Save The Stack
Donation protected
UPDATE: We have ended this campaign as we have reached our goal in less than two days. THANK YOU!!!!
It is with heavy but hopeful hearts that we’re asking our community for help at a time when so many are struggling financially. Over the last five months we have done everything we could think of to stay afloat. But COVID is anything but sustainable. We have been asking the tough question of how we are going to sustain ourselves, and arrived at the honest answer: we can’t. We have exhausted our financial resources, crunched numbers, and concluded that without financial help from our community, Short Stack will simply not survive the Winter. We have created this page to raise $40,000 to pay our rent over the coming Winter months, as we will otherwise need to shut our doors. Our base rent is $12,800 per month, which is not including utilities or insurance. We have not received any rent abatement, credit or forgiveness from our landlords, despite asking repeatedly for some form of relief. We have paid every penny of our rent, on time, since the moment we opened our doors over six years ago.
Ask any business in downtown Madison and they will be able to tell you about the seasonality of a city like ours. Madison bustles in the Summer, has a strong student presence in the Fall, but significantly slows down during the cold Winter months. COVID has undoubtedly destroyed any chance of profits this Summer and Fall, leaving us with no reserves to make it through the Winter. Without your help, this Winter will surely be the demise of our restaurant and so many others in our community. For many people, Short Stack has been more than a restaurant; it has been a sanctuary, a second home, a community meeting place, and a family. We recognize the power of our mission and space, and the visibility it creates in downtown Madison.
We are a women-owned business that has supported and built partnerships with so many community groups and nonprofits over the years. We’ve put down roots here and it is now our turn to ask for help. We are determined to stick around so that we can continue learning and serving our community in new and sustainable ways. We will continue to use our resources, skills, and platform for social change in this city that we love. We will continue to fight for Black Lives, stand up to injustice, nourish allyship, and facilitate dialogue. We have always said “we are here to stay” and are doing our best to make sure that remains true.
Shutting our doors would be sad for customers, but it would be devastating for the livelihoods of the 33 incredible humans we currently employ. Our team is full of dedicated people with big hearts, mad skills, and incredible aspirations. We have seen our community move mountains and know firsthand how a small contribution can have a big impact. No amount is too small and we really appreciate your thoughts and support in any form right now. Our goal with this campaign is full transparency, so we will continue to keep you updated as the months go on.
If you wish to avoid online processing fees, feel free to send a check directly to:
Short Stack Eatery
301 W. Johnson Street
Madison, WI 53703
With love and gratitude, we will surely get through this together. Now say it with us....FUCK COVID!
Alex Lindenmeyer & Sinéad McHugh
Owners of Short Stack Eatery in Madison, Wisconsin
And don't think we will let you get away without some SSE swag....
1) Every donor will receive a “Save the Stack” sticker
2) Donations of $250-$999 will receive a SSE t-shirt
3) Donations of $1000+ will receive a SSE “Sweet or Savory” Sweatshirt
*while supplies last
#smallbusinessrelief #savethestack
It is with heavy but hopeful hearts that we’re asking our community for help at a time when so many are struggling financially. Over the last five months we have done everything we could think of to stay afloat. But COVID is anything but sustainable. We have been asking the tough question of how we are going to sustain ourselves, and arrived at the honest answer: we can’t. We have exhausted our financial resources, crunched numbers, and concluded that without financial help from our community, Short Stack will simply not survive the Winter. We have created this page to raise $40,000 to pay our rent over the coming Winter months, as we will otherwise need to shut our doors. Our base rent is $12,800 per month, which is not including utilities or insurance. We have not received any rent abatement, credit or forgiveness from our landlords, despite asking repeatedly for some form of relief. We have paid every penny of our rent, on time, since the moment we opened our doors over six years ago.
Ask any business in downtown Madison and they will be able to tell you about the seasonality of a city like ours. Madison bustles in the Summer, has a strong student presence in the Fall, but significantly slows down during the cold Winter months. COVID has undoubtedly destroyed any chance of profits this Summer and Fall, leaving us with no reserves to make it through the Winter. Without your help, this Winter will surely be the demise of our restaurant and so many others in our community. For many people, Short Stack has been more than a restaurant; it has been a sanctuary, a second home, a community meeting place, and a family. We recognize the power of our mission and space, and the visibility it creates in downtown Madison.
We are a women-owned business that has supported and built partnerships with so many community groups and nonprofits over the years. We’ve put down roots here and it is now our turn to ask for help. We are determined to stick around so that we can continue learning and serving our community in new and sustainable ways. We will continue to use our resources, skills, and platform for social change in this city that we love. We will continue to fight for Black Lives, stand up to injustice, nourish allyship, and facilitate dialogue. We have always said “we are here to stay” and are doing our best to make sure that remains true.
Shutting our doors would be sad for customers, but it would be devastating for the livelihoods of the 33 incredible humans we currently employ. Our team is full of dedicated people with big hearts, mad skills, and incredible aspirations. We have seen our community move mountains and know firsthand how a small contribution can have a big impact. No amount is too small and we really appreciate your thoughts and support in any form right now. Our goal with this campaign is full transparency, so we will continue to keep you updated as the months go on.
If you wish to avoid online processing fees, feel free to send a check directly to:
Short Stack Eatery
301 W. Johnson Street
Madison, WI 53703
With love and gratitude, we will surely get through this together. Now say it with us....FUCK COVID!
Alex Lindenmeyer & Sinéad McHugh
Owners of Short Stack Eatery in Madison, Wisconsin
And don't think we will let you get away without some SSE swag....
1) Every donor will receive a “Save the Stack” sticker
2) Donations of $250-$999 will receive a SSE t-shirt
3) Donations of $1000+ will receive a SSE “Sweet or Savory” Sweatshirt
*while supplies last
#smallbusinessrelief #savethestack
Organizer
Alex Lindenmeyer
Organizer
Madison, WI