Help stop LAB (Lincoln Avenue Bakery) from closing

UPDATE - OCTOBER 2023: WE ARE AT THE ENDGAME WITH HAVING TO CLOSE THE BAKERY. THE DONATIONS AND SUPPORT HAVE BEEN AMAZING, BUT AFTER SUFFERING YET ANOTHER SET BACK IN AUGUST WHERE WE HAD TO CLOSE FOR 3 WEEKS DUE TO DON'S HEALTH. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER! Hi, my name is Don and I own the wonderful family-owned Lincoln Avenue Bakery, in the east business district of Winnetka, Illinois. Please help save our business, as we are the only bakery in this fantastic town that has not had one in almost 20 years. We offer most of the popular bakery goodies, and we bake everything in-house and from scratch. We know that we are destined to do very well here - we are just in need of financial help. The cost to build our business was more than double what we had budgeted for, and now we are operating daily with next to nothing and facing closing the store after being open for only 9 months. The business model and product line is solid, but we have run out of money to operate daily. We need financial assistance for the business to grow to its full potential and we need your help!

It would be an injustice for us to have to close after only 9 months. The community has spoken and we are responding with what the community wants. They are so deserving of a good bakery here in town, and we are very excited to be Winnetka's bakery for many years to come! The people of Winnetka love being able to do all of their shopping at local businesses, and having our bakery here has created a buzz that cannot be ignored. The community loves that they no longer have to go 3-5 miles into another town to get their baked goods. Changing our name to Lincoln Avenue Bakery (formerly Brittany's Butters and Gourmet Bakery) was the right thing to do for now, as the new name has been received very well.

We feel that it is our responsibility to represent the community with our bakery and do whatever it takes to stay open and thrive.

With the funds being raised here, we will be able to get out of debt with our contractors/vendors/purveyors, pay current and overdue utilities, get caught up with federal and local government requirements, hire staff, satisfy our property lease, market and promote the business including signage and menu printing, supply and inventory management, and equipment needed. All of this help will enable us to concentrate further on providing our community with more of what they want in a bakery. Let's face it, having a local bakery to go to pick up some fresh cinnamon rolls, fresh bread, cookies for the kids, or a last-minute birthday cake, makes for a great community business!

Asking for help with a business is tough. Banks are reluctant to offer help to small businesses with only being open for such a short amount of time, and investors nowadays are hesitant to get involved. It humbles me tremendously to have to ask the community for help. I intended to be able to fund the business myself from the business's revenue, but that is going to take a little time as we expand our menu and catering capacity to the local school districts, park districts and local businesses. We currently have a great following and loyal repeat customers. We need financial relief to begin ASAP in order to prevent the closing of the store this month (October).

We know this business will be successful - we just need a little help. Your help will in fact be helping your community to keep a highly in-demand business, like Lincoln Avenue Bakery, here in town for many many years. Essentially you would be helping to maintain a small business in your community. So, please help us be able to stay here in Winnetka, and grow into the bakery business that we know we can be for you, and your family.

Thank you so much for reading this, and for any of your help. It is forever appreciated.

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** If a donation is not possible, your support as a customer would help tremendously. We have expanded our menu to showcase our capacity for more popular bakery items such as fresh bread, cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, brownies, cookies, etc. Please stop by and say hi. I would love to chat with all of you!

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