Omar Vazquez, general manager at Craft & Social, said he’s ready to man the helm. He is currently in the process of securing funds to take over ownership of the downtown mainstay from current owners Rafael Terrazas and Eric Nuñez.
He recently started a Kickstarter campaign to garner the start- up funds he’ll need to get the ball rolling. His goal: twenty thousand dollars by the end of the month.
“I’m trying to spread the message that I want to be the owner of Craft & Social, but I need some help,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to be my own boss, and I have a unique opportunity to actually purchase the bar.”
He took a page from the playbook of a couple local businesses that received a huge chunk of startup money from Kickstarter campaigns.
“Both Savage Goods and Kaedama exceeded their original goals through their campaigns,” Vazquez said.
He’s hoping the superior customer service he’s made a point to give each of his customers, the relationships he’s forged with them and people around the downtown area will solidify some local love in the form of donations. He’s hosting a One Week To Go Jamboree Kickstarter Party at the bar on Friday, September 14. A percentage of the money made from alcohol purchases will go towards Vazquez’ fund.
Vazquez plans on augmenting the beer offerings at Craft & Social once he takes over. While he’s not necessarily set on including domestic beers, he does want to take into account every beer drinker’s preferences. He also wants to add liquor to the menu. The addition of other beers and liquors is an effort to capitalize on other segments of the alcohol-guzzling population. He pointed out the proximity of Craft & Social to the cluster of gay bars downtown, acknowledging that crowd could potentially start off at his establishment with a cocktail and a nice cheese board before heading to the “Gayborhood.”
“We are a bar,” he said. “So let’s be a full bar.”
The addition of hand-crafted cocktails and artisan foods to the menu will help attract different demographics and add to the already unique vibe at Craft & Social.
Once ownership changes hand, which Vazquez hopes will happen within a month or 2 after the Kickstarter campaign ends, Craft & Social will still be the same high quality, chill spot people have grown accustomed to within the last 4 and a half years. Vazquez’ philosophy of “don’t fix it if it ain’t broken” goes a long way in his vision for the bar. Great customer service, 20 craft beer taps that alternate weekly, a select group of wines and healthy non-fried foods have been at the forefront of the bar’s offerings, and Vazquez said that will not change.
—
To donate to Vazquez’ Kickstarter fund go to kickstarter.com/projects/craftandsocial/help-me-buy-craft-and-social
http://kck.st/2w3E0v8
