What, exactly, is a pizza museum & restaurant? And where is this $15,000 going? (pt. 1)
So, here we are - the final two week push of the pizza brain kickstarter campaign!
Honestly, we're touched. As of this post, 200 wonderful people have reached out and spoken with their wallets to get the world's first pizza museum & restaurant up and running; accounting for over 70% of our project goal. We're almost there.
And yet, there are others out there on the periphery - those who are waiting, watching, curiously analyzing this project; not quite certain as to whether or not they too should support the cause of Pizza Brain with actual dollars and cents.
This kickstarter update is as much for them as it is for you.
One man from Philadelphia writes,
Sincerely, Deane
Thanks for reaching out Deane. For all those you serve as a mouthpiece for, whether fervent supporter or cautious bystander, we hope the following post sheds some light upon the situation.
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A few days ago, we introduced our Kensington neighborhood on Kickstarter and re-posted the article on our own blog. We were stoked to show off all of the good things happening around us - the urban farms, the eclectic art galleries and design spaces, the cool cafes and the new eateries opening up. We feel at home here. The creative vibe of our community is strong and Pizza Brain can't wait to contribute to it.
With less than two weeks to go before our campaign ends though, we wanted to get real with you.
Here's a few answers to some questions we've been getting:
Q: I'm interested in your shop, but a little wary of the business model. What exactly is a 'pizza museum & restaurant', anyway?
A: We're often asked if Pizza Brain will be just a straight-forward museum, a Hard Rock Cafe or just a Chuck E. Cheese's for adults (spoiler alert: it won't like any of those things, whatsoever). Without giving away too much though (we love surprises), we envision Pizza Brain as an art installation with a pizzeria inside of it. Loopy idea, you say? Not so much when you consider that we'll have approximately 2,000 square feet to work with- more if you include our outdoor courtyard space.
After all, the Dzepchishte Ethno Museum in Macedonia has only 527 square feet to work with.
And what is believed by some to be the smallest museum in the world, a cupboard museum in Paris called the Musée Placard d'Erik Satie, occupies just a single room.
Considering that, we think we're positively rolling in space! Enough at least to allow us to display elements of the collection in a way that's interesting; showcasing pizza culture and providing a place for artists to display their pizza-inspired work.
Like most museums, we envision Pizza Brain to be a continually evolving display of our collection and new art installations. Along the way, we're also likely to challenge one's idea of what a museum is. We've been investigating offbeat examples from New York to Las Vegas and have been gleaning inspiration. Everything doesn't have to be displayed in a neat line on a wall to be a museum, you dig?
And with more than a dozen schools and a prominent urban farm nearby, we also see an eventual opportunity to engage in farm-to-plate instruction and other educational activities that connect a kid's favorite food to an understanding of where it comes from and how it's made.
Yet, the museum is only one way we'll celebrate pizza. The other is by making super crucial, super choice, delicious pizza pies. We expect to make a name for ourselves with our traditional and artisanal offerings. But, more on the restaurant in part two (coming out later this week).
Q: So, is $15,000 enough to build the museum?
A: No. It's a minimum.
Museums and restaurants require a ginormous amount of money to get started. In the past 15 months, we've acquired property, hired architects, gone through zoning processes, set a Guinness World Record and are currently building-out the space. While we have raised significant, six-figure sums toward these major expenses, we are still short in key areas.
Q: Why, exactly, are you looking for community support?
Because we actually do need your help to get this thing going.
The $15,000 we raise on Kickstarter is earmarked for unfunded museum items such as custom-built cabinets and displays, picture frames, lighting, seating, sound/media equipment to project electronic elements of our collection, and dozens of other handmade, carpentry-related fixtures.
Every dollar we raise above $15,000 for these items further enables us to make the museum experience as special as we envision it to be. Because of this, your donations are absolutely vital to our success. And you spreading the word to curious friends and family in the coming two weeks is even more vital!
Thanks for reading. We'll be posting even more in-depth details about our project in the coming days.
Until then, keep spreading the word to your friends! We'll do the same.
xoxo, team pizza brain
326
Backers
$16,587
pledged of $15,000 goal
0
seconds to go
Funding period
Feb 20, 2012 -
Apr 1, 2012
- First created · 8 backed
- Brain Dwyer 1431 friends
- Website: pizzabrain.org
Pledge $5 or more
28 backers
PIZZA FAN - Much like the rest of the known universe, you're a fan of pizza. For your contribution, you've our heartfelt "thank you!’ and group hug from all four pizza brain owners. Outside of Philly? We'll send a kindly written email with kissy, huggy emoticons with a funny personalized picture attached.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $7 or more
13 backers
PIZZA FAN 2.0 - In addition to getting a group hug (and our deepest, heartfelt thanks) we're going to give you an OFFICIALLY LICENSED, HANDMADE PIZZA BRAIN PIN to proudly sport on your backpack, manpurse, ladybag, satchel or denim vest! Wear it proudly, good and faithful doughnator - each pin will be hand-pressed by no less than 1 finger of each of team pizza brain, to ensure quality and grandeur.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $15 or more
50 backers
PIZZA CONNOISSEUR – Your gift pegs you as more than a casual appreciator of pizza. So, you’ll receive all the life-affirming benefits mentioned above, and we'll make you a free personal-sized pizza & drink.
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $25 or more
109 backers
PIZZA ENTHUSIAST – Your ongoing love affair with pizza has physically manifested itself in the form of 25 digital American dollars. This gift level entitles you to a free small pizza and two drinks + a one-of-a-kind, hand-made doodle drawn by all four owners of Pizza Brain (don't worry - at least one of us dropped out of art school).
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $50 or more
48 backers
PIZZALITIST –You love pizza so much you make other pizza fans tremble with inferiority. We support your obsession. We'll throw you and 3 of your friends a pizza party at pizza brain (a free large pie of your choice and drinks for four on the house).
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $75 or more
6 backers
PIZZAVANGELIST – Your perpetual dedication to pizza is a part of who you are. You can’t help but spread the good news of the almighty pie to the masses. And for that, we'll reward you with our 3-day pizza extravaganza: one large pizza of your choice per day for a period of three days. To appease the archaeologist in you, we're including a genuine artifact taken from the walls of our mid 19th building during renovation (buried treasure?! human bones? a 100-year old pair of underwear? that's for us to know and you to find out).
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $100 or more
21 backers
GRAND PIZZA CHAMPION – The name says it all. All 'pizzavangelist’ benefits belong to you, plus an original, hand-signed pizza art print made by the Guinness record holder himself, Brian ‘Pizza Brain’ Dwyer! In addition to that, you’ll receive your very own piece of pizza memorabilia, to help get you started on your own collection. And in addition to THAT, you'll receive an actual locket containing locks of hair belonging to all four members of team pizza brain (no joke).
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $200 or more
12 backers
PIZZA LEGEND – Your reputation precedes you. All the above benefits of ‘grand pizza champion’ are yours- our 3-day pizza extravaganza, original pizza art, a slice of pizza memorabilia plus a 5-person pizza party at pizza brain with two large pies and drinks for five. We'll also carve your name onto the physical bricks and mortar of our restaurant, crystallizing your infamous love of pizza for centuries to come.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $500 or more
0 backers
ULTIMATE PIZZA WARRIOR - All the above benefits of ‘pizza legend’ are unquestionably yours. We’re so honored to be graced by your donation’s presence that we’re throwing in a complimentary bottle of bubbly & a private pizza party for 8 at Pizza Brain - with live music accompaniment by the owners themselves!
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
1 backer Limited (4 of 5 left)
THE PIZZA SPIRITS WILL BE VERY PLEASED WITH THIS ONE! We shutter at the very thought of your pizza excellence. All the above benefits of ‘pizza legend’ are yours, plus a guaranteed spot sitting at the right hand of the pizza gods, should the inevitable pizzappocalypse happen in our lifetime. Oh yeah, and we've got your pizza brain summer pizza orders- one large pizza per week- covered (that’s over $240 worth of free food!)
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012Pledge $2,000 or more
1 backer Limited (4 of 5 left)
PIZZA GOD – Congratulations! You have achieved ultimate pizza nirvana. You’re entitled to everything you see on this list, plus the overwhelming sense of self-worth that comes with being a pizza god. Rule your kingdom benevolently, oh mighty one. Oh yeah, we'll give you 1 free pizza per week for an entire year!
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012
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