In the financially forbidding restaurant world, launching a new place can be tough. That’s why Elizabeth Restaurant (4835 N. Western, Unit D, 773-681-0651) is asking fans to pitch in.
In a Kickstarter campaign created by the restaurant’s chef Iliana Regan and Philip Tadros, a restaurant entrepreneur (Dollop, Bow Truss Coffee Roasters) and owner of digital agency Doejo, the pair announced plans to create two new culinary concepts: Bunny the microbakery and Wunder Pop. The initiative asks that fans donate to cover the businesses’ start-up costs — a goal of $20,000.
“These were something that was kind of being conceptualized for a long time,” Regan said of Bunny and Wunder Pop. “I finally talked to Philip, who has been my customer for a while, and we both got really excited about it. So we started building it up.”
As for why she decided to use Kickstarter, “I think it’s kind of an awesome way to raise money,” she said. “Philip is pretty much my primary investor, he’s bringing the finance to the table, while I’m bringing the food and the talent. I did that so I could bring some finance to the table.”
According to the fundraising page’s description, the two miniature restaurants will share a small space at 2928 N. Broadway. Regan said the idea to use it as a multipurpose area came as an afterthought when they considered that the bakery would operate only during the day.
“I’m used to working in small spaces,” Regan said. “I’m used to dual-purposes.”
Bunny will feature some of Regan’s popular creations on a regular basis, such as bread, pierogis, doughnuts, cereals, jams, pastries and coffee. Wunder Pop, on the other hand, will seat 12 people and will function as an ever-changing pop-up restaurant that will serve as a “playground to test out new ideas.”
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Regan said Wunder Pop, the name of which refers to both pop-up restaurants and what is popular in the restaurant scene, will be a place where other chefs can come with their own ideas.
“The concept can be whatever,” she said. “If there’s a chef who’s like, ‘I really want to cook Chinese,’ we can say, ‘Okay, let’s do it.'”
It will also allow her to do her own experimentation. “I get inspired all the time, and not all of it will fit Elizabeth.”
In exchange for funding this effort, Elizabeth is giving back to patrons with some pretty good perks. The rewards begin with two doughnuts for a donation of $5 or more and climb to Wunder Pop VIP status for $250 or more, dinner for 12 at Wunder Pop at any time and with any theme for $1,000 or more and, lastly, a weekend with Regan and her crew at a cabin the woods with all meals included for $10,000.
“The things that we offer are pretty close to face value,” Regan said.
So far 56 people have backed the project, raising a current total of $5,250. The campaign will run until April 5, and Regan said the restaurant will likely open in May or June.
Twitter @ewickwire