Help Anahita & Cash Rebuild & Open Delirama Jr.

Greetings! We are Anahita Cann & Cash Caris, the proud owners of Delirama Jr. Our culinary journey began with the successful opening of the original Delirama in Aug 2022, following our highly acclaimed pop-up venture, Pyro's Pastrami, established in 2020. We have delighted customers with our innovative pop-up concepts, including Psychedelic Pizza, and most recently, Little Pyro.

Unfortunately, Delirama on 1746 Solano Avenue faced unexpected challenges, leading to its closure. We encountered a setback just a month after opening in September 2022 when our "walk-in" malfunctioned while we were brining 2k lbs of pastrami. It was later discovered that the supposed "walk-in" was actually a freezer wired to operate at a higher temperature, causing it to overwork and eventually leading to a motor failure. Despite being assured of its good condition, we had to invest over $20k from our savings to rectify the issue.

In March 2023, another hurdle came our way when a major power outage struck Solano Avenue for four days. As responsible business owners, we promptly contacted our refrigerator technician to install a generator and ensure the walk-in remained cold. Unfortunately, our landlord prohibited us from doing so, resulting in the meat temperature rising above the safe threshold of 41 degrees F. This unfortunate incident caused us to lose over $100k in revenue. Although our insurance company compensated us with $16k, it took six months to receive the full amount. To navigate through this challenging time, we had to resort to a predatory loan, adding to our existing financial obligations. Despite these obstacles, we were grateful for the unwavering support of our incredible patrons and managed to raise an additional $30k through a GoFundMe campaign. We are truly passionate about our craft and deeply grateful for the community we serve.

With the lessons learned from our previous experiences, we have embarked on a new and more manageable project, Delirama Jr. We are fortunate to have supportive landlords who believe in our vision. Although we won't be constructing a grand $250k restaurant with a full kitchen, we firmly believe that sometimes less is more. Our focus is to bring exceptional pastrami sandwiches to our beloved Oakland neighborhood.

To ensure the success of Delirama Jr., we are currently seeking assistance to cover the remaining costs for construction. We have already invested over $50k into the space and plan to allocate a significant portion of our revenue from pop-ups to keep the momentum going. Here are the immediate needs that require attention:

1. Installation of:

- 3-compartment sink

- Prep sink

- Handwashing sink

- Mop sink (to be purchased)

- Estimated installation cost: $3k

2. Installation of a grease trap:

- Estimated cost for parts and labor: $2-3k

3. Floor sealing:

- Estimated cost for materials and labor: $2-3k

4. Painting:

- Estimated cost for materials and labor: $3k

5. Minor electrical work:

- Estimated cost for materials and labor: $1-2k

6. Acquisition of used appliances:

- Cost: $10k

- Includes electrical oven, sandwich prep table, and double-door fridge

7. Purchase of used prep tables and smallwares:

- Cost: $4k

8. One month's inventory:

- Cost: $6k

Please note that these calculations are estimates and may be subject to adjustments by contractors and city inspections. We are committed to transparency and will provide regular updates on the progress of our project to donors and patrons.

We have come to understand that unexpected circumstances are an inherent part of this industry, which may cause delays or incur additional costs. Nevertheless, we remain resilient and determined to bring our culinary vision to life, thanks to the unwavering support of our community.