Let’s get the Haymarket Cafe open again

Go fund me

Hello folks. My name is Peter Simpson and I started the Haymarket Cafe in 1991 with my older brother, David. A few months ago I closed the cafe. I was in need for a real break, not a vacation but some real extended silence. In the 32 years that we have been open, only Christmas and Thanksgiving were days that we took off.

I knew that the only way for me to take a real break and to experience that silence that I was looking for, was for me to close the café temporarily.

As many of you have noticed my reopening has been difficult. For this I extend my apologies. The cafe at this point, without a better financial base, will not be able to reopen. Over the last 3 decades the cafe has been a place that the community can come to, to meet people, to eat and to share our lives. Over the years many people have donated, or made use of, the common account, giving folks who might not have enough money a place that they can come to eat a healthy meal. During the pandemic we were feeding close to 500 people a week. I am grateful that we were given the opportunity to help during that ever so difficult time.

I am humbly asking for the community to help bring this institution back to its place in this town. Any donation would enable us to do this.

The first thing I would like to address with these funds are the 4 employees whom the cafe were unable to pay in the last days we were open. I feel a deep sense of shame that the cafe was unable take care of these folks, such that if this was the only thing that this fund raiser could address, I would feel at least that was done. After that it would be to secure a couple of weeks of payroll for those who might join the Haymarket crew when we reopen. Following that the funds would be used to pay some of the outstanding bills owed. For example to the electric company, our landlord, a local paint company, and miscellaneous outstanding bills. Lastly some funds would be used to buy at least the first round of food and supplies to reopen. Lastly I want to thank you all for your generous letters of encouragement that I have received over this period that we have been closed. These letters have been very moving for me, people conveying the dearness that they feel for the cafe, a warmness that they describe that the cafe has been in their lives. It is these thoughts that have moved me so. To think how affectionally that people from this community hold the idea of the Haymarket cafe. For me I am so in it, that to hear how people feel about it’s possible demise is so moving.

I hope that a real reopening can happen so that we can get back to serving this community that has been a significant part of my life in these last 32 years. Thank you for your consideration.

I hope soon to see you all again soon.

All my best. Peter.

One last thing. If anyone would consider a micro loan of of 1-5k please feel free to reach out to me personally.

Again, thank you for your kind support.