Here’s a little update on our newest bakery:
SCRATCHbread’s retail window (located at the corner of Bedford and Lexington Avenues) will be open this Wednesday, November 24th from noon-5pm with a Thanksgiving Day menu of breads and sweets, plus ready-made stuffing.
Starting December 1st, their retail window will be open every Wednesday from 4-8pm for the neighborhood.
They’ve got a new video on their kickstarter home page. They’re aiming to raise the remaining $6,000 of their goal in the next 17 days, and that means $10 from 600 people. Please check it out: http://kck.st/cZjZvz.
They are throwing a holiday extravaganza at their Bed-Stuy location on Tuesday, December 7th. Hot toast bites and seasonal cocktails–courtesy of Brooklyn Soda Works and the Manhattan Cocktail Classic–are in the works. More information to come soon!
Preface: I think Scratchbread is great; they serve up quality products and I’m happy to have them in the neighborhood. Hope they stick around, too.
However… I’ve never seen a business operate or market itself the way they do and I’m desperately curious, if anyone here would like to venture an explanation.
I’ve always thought that supporting local business meant being a loyal patron–but “patron” as in customer, not aristocratic benefactor. I’m having trouble translating a language and approach (asking for donations, volunteers, etc.) more suited to feeding the homeless or community gardens with a private for-profit enterprise. Bourbon raisin wheat bread is delicious, but it’s not endangered whales.
I’ll admit that I know little about current entrepreneurial trends. Are there others like this? Should Peaches Hothouse or Saraghina give this a try? Do other people here in Bedstuy feel comfortable with a request for such “patronage”?
Sincerely,
A local customer
I agree. That being said, if people are willing to give, that’s up to them. You could also argue that they are not making a donation, but in fact are making a loan. I believe you do get a gift certificate or something in return for donating. Perhaps the future gift’s value is worth the same as the donation. I for one will not be donating anything. My patronage, or lack there of, should be enough.
SO excited about this place. It’s right by my apt and I adore bakeries!
e.
check out kickstarter.com and have a look- i bet you’ll understand the concept a bit more. i’ve been wondering why, if scratchbread sells at the flea and to so many other fabulous restaurants, then why should’t they be able to open the door at least once a week to their local customers? build it up slowly and steadily…i guess that’s what they are trying to do tomorrow?
on another note, tiny cup is being sold?
forgot to say that i am thrilled! to have scratchbread in the neighborhood, and i wish them much success! yum.
Peaches and Saraghina don’t need to do something like Kickstarter because they have financial funding – their respective owners have the capital to run their business. The purpose of Kickstarter is to help entrepreneurs, artists, community groups, etc. at the grassroots level. It’s like going to all your relatives/friends for $ to help out w/ your business or project but on a bigger scale. And as Maconstreetman said – it can be seen as a small loan or tiny investment into something you really enjoy or believe in.
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This model of guerilla/grassroots investing, like community supported agriculture projects (like the Bed-Stuy Farm Share), have the potential to galvanize residents around economic development on an individual and community level.
I think this model can be successful only if there’s investor buy-in. If Scratchbread can prove its commitment to Bed-Stuy beyond a profit motive that only benefits Scratchbread, then they’ve got something.
Otherwise, they run the risk of being just another business coming into Bed-Stuy to make money and take it out.