Milton’s Restaurant Falling Short of Fundraising Goal To Stay Open Ahead of Oct. 10 Deadline
Milton’s Vittles, Vino and Beer, a family-owned Crystal restaurant, has a storied history of feeding the community. Now, a community-run fundraiser hopes to return the favor before the end of this week to keep the restaurant afloat.
A month ago, Milton’s VVB on Douglas Avenue announced on Facebook that it plans to close its doors on October 31. The restaurant’s owner, Fran Weber, cited rising operation costs, equipment breakdowns and the limitations of being a 50-seat restaurant.
The community quickly filled the post with comments and shares — some sharing sympathies and saying “thank you.” Others called for ways to help keep the business alive.
Erica Garcia-Jones, a regular customer who lives in Robbinsdale, praised the food and the hospitality.
“It would just be really sad to see the family have to close their doors when they’ve just done so much for the community. And we all want, we’re all committed, to doing everything that we can to keep their doors open,” Garcia-Jones said.
Garcia-Jones organized a fundraiser on Givebutter and set a $100,000 to $150,000 goal with the advice of the owners. That money, she said, will help hire a consultant to build up the restaurant’s catering efforts, repair and buy new equipment, and address its marketing efforts, among other restaurant needs.
Milton’s posted on Facebook that the decision deadline is Friday, Oct. 10. If they don’t reach the goal by then, its closing date would still be Oct. 31.
As of October 9, the restaurant raised just under $22,000 — about 14 percent of its goal.
Milton’s’ Vittles, Vino and Beer’s Givebutter page.
More Than a Restaurant
On the Givebutter fundraising page, it’s written that Milton’s is “a cornerstone of kindness, connection and community.” Garcia-Jones gave examples of that kindness. She said Milton’s took care of her fiancé’s mother, bringing her food before she died nine years ago. Garcia-Jones also said the restaurant took care of her family, catering her brother’s funeral for free after she lost him last year.
“I think, really, anybody that knows the family has a story just like my fiancé or me, where they’ve made such a touching impact on everybody’s personal lives,” Garcia-Jones said.
Garcia-Jones said that when you enter the restaurant, the family wants to know about your life. She said it employs community youth, single parents and many other community members.
“They don’t just nourish your body, they nourish your soul,” Garcia-Jones said.
A photo of the Milton’s storefront.
Giving Back
On Facebook on September 12, owner Fran Weber posted that her family put their own money into the restaurant for some time now and the cost to run the business has only gone up. After she saw the community response, she said people were asking them to do a fundraiser.
“I have never asked for anything like this before. It is a new and uncomfortable space for me. I guess it is time for me to learn to receive,” Weber wrote. “I want to be clear that if there are monies raised, this cannot be a band-aid. Any funds received will be directed immediately toward building long-term stability, with the focus being our catering program.”
Weber wrote in the post that she wanted to be transparent about where the money would go, while expanding the catering system, adding delivery, loyalty program and gift cards.
Garcia-Jones said this fundraiser is an opportunity to give back to a business that’s given a lot to the community.
“They’re just always looking out for other people. They’re just so generous with helping,” Garcia-Jones said. “So, when they announced they were going to be closing … really, everybody just wants to come through for them like they have done for everybody else.”
In a disclaimer at the bottom of the fundraiser, Weber said she wants to give back to anyone that donates if the goal is not reached.
People can donate to Milton’s on its Givebutter page. As of Thursday afternoon, 209 people donated $21,606.
