As it heads into its 94th year in business, The Colonnade is jumping on the GoFundMe bandwagon, hoping to drum up financial support amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The longstanding southern eatery is the latest Atlanta institution seeking help from patrons on the crowdfunding site following an overwhelming success by Manuel’s Tavern to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars within days of taking its campaign live.
“A GoFundMe was launched five hours ago to save the historic Atlanta restaurant, The Colonnade, known for their Southern comfort foods,” a GoFundMe spokesperson in an email Wednesday told What Now Atlanta. “The owners, Jodi and David, are trying to make ends meet during this unprecedented time and with sales are down 60-70% while costs have increased, every dollar raised will go to help The Colonnade survive the next few months.”
The momentum for The Colonnade’s fundraiser seems on par with that of Manuel’s Tavern. So far, the restaurant has banked over $5,000 with a goal of $100,000. “If you can, please donate to this fund,” Suzi and Robbie, the unidentified creators of the GoFundMe, wrote in the campaign’s brief. “Every dollar will go to help The Colonnade survive the next few months. The loss of The Colonnade, which is imminent without financial relief, would be a significant blow to Atlanta. Please help if you can!”
The organizers kicked off the fundraiser by making a $1,000 contribution of their own. “This Atlanta landmark has provided delicious food and fellowship for three generations of my family and countless others,” Suzzie and Robbie wrote. “I can’t imagine Atlanta without the Colonnade…”
This isn’t the first time The Colonnade has asked for financial support. In March, the restaurant launched a small GoFundMe, but with a different mission: to provide its staff with cash while restaurants were required to temporarily shutter.
“We have seen an immense amount of global support on GoFundMe as communities band together across the globe to fundraise for the most vulnerable,” the GoFundMe spokesperson said. “Approximately 60% of COVID-related fundraisers started in the US between March and August were for small businesses. Through these last nine months, we have continued to see an increase in GoFundMe campaigns for restaurants and their staff who have been laid off due to the closures and social distancing measures in place. Everyone has been affected by the pandemic to varying degrees. It’s been inspiring to see how people are still lifting each other up through giving.”
