Brock is a staff writer for the Social Enterprise category of Justmeans. He is a professional writer and believes in the ideal of social responsibility and using industry and business to better the community. As a former journalist, he has seen the best and worst of social enterprise and social responsibility and wants to bring both to the forefront of the public eye....
Pop-up Restaurants Raise Awareness and Funds
American Express and other corporations have devised a unique way to create corporate social responsibility and spread awareness of cultural and economic issues - the pop-up restaurant.
The general rule is that 50 percent of small businesses, including restaurants, close in the first year, but the American Express pop-up restaurant only makes it three days. The restaurants are part of the Room For Thought competition, and Mission Australia recently benefited from the pop-up idea.
The Drummer Restaurant's upper level featured a Burmese menu and décor, while the lower level specialized in Sudanese food. Authentic music, featuring...of course...drummers, reverberated throughout the venue located in Sydney, Australia and raised awareness for refugee issues through personal interaction.
Pop-up restaurants are becoming a popular CSR option for many organizations and corporations. The restaurant is either created in an unoccupied space or a regular restaurant during off hours. They are themed towards whatever charity or mission is represented. A portion of the funds garnered from the restaurant go back to the charity.
The Foundation for National Archives, using money from Dole and American Express, transformed the Latino-themed Cafe Atlantico in Washington D.C. into the America Eats tavern to celebrate U.S. Specialties. Unlike the short opening of most pop-up restaurants, America Eats will stay open until January 3.
The restaurant's opening and closing coincide with What's Cooking, Uncle Sam, which examines the impact the government has had on the American diet through the years.
A portion of the money from the restaurant goes back to support the National Archives. Cafe Atlantico was completely transformed into America Eats and will not return until it closes. Pop-up restaurants are popular because of their short term popularity. Everyone wants to visit the new restaurant in town, and if it raises awareness of important issues or money for a good cause, even better.
Image credit: Chicago Geek
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