colorado non-profit grocer Franks Food Mart open by donating or more importantly shopping at the market.
If the property owner does not receive $9,000 on January 31, 2017 for past due rent November ($3,500) December ($2,500), and January ($3,000) Payable, he will foreclose and close the market again. We do not see the market reopenning this time. We must make payment on January 31, 2017 or turn over the keys.
Franks Food Mart has served soul food to the community since 1952 providing fresh meats, produce, and groceries. The grocery had been in continual operation until June of 2013 when it was closed due to the prior owner not being able to meet landlord obligations. After a year, the property owner who ran the business successfully from 1975 to 200 reopened in June 2014.
Love UpRising agreed to work with the owner at the store in the Spring of 2014 to reopen the market, to secure funding to purchase the business operations. The intent of Love UpRising was to help develop community by providing access to fresh food in the NE Denver Food Swamp.
Love UpRising purchased the grocery store operations in February 2016. The first year of operations has been a challenge for Love UpRising. The business had no employees, no inventorysystems, and the main distributor refused to transfer the account to Love UpRising due to the property owners low prior purchases which made the account unprofitable.
Franks Food Mart now has a staff of 4 that live in the neighborhood, a POS Inventory System in place. The market is increasing in sales each month, and will be self sustaining in 3 months with advertising and securing a new local distributor.
The market has used its original funding of $150,000 from the Colorado Fresh Food Financing Fund, Denver Office of Economic Development,and Colorado Enterprise Fund to purchase the business, and pay over $119,000 in payments to the property owner ($47,600 rent, $72,000 Inventory, Business Purchase) as well as $60,000 in payroll to neighborhood employees. The original funding was delayed which directly impacted the ability of Love UpRising to hire and train staff, and implement systems to increase sales $20,000 a month to meet property owner obligations.
Love UpRising has implemented a youth job training program with 2 youth employees. This job training program will be expanded to include SNAP recipients that need volunteer hours to meet requirements. This staff will receive food safety certifications, and entrepreneurial job skills development as they will help with the fresh food prepared meals Love UpRising has added to the market.
Love UpRising will use the funds to continue operate the nonprofit grocery store through inventory purchases from a distributor and marketing and advertising as well as a cushion to move the market out of cash flow crisis management.
Love UpRising will need to raise another $25,000 for inventory, advertising, and equipment to increase sales to make the market sustainable.
Love UpRising needs the funds by January 31, 2017 to avoid foreclosure from the owner. We do not believe the market will reopen.
Love UpRising is a Colorado nonprofit whose mission is organic community development. Love UpRising purchased the grocery store operations and executed a lease with the property owner. Love UpRising is not a registered 501(c)3 with the IRS, and cannot provide tax dedcutible donations.
Love UpRising dba Franks Food Mart
2800 Madison Street
Denver, Colorado 80205
Love UpRising
Organizer
Love Uprising
Organizer
Denver, CO
