Help KYO Cafe Recover from a Hidden Plumbing Crisis

Hi friends, neighbors, and supporters,

I’m reaching out with a heavy heart and a lot of frustration. I opened my dream cafe, KYO, in the beautiful historic neighborhood of Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn last December, pouring everything I had into making it a welcoming space for the community. But just two months into running the business, I discovered a severe plumbing issue that threatened everything I’ve worked so hard to build.

Here’s the kicker:

The landlord and management were fully aware of this issue before I signed the lease - it had even affected the previous tenant (or possibly even been caused by building negligence, as we found plastics, grease, and silverware clogging the pipes). Yet, none of this was ever disclosed to me. When I reported the problem, they simply sent the building super, who is not a licensed plumber and obviously couldn’t fix the issue, and then told me to hire and pay for a licensed plumber myself. The plumbing issue turned out to be extensive, affecting both the basement and upstairs areas, and had clearly been ongoing for some time.

The total cost to properly fix the issue came out to more than $2,000 (pics of receipts attached). That might not sound like a lot, but for a brand-new small business owner who has already poured everything into getting up and running, this unexpected expense was a major hit - one I had to cover immediately due to how urgent the issue was.

If you’ve visited, supported, or simply believe in protecting local small businesses from being taken advantage of, I’d be incredibly grateful for any help. Every dollar will help ease this burden and allow me to keep building something meaningful for the community.

Even just sharing this link means more than you know.

With love and appreciation,

The owner of KYO