Re-Launching Ras Kassa's
Recently, the building that housed Ras Kassa's in Boulder, CO was purchased by Google and razed. For the last year, I have been cooking take-out meals from the Broker Inn in Boulder and have now found a place in Lafayette to reopen the restaurant. Would you be able to help us reopen?
I, Tsehay Hailu, opened Ras Kassa's Ethiopian restaurant in 1988 in Eldorado Springs, CO with 6 tables. In 1999, Ras Kassa's moved to 30th Street in Boulder to a much bigger restaurant. I am still the head cook for Ras Kassa's and received my Associate's degree in Culinary Arts from Front Range Community College. Now I have 28 years' experience in the restaurant business. I love to provide the people and the community I love with authentic Ethiopian cooking and an excellent cultural experience. I would like to request your support to bring Ras Kassa's back.
Our Goals and Your Perks
Our goal is to raise $60,000 for capital, 6 months of operating expenses, and remodeling at the new space. Expenses in re-opening include kitchen equipment, an updated computer & inventory system, rent, and a beer & wine license. We will use our funds frugally to make the new space inviting and comfortable. However, we will prioritize setting up the kitchen. We estimate that after we re-open it will take 6 months until our customers have found us again and we are running as usual.
Choose a perk and make Ras-Kassa's re-opening happen. Then come see us at our new space to enjoy great Ethiopian food! There is little risk to you and even some savings available in the larger perks. You can redeem lunch or dinner perks at our take-out space too since we will continue to operate there also!
Your Support Brings Ethiopian Food Back to Boulder
Ras Kassa's brought a unique cuisine to Boulder. Where will you get excellent Doro Wat and injera if not Ras Kassa's? Remember all those good times at Ras Kassa's? Let's keep it going! You know your sister-in-law who loves to go there when she's in town! Let's make sure you can enjoy dinner with her there during her next visit!
Ras Kassa's is a also stronghold for the Boulder African community. Let's keep this seat of African development in Boulder going!
I am on the board of the 501-C3 non-profit PRIDE Ethiopia which brings the local Ethiopian community together to build elementary schools, cap wells, and educate health care workers in the highlands of Ethiopia.
Richard and I cook at the annual BoaBoa Festival run by the BoaBoa Foundation which works to build libraries in Ghana and provide schools with books.
We hold an annual event at Ras Kassa's in which we welcome the African runners of the Bolder Boulder after that great race.
Ras Kassa's tries to give back to the community that has supported us so well!
The Work Ahead and Your Input
The restaurant business is hard but we have demonstrated that we can be a sustainable restaurant in this community. We have many, many loyal customers (we have 1,486 Facebook Friends) and we have new customers all the time. It has taken over a year in the competitive Boulder County real estate market to find the right spot - one that is central to our customers with the right size and the opportunity for growth.
One thing we are doing to make sure we have as many repeat customers as possible is to ask what you would like to see retained or hope to see changed in the new restaurant. Please email your ideas to me at RasKassasLafayette@gmail.com.
Take-Out, Kick-Off, and Spread the Word
Come visit us at our Broker Inn Take-out Kitchen near 30th St and Baseline (upstairs, 2nd floor). Call us at 303-447-2919 to place an order Tuesday to Saturday, 4 pm to 8 pm. There are several tables outside the kitchen in the Broker Inn atrium where you are welcome enjoy your meal. We have water, paper plates, and utensils available.
Our Indiegogo Campaign Kick-off is February 4th at the Broker Inn Event Room. Come be part of the fun!
We are selling tickets for the Grand Opening of the new restaurant on March 18th 2017 as one of the perks. We really hope to see you there and we hope you will be one of the first supporters for our campaign.
Please spread the word!!
In Gratitude,
Tsehay Hailu
