keep ROZZ-TOX in Rock Island

hi all. benjamin here.

jumping right in– we want to buy this building we've occupied and taken care of for the past 13 years, but to do this we need help from you, our community. we need to own this building if we're going to stay here and keep this thing called ROZZ-TOX alive in rock island/ quad cities.

our landlord has put next to nothing back into the building in the 13yrs we've been here, but has refinanced multiple times and raised our rent to cover it. the building needs a lot of window work done, new hvac systems, a new roof, and tuck pointing. so, acquiring the building is only the beginning. there is still a lot of work to do, and your donation will help greatly.

the money we raise here will go toward the deposit for the building. we have always been a month-to-month business, some months are really good, and some not so. that said, we just don't have enough capital for a deposit. we have always tried to keep prices low, and the space genuine and free from advertisements, investors, and bar/cafe/venue standards. being a unique and independent space is part of what makes it special.

maybe you are one of our many regulars, coming here multiple times a week. maybe you're not able to come here as much as you want to. maybe you don't like going out, but want to see a unique space like this stay in rock island. maybe you don't live here, but really like what we do. maybe you've performed here before and want to help make sure we're still here the next time you come through. maybe you hate us but want to keep us here so you have something to hate on. whatever the reason, we would be so grateful for your donation. sometimes it takes a village, right? we have leaned on you in the past-- most recently during the pandemic, and many years ago when we needed a PA upgrade-- and we're here again, now asking for your help to keep us here for another 15+ years, and if we owned the building i can definitely see that future here for us.

it is always hard for me to ask people for money like this. i've gone back and forth for many days before even starting to type this out, and i've brainstormed with multiple people on possible ways to reach the same outcome: owning this building. i believe this could be the best way to make that happen without putting the business at risk. the last thing we want to do is close right now. i feel that in some ways we're just starting to gain momentum.

we promise to continue to do the work we've been doing here, and be good custodians for as long as we are able. we know this is a big number, and i suspect it will be hard to reach this goal, but if everyone who ever said, "i love rozz-tox" or "i can't imagine the qc without rozz-tox" or "i wish our city had a rozz-tox" donated, i think we would have a good shot at getting over half way there. spread the word.

thank you for reading, and considering donating your hard-earned money. helping us stay here with ya'll means so much to us. keep rock island weird and beautiful.

xo

benjamin & THE ROZZ-TOX FAM