About
The Playhouse // Swillburger
$24,475
218
We are Brian Van Etten and Jeff Ching, two Rochester, NY natives who have been conceptualizing and building a creative new destination for the Upstate New York area.
The Playhouse // Swillburger is a combination bar, arcade, and modern take on the American burger joint. The Playhouse will feature craft and classic cocktails, craft beers, and a full arcade of vintage video games and pinball.
Swillburger, housed within The Playhouse, is a modern approach to a classic meal. Emphasizing sustainable principles and classic technique, Swillburger brings 100% hormone free and antibiotic free New York State beef to the forefront in the preparation of the classic burger. In a casual, quick service format, Swillburger will also offer a unique vegetarian burger, as well as classic sides, and an incredible malted milk shake.
Learn more about our ingredient sourcing and values at our SWILLBLOG
Together, The Playhouse & Swillburger will provide upstate NY with an exciting venue to eat, drink, and play.
The space is located on the corner of South Clinton Avenue & Meigs Street, on the border of both the Swillburg and the South Wedge neighborhoods. The building, built in 1890, has been home to a theater, as well as a local church group. While the building provides much potential and opportunity, it also has been a great undertaking. To make it work we've been engaged in a huge build-out.
As tough as the project has been, we believe that when opened, it will be something truly incredible.
PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT OUR KICKSTARTER PROJECT!
Risks and challenges
There are a lot of risks in opening a bar and restaurant, but we feel the time is right, both for us, and for the city. With the local food movement explosion in recent years, we believe that it will be our standards, and not just our flavors, that will draw guests from the community. No longer are high quality and responsibly sourced food only available for a high price tag.
There has been a lot of time and effort, and between our previous ventures opening and managing restaurants in Rochester and Boston, we are confident that we are the right people for the job.
As this business opens and develops, we will continue to put in the time, energy, and thought into the needs of our guests and community.
Our promise to our backers and future guests: we will do everything possible to ensure your experience at The Playhouse // Swillburger is incredible. We will source the greatest products. We will strive to make sure you have a great meal. We will treat our coworkers with the utmost respect.
And you will be able to enjoy the rewards.
Thank you to Brandon and Seth and the entire team at STAACH for their genius designs, furniture, problem solving, etc. etc. We love you dudes.
Thanks to JR Kraus and Rob MacGowan for their video skills, somehow making us look only half ridiculous.
Thanks to Chad Grohman for his INSANE characters and t shirt designs. Truly fitting and unique.
Thanks to Garrett Kramer for his endless work on our branding and logo design, as well as his slick menu layouts.
Thanks to Gavin Thomas for his ability to help make our message coherent, and for helping us to continue to grow that message.
Thank YOU for taking the time to learn about what we are trying to do, and for spreading the word to your friends and family. It means the world.
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Funding period
- (30 days)