Love this! An an experienced Chef I still don't know where to start in finding funding for my own restaurant. These days it's a multi-million dollar investment, which can feel overwhelming. What are the financial options for opening a space when you don't have the money? How does one ask for money with confidence? Any angel investors out there, lol.
Find other women in hospitality in the city you want to open your spot in, and ASK THEM. It’s super uncomfortable, but they will help you, or they’ll know someone who can. If a woman came to me for help in this industry, I would tell them anything. Wish I could shed some light on this for you, but I didn’t have investors.
Just a note to say that your restaurants and coffee shop were some of my favorites in NYC and that what you classify as a bit of a wipeout was for your neighborhood an absolute gift. I brought my parents who were visiting us in Brooklyn when I was pregnant with Juliet to your first restaurant. Now that they're gone, I still think about that memory regularly with so much gratitude and love. Besides the delicious food, the playlists and bathroom art were impeccable, too. Your second restaurant had the best pho in the city and a was a backdrop for many fun times. Smith Canteen was my favorite hangout after school drop off and the friendliest, coolest place in Carroll Gardens with the most amazing food and vibes. More than anything though I think about the incredible energy and competence you brought to your "job-job" during this time when you were also stretching yourself with Herculean courage into a whole new life that eventually created the extraordinary Cherry Bombe empire. You are an inspiration to so many of us, Kerry, for living your life with such prolific bravery, confidence, style, interconnectedness, usefulness, and straight-up joie de vivre. There's nobody like you. <3
I love you, Kate. This made me cry. To be embedded into a neighborhood like we were takes things to a whole other level. Maybe I'll write about that one day.
Well done. Good reading for any entrepreneur. Starting a business…any business…takes more energy than one can imagine and is full of satisfying highs and devastating lows. Being prepared and learning all you can on someone else’s nickel will save you so much grief. There is no substitute for experience and a solid understanding of finances. Tell Cat hello for me!
this is awesome - and if you ever want to set up a mentorship program I'm in!! Dana and I have done this without real mentors and thats an unfortunate fact. This is so smart and amazing!
I would have died to have had a mentor when we opened our little restaurant. Sadly, I think the help was there if I’d had the courage to ask for it. We were under-resourced and scrappy. Spent everything we had (don’t do that, btw). I’m cheering on all of you!
I wonder how many women open restaurants while pregnant. Another very big struggle some women go through. I did. The years you have the most energy are the years some women want to have children. Curious if you might explore this here…
Great question. We've definitely talked over the years about balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. Could be a great subject for one of the columns.
Love this! An an experienced Chef I still don't know where to start in finding funding for my own restaurant. These days it's a multi-million dollar investment, which can feel overwhelming. What are the financial options for opening a space when you don't have the money? How does one ask for money with confidence? Any angel investors out there, lol.
Whitney, great question. We'll definitely be dealing with this in the series, but also on Radio Cherry Bombe and some upcoming member meetings.
Find other women in hospitality in the city you want to open your spot in, and ASK THEM. It’s super uncomfortable, but they will help you, or they’ll know someone who can. If a woman came to me for help in this industry, I would tell them anything. Wish I could shed some light on this for you, but I didn’t have investors.
Thank you for asking this Whitney! This is exactly where I've been stuck for way too long. Looking forward to this topic!
Just a note to say that your restaurants and coffee shop were some of my favorites in NYC and that what you classify as a bit of a wipeout was for your neighborhood an absolute gift. I brought my parents who were visiting us in Brooklyn when I was pregnant with Juliet to your first restaurant. Now that they're gone, I still think about that memory regularly with so much gratitude and love. Besides the delicious food, the playlists and bathroom art were impeccable, too. Your second restaurant had the best pho in the city and a was a backdrop for many fun times. Smith Canteen was my favorite hangout after school drop off and the friendliest, coolest place in Carroll Gardens with the most amazing food and vibes. More than anything though I think about the incredible energy and competence you brought to your "job-job" during this time when you were also stretching yourself with Herculean courage into a whole new life that eventually created the extraordinary Cherry Bombe empire. You are an inspiration to so many of us, Kerry, for living your life with such prolific bravery, confidence, style, interconnectedness, usefulness, and straight-up joie de vivre. There's nobody like you. <3
I love you, Kate. This made me cry. To be embedded into a neighborhood like we were takes things to a whole other level. Maybe I'll write about that one day.
I love you, too, Kerry. I'll definitely look forward to reading it.
Wonderful and well written so we glide along your journey — honest and love that the lesson is now I’m gonna be a mentor to others—
Brilliantly written! Thank you for sharing your restaurant journey. Cheers to the new series.
Well done. Good reading for any entrepreneur. Starting a business…any business…takes more energy than one can imagine and is full of satisfying highs and devastating lows. Being prepared and learning all you can on someone else’s nickel will save you so much grief. There is no substitute for experience and a solid understanding of finances. Tell Cat hello for me!
Kerry, you are just so cool and I love your writing. Thank you!
this is awesome - and if you ever want to set up a mentorship program I'm in!! Dana and I have done this without real mentors and thats an unfortunate fact. This is so smart and amazing!
I would have died to have had a mentor when we opened our little restaurant. Sadly, I think the help was there if I’d had the courage to ask for it. We were under-resourced and scrappy. Spent everything we had (don’t do that, btw). I’m cheering on all of you!
This was very interesting Kerry. So insightful. I'm looking forward to more in the series.
You don’t know what you don’t know!
I should have included that in my advice section
Love this, Kerry! Really great insight. ❤️
Thank you, Kristin!
This is great. I just started to write about my experience opening up a multi-unit food service establishment to help others in the future!
I wonder how many women open restaurants while pregnant. Another very big struggle some women go through. I did. The years you have the most energy are the years some women want to have children. Curious if you might explore this here…
Great question. We've definitely talked over the years about balancing motherhood and entrepreneurship. Could be a great subject for one of the columns.
This is great! Looking forward to more in this series. Thank you, Kerry.