Warren-based waffle company launches Kickstarter for bus café

The Burgundian, a Warren-based specialty waffle company, will launch a Kickstarter campaign on Friday, Jan. 19 to fund the renovation of a double decker bus into a mobile cafe and kitchen./ PHOTO COURTESY THE BURGUNDIAN
THE BURGUNDIAN, a Warren-based specialty waffle company, launched a Kickstarter campaign on Friday to fund the renovation of a double-decker bus into a mobile cafe and kitchen./ COURTESY THE BURGUNDIAN

PROVIDENCE – The Burgundian, a specialty waffle company based out Hope & Main’s Warren kitchen, launched a $30,000 Kickstarter campaign Friday to finance the purchase of a double-decker bus which will be part café, part kitchen.

Shane Matlock, owner of The Burgundian, publicly announced the campaign to a packed audience at the Bayberry Beer Hall in Providence on Sunday, Jan. 14. The campaign, which can be followed on social media via the hashtag #DoubleDeckerBusCafePVD, will last 45 days and aims to raise $30,000. Money raised will fund the renovation of a former U.K.-based double-decker bus including 300-year-old reclaimed wood tables, counters and bar as well as flooring, lighting, a serving window and an awning.

The campaign will conclude on March 5. Matlock hopes to have an operational bus by the end of summer 2018, in time for fall weddings and the start of the school year.

Matlock said he chose to pursue crowd funding because it gave the public the opportunity to be a part of the business. Many people who want to start a business, he said, “can’t or won’t pull the trigger. … [Funding a double-decker bus] is a tangible experience for people to be involved without having to start their own business.”

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He said he chose Kickstarter in particular because “it has the biggest reach.”

In a statement Ali Montagnon, Hope & Main director of events and market manager, said the company is “thrilled” with the Kickstarter launch.

Shane Matlock, owner of The Burgundian, shows off one of his Gaufres de Liege./ PHOTO BY MICHAEL SALERNO
Shane Matlock, owner of The Burgundian, shows off one of his Gaufres de Liege./ PHOTO BY MICHAEL SALERNO

“Shane’s idea is so unique and his product is unlike anything else we’ve encountered. Lots of good things [are] coming from this company in the near future,” she added.

Once the bus is completed he plans to collaborate multiple local businesses including: Rogue Island Local Kitchen and Bar, PVDonut, Gastros401, Black Pig Burgers, Fountain & Co.

Pop up events are already planned for both culinary businesses, charity events and brewing tap rooms. The schedule features stops at Pantry @ Avenue N, Hope Artiste Wintertime Market, That’s Amore AIDS Benefit, Hope & Main Meet Your Maker Market, Stock Culinary Goods, Borealis Coffee, Proclamation Ale Company, Ragged Island Brewing Company, Isle Brewers Guild, Bucket Brewery, Trillium Brewing Company in Boston, Mass., Tree House Brewing Company in Charlton, Mass., Castle Island Brewing Company in Norwood, Mass.

In recognition of various amounts of financial backing, Kickstarter donors will receive Burgundian swag, tickets for DD Bus Tours in Rhode Island, coffee and/or waffle club memberships, a Patriots tailgate package and a pre-launch party invitation.

Matlock specializes in Gaufres de Liege – palm-sized Belgian waffles originally produced in the Belgian-French border town of Liege.

Kickstarter campaigns seem to be one platform through which Rhode Island food industry is growing. The launch of The Burgundian Kickstarter two months after the successful completion of a similar campaign by David Dadekian, owner and founder of Eat Drink Rhode Island.

The West Park Food Hall in Providence’s Smith Hill neighborhood, Dadekian’s latest venture, sought $119,000 over 30 days and received $123,656 from 604 backers.

Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdey or contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.

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