Indiegogo is committed to accessibility. If you have difficulty using our site, please contact support@indiegogo.com for assistance or view our accessibility notice by clicking here

This campaign is closed

Mac's Burger Shack

Empowering and employing the homeless, one burger at a time .

You may also be interested in

Caret Left
Caret Right
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed
Closed

Mac's Burger Shack

Mac's Burger Shack

Mac's Burger Shack

Mac's Burger Shack

Mac's Burger Shack

Empowering and employing the homeless, one burger at a time .

Empowering and employing the homeless, one burger at a time .

Empowering and employing the homeless, one burger at a time .

Empowering and employing the homeless, one burger at a time .

John-Michael Mccullough
John-Michael Mccullough
John-Michael Mccullough
John-Michael Mccullough
2 Campaigns |
Springfield, United States
$216 USD 8 backers
0% of $35,500 Flexible Goal Flexible Goal
Highlights
Mountain Filled 2 Projects Mountain Filled 2 Projects

The story is about caring, about wanting to be the boss I never had.

It starts in San Diego where I got in trouble for helping a fellow vet, who was homeless at the time,  with food that was a mistake order, thats very experience lead me to want to be a leader of compassion and a owner of my own business. Which leads me to want to open a burger joint, which is to make money yet have a compassion factor of wanting to hire homeless veterans, to take advantage of the countless years of leadership, training, motivation and dedication that all veterans have deeply ingrained in them, would want to tap that and empower them to restore their greater sense of self.

This venture will be my chance to say thank you to fellow vets in a true tangible way and to be a living and working example of the credo  " Leave no man behind." Having made contact with agencies who deal with the homeless population, will be used as a information where house and using them to screen potential candidates to work as staff in the venture, only to make sure that they are willing , capable and have some basic food and  or customer service skills

 The staff will be very much involved, right down to the style and color of the employee uniforms !

  Staff will be helping to create a place of true customers service and value and not just another example of a consultant hired to follow a trend, A true burger joint, one where tradition, value and community are not just marketing buzz words. A place where atmosphere and ambiance are simple and to the point. not trendy but comfortable... 

As most know starting even the smallest of eateries takes money, most of the equipment will be used or re-furbished to cut down on spending and the most conservative estimate by two place here in Springfield, Missouri; Fellers and D Cloud would be at the very least $22,700 and the rest would go to 

rent:min. $2,200 Including deposit

utilities. min, $3,200 to be started

insurance: $1,200

advertising: $1,800

Food supply from the local Sam's Club( cheaper than food service vendors)  $4,000

To ensure I maintain employee retention and longevity I will make their pay $3 higher for servers, $2 higher for all kitchen staff,that is much more than being offered in the present local employment market, a true living wage NOT MINIMUM .Those pay rates will be more than the local market for hourly position in  the food service sector, will make it a point to close on Sundays and Thanksgiving and always on Christmas. 

 Wanting to stay with local vendors and having many give a verbal and written commitment once the location had been selected, completely making a strong effort to make it sustainable and competitive. Working with many of the local college marketing departments and for fresh new eyes to ensure that I meet the criteria and challenges and answer best I can any and all question concerning a life long passion and dream.

My own experience come from owning my own catering firm back in San Diego, started with a pick-up truck, 5 dollars in quarters and a small kitchen in my condo. Having worked and managed everything from chain  Italian restaurants to Midwest Bar-b-Que to East Coast fried chicken shacks to West Coast bay area seafood to Hash houses.and the ever present truck stop greasy spoon.

    Risks & Challenges

    Condition of the properties will always be a challenge and any work to bring it to code works against a timely opening as well
    the location. The other challenge would be that the area may see another burger joint as a possible glut of fast food places.

    With 3 location having been picked out there is the chance by the time funding comes though, one of the 3 could no longer be available. staying in constant contact with area commercial real estate agents and having them alert me of any deals or closing or property owners in search of a venture that will fit their needs as well mine when it comes to affordable food service ready spaces

    Other Ways You Can Help

    ANY ONE WHO HAS EVER HAD A DISABILITY KNOWS THAT GETTING THE WORD OUT IS IMPORTANT TO BEAT THE STEREOTYPES THAT WE FIGHT AGAINST, MINE OF COURSE IS BI-POLAR AND AS A COMBAT VETERAN PTSD..SO PLEASE  ,IF NOTHING ELSE SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT WHAT COULD BE THE LAST GREAT SINGLE OWNER BURGER JOINT  IN THE MIDWEST. THANK YOU.

    Looking for more information? Check the project FAQ
    Need more information
    Let us know if you think this campaign contains prohibited content.

    Choose your Perk

    menu post card thank you

    $1 USD
    a menu sent to you thanking you for your belief in the project
    Estimated Shipping
    November 2014
    1 out of 100 of claimed

    Free Fries or...

    $5 USD
    Free Big Ass Fries for two! or A video thank you
    Estimated Shipping
    November 2014
    0 out of 100 of claimed

    FREE BURGER BIRTHDAY

    $10 USD
    Pledge $10 or more 0 backers Free burger on your birthday..ID required, .non-transferable.. or a t-shirt and a hat with the company logo
    Estimated Shipping
    November 2014
    2 out of 100 of claimed

    BIRTHDAY SHAKE

    $25 USD
    A free shake on your birthday..ID required.Free meal for 2 people or your name on the menu thanking you for your backing of the project and a t-shirt
    Estimated Shipping
    November 2014
    0 out of 25 of claimed

    DINNER FOR TWO

    $100 USD
    Free meal for 2 people , once a week for a month..Non-transferable OR A milkshake you create and placed on the menu or a Bowling shirt with you name sew on it and a hat with the company logo
    Estimated Shipping
    November 2014
    0 out of 10 of claimed

    MILKSHAKE CREATION

    $500 USD
    A milkshake you create and placed on the menu ! A burger you create and name your name on the menu for all the see a video thank you, a bowling shirt with your name on it.
    Estimated Shipping
    November 2014
    0 out of 10 of claimed

    BURGER CREATION

    $1,000 USD
    A burger you create, then you name, on the menu bowing shirt with your name on it hat, video thank you, a booth or table with a plaque with your name or the name of a person you want to remember. your name on a plaque above the kitchen door thanking you for your backing of the project.
    Estimated Shipping
    November 2014
    0 out of 10 of claimed

    FREE FOOD FOR A YEAR

    $5,000 USD
    Free food for two people for a year.Not Transferable.Dine in only. bowing shirt with your name on it hat, video thank you, a booth or table with a plaque with your name or the name of a person you want to remember your name on a plaque on the front of the building thanking you for your support
    Estimated Shipping
    November 2014
    0 out of 7 of claimed
    Tags for this project

    You may also be interested in

    Up Caret