Vegan coffee shop crowdfunds for new site to avoid closure
A vegan/vegetarian coffee shop in London is attempting to crowdfund £12,500 so that it can take on a new site and avoid closure, after its landlord decided not to renew its lease.
The Waiting Room has been in the same site in Deptford's High Street for seven years.
The business launched in April 2011 and has become a local favourite, however owner Alec Snelling has been forced to set up a crowfunding campaign to save it after the landlord's decision not to renew the lease took him by surprise.
Snelling has located a new, bigger site with a garden close by to the current Waiting Room and has appealed to investors on the Kickstarter website to fund the move.
"Over the last seven years we have become an integral part of the community… it really would be a shame and break our hearts if the Waiting Room was to close," Snelling said on the site.
He added: "Not only do we want to invest in equipment so we can offer everyone even more, we want to offer the same environment as the current Waiting Room."
"We want you to be just as proud of your neighbourhood coffee shop as we are. We want to be able to stay open a little later so we can offer you an evening menu to add to the blossoming food scene springing up in Deptford."
The Waiting Room is offering a series of rewards to investors, ranging from the right for investors who donate £10 to have their name added to a wall in the venue, through to a private party with food and drink provided for a pledge of £5,000 or more.
So far, the appeal has raised £3,550 from 11 backers, with 27 days to go.
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