Save SWEET SALT COELIAC EATERY from Insolvency!
Donation protected
Dear Friends, Family, Customers and Fans of Sweet Salt!
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Please help us save Sweet Salt!
We firmly believe that SWEET SALT serves a far greater mission by providing our Community with Safe, Healthy, Coeliac fare ... not to mention healthy and delicious Vegetarian, Vegan, Pescatarian, Keto and "Responsibly Sweet" meals.
Feedback from our customers is that the community cares about us, supports us and wants us to fight to remain open.
THE BACKGROUND:
SWEET SALT had always been a popular community eatery since it opened at 296 HIGH STREET in Melbourne's northeastern suburb of Northcote - a vibrant, multicultural inner-city neighbourhood with the an artsy vibe and laid-back lifestyle.
Northcote is home to many diverse cafés, restaurants, supermarkets, shops, and entertainment venues.
The true spirit of Northcote lies in its strong sense of community expressed through neighbourly spirit, festivals and artistic activities all year round.
SWEET SALT is located at an ideal position: between key Tram Stop No.32 on the 86 Line and the Pedestrian Crossing facing the Northcote Social Club, Bar 303 and Lambs.
Still, despite its ideal location and frenetic business - even in the onslaught of COVID - SWEET SALT was curiously struggling to stay afloat.
ONG and DAVID to the RESCUE!?!
On 20th March 2021, Ong and David took over as the new owners of SWEET SALT.
Their AIMS:
- first, to save the then 10 Year Old restaurant SWEET SALT Gluten-Free Fish & Chip Shop from closing, and
- second to transform it into Melbourne's best Gluten-Free Eatery and Family Entertainment Venue
WHAT WERE THE CHALLENGES?
90 days into their new venture, David & Ong had discovered the causes of the problems:
- Lack of sufficient policies and procedures
- Desperate need of significant repairs and maintenance to fittings, fixtures and equipment
- and in those first 90 days THEFT of CASH TAKINGS by Staff in excess of $45,000
- and in the preceding two years between 2019 - 2021 THEFT of CASH TAKINGS by staff in excess of $300,000
- not to mention significant THEFT of Stock
FACING IMMINENT CLOSURE!!!
RIGHT NOW, remaining open is a week-to-week proposition because the theft of funds has David and Ong unable to meet the RENT payments as well as with growing TAXATION, SUPERANNUATION and ACCOUNTANCY debts - not to mention feeling hurt and demoralised.
THE SOLUTION:
Ong and David reckon the solution still lies in their original plans for SWEET SALT: To ensure the restaurant can generate sufficient income to cover the rising costs for the space, SWEET SALT needs to cater to higher numbers of patrons, functions and catering.
Sadly, David and Ong no longer have the funds to complete the works ....
THE PLAN:
Their plan is to transform and better utilise the various physical spaces at SWEET SALT to increase and diversify the restaurant offering by:
- Converting the storage area and half of the rear driveway into an indoor/outdoor BEER GARDEN and PRIVATE FUNCTION SPACE to seat up to 30 people
- Equipping the second underutilised KITCHEN with cooking equipment to cater to the new dining area
- Installing COFFEE MAKING facilities to extend the business offering and cater to the demand for Cafeteria style dining
- Installing ICE CREAM and CAKE SERVERIES
- Transforming the STREET DINING into a safe, comfortable and welcoming ALL-YEAR-ROUND dining space
- Creating TRAINING and EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES for additional cooking and hospitality staff
THE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:
STREET DINING AREA:
- New Tables and Chairs
- Umbrellas
- Barriers
- Cafe Blinds
- Outdoor Heating
- Lighting
- Speakers
- Front Door Signage and Sight Portal
- Light Box Signage
- Facade Signage
INTERNAL FRONT AREA:
- New Tables and Chairs
- Coffee Bar
- Soft Serve and Cake Servery
- Front Window Repair
- Internal Vestibule / Way Station to stop heat/cold transfer before you enter the restaurant
FRONT KITCHEN:
- Repositioning of Cooking Equipment
- Refurbishment of Packing Station
- Improved Layout and Storage Space (space for Deep Fryer Filters, Shelving etc)
- Replacement Glass for Fish and Salad Displays
- Glass and Cutlery Washer
- Additional Food and Crockery Heating
REAR DINING & FUNCTION AREAS (Indoor Dining Area and Rear Garden):
- Completion of new flooring (this has been completed at the current front)
- Completion of Lighting works (already commenced by electrician)
- Completion of Rear Vertical Garden (Irrigation System)
- Seating and Tables
- Vertical Shade Sail
- Outdoor Heating
- Removal of Garage Door and installation of Bifold Glass Atrium Doors
- Ordering Kiosk
- Staff Serving Counter
- Daïs for Live Performance / Speaker
- Sound System
REAR KITCHEN:
- Grill
- Deep Fryer
- Island Preparation Station
- Food Warming
TELECOMMUNICATIONS:
- Installation of Hardwiring / Network Cabling to address connectivity issues
- Installation of an Intercom system for staff communication across the premises
COSTINGS:
Currently being sought
STAY TUNED!!!
Stay tuned as we seek the specifics to make this happen.
We are open to help in any form: a supportive word of encouragement, information and advice, expertise in Business and Project Management as well as a physical hand to help us get through to the next stage.
With LOVE from the SWEET SALT FAMILY
Organizer
David Cross
Organizer
Northcote, VIC