Stand by Chef Solomon: Relocation Needed

Dear Friends, Family, and Supporters,

We are reaching out to you with heavy hearts but hopeful spirits. As many of you know, we launched THE BUSSDOWN DC on August 31, 2023, with dreams of bringing our unique culinary experience to the vibrant food scene in Washington, D.C. After relocating from Oakland, California, we were excited to share our passion for food and community with you. However, we now find ourselves facing unexpected challenges that threaten our ability to continue serving you.

Despite our best efforts, the food hall where we are located has proven to be a difficult environment for our restaurant. The foot traffic just isn’t enough. It’s hard for our target demographic to reach us in Foggy Bottom, we may be THE ONLY black owned business on this side of town. and with rising food costs due to inflation, we are struggling to keep our doors open. The food hall's lack of social media presence and activation has further limited our visibility, making it hard to attract new customers and build our community.

I’ve worked the entire month of November alone in an attempt to keep as much money in house but I can’t keep up with the labor at this rate.

As we approach our closure date in January, we have made the difficult decision to seek your support. We believe that with your help, we can potentially relocate THE BUSSDOWN DC to a more suitable location that aligns with our vision and allows us to thrive.

Our Plan:

1. Relocate: We aim to find a new location that is more accessible to our target audience and can better support our brand.

2. Revitalize: We want to create a vibrant space where our community can come together, enjoy great food, and participate in exciting events.

3. Engage: We plan to actively engage with our community through social media and local events to create a loyal customer base.

How You Can Help:

Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a significant impact on our ability to relocate and continue our mission. Here’s how your support will help:

- $25: Helps cover basic supplies for our kitchen.

- $50: Aids in securing permits and licenses for our new location.

- $100: Supports marketing efforts to promote our grand reopening.

- $500: Contributes to the renovation of our new space.

- $1,000: Assists with initial inventory and operational costs.

In addition to monetary contributions, we would greatly appreciate you sharing our campaign with your network. Spreading the word is just as vital to our success as any financial support.

Thank You!

We are incredibly grateful for your support and belief in THE BUSSDOWN DC. We know that with the help of our community, we can overcome these challenges and continue to bring joy through our food and culture.

Thank you for standing by us during this journey! Together, let’s make THE BUSSDOWN DC a thriving part of Washington, D.C.

With love and gratitude,

Chef Solomon Johnson

Founder, THE BUSSDOWN DC