Opening a Restaurant to Honor the Southwest Desert

My name is Aaron Lopez and I am raising funds to open Ursa, a restaurant that celebrates the Southwest Desert. My passion for cooking started over 15 years ago where I immediately fell in love with the hospitality industry. I worked for as many great chefs as I possibly could, with the goal in mind of always opening my own restaurant. Through hard work and sacrifice, I finally have the opportunity to make this dream a reality.

Growing up in the desert region of Imperial Valley, scarcity was a harsh reality and creativity was an abundant resource. After traveling and cooking for other chefs, I quickly realized the desert has not been considered a progressive region for food. After meeting foragers and indigenous communities of the desert, I wanted to tell the desert’s story through food.

Ursa will be a modern dining restaurant that celebrates the unassuming produce and products of the Southwest Desert. The menu will focus and highlight ingredients foraged from the desert, utilizing products from the landscape to craft a modern dining experience. Ursa will source native ingredients from the desert itself, creating a cohesive connection between nature and guests. Working with local purveyors, seed savers, and experts from the region, Ursa will research and develop to continue sustainability within the desert.

Your needed support, whether big or small, will help bring this dream come to life. Your generous contribution will help us raise $60,000 of crucial startup funding to cover kitchen equipment, interior design, licenses, and fair wages for our staff. All funds raised will go directly to cover restaurant startup costs.

Thank you for being a part of our Ursa Family.