Help Us Keep DAAS CO-OP in Business

Thanks for reading. My name is David Acevedo and I’m the founder of DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts in Fort Myers, Florida. Our cooperative gallery has been in business in its current firmar since 2016. Up until August of 2023, and even through the pandemic months, our business remained strong due to the wonderful clientele and a location that attracted many visitors on a regular basis. We’ve always been proud of our financial independence and the work we do for the artistic community in our city. Gratefully, we did not need any financial assistance in the past because we felt those funds should be made available to others in precarious situations or at risk of closing due to all the burdens of the past few years (COVID and Hurricane Ian).

Unfortunately, everything changed in July of 2023, when the complex where our gallery was housed sold. With that change came the closure of two out of the 4 businesses in the complex, which made the location popular. To make matters worse, publicity about the closure of the said businesses and an overhaul to renovate the complex caused the public to assume the entire area had closed for good and there were barely any visitors coming. Overnight, our sales dropped 60-70%. Since August 2023, we’ve struggled to stay afloat and meet all our overhead expenses.

We had no choice, but move to a new location and are in the process of reopening in mid April. The massive expenses of this move has put our business in jeopardy and our future is unsure - hence this plea for help.

DAAS CO-OP Art Gallery & Gifts is not just a business. It’s a home for many artists who consider each other family. The venue, awarded best of by an area magazine for several years in a row, is an integral part of the arts and culture in Southwest Florida. We’d love to stay in business and continue with our mission.

Humbly, I ask for your help. The funds collected will be used for overhead expenses and help the venue recoup part of the losses suffered from these past months. Every little bit helps and we are forever grateful for the support.

Want to learn more about DAAS CO-OP? Visit Our Website.