Chinatown Soup Launches Crowdfunding Campaign to Help Launch ‘Community Focused Cafe’ with Junie Dish
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Photo: Chinatown Soup
For the second year running, the “communion of creatives” behind Chinatown Soup are panhandling online with the hope of expanding their vision. This year, the goal for the Lower East Side establishment is more ambitious.
Chinatown Soup launched at 16 Orchard Street around this time last year, having taken the torch from the contractor Great Will Construction. Inspired by Detroit Soup, the concept is self-described as an “arts space for a neighborhood that has shifted from an immigrant-populated enclave to an emerging hotbed for real estate development and the new art scene.” The premises includes a storefront gallery, basement studio, and soon enough, a cafe.
Now entering its sophomore year, Chinatown Soup is changing it up to stay relevant. Owner Michelle Marie Esteva currently seeks $30,000 cash infusion – via Fund Dreamer – to “create an artist-run cafe serving coffee, tea, and specialty vegan snacks in the back of the storefront gallery.” Vegan chef-personality Junie Dish (aka Junie Ishimori), formerly of Stogo (which closed after Hurricane Sandy), is also involved, and will run her ramen pop-up from within 16 Orchard.
The cafe ensures that Chinatown Soup will keep its doors open and welcomes culture enthusiasts of all backgrounds to experience art outside of “the art world.” Answering popular demand, Chinatown Soup will also serve its namesake dish through a ramen pop-up partnership with vegan, organic Chef Junie Ishimori of Junie Dish. Junie is known for Stogo, a vegan ice cream shop in the East Village, and is happy to greet her fan club after having to close in the wake of hurricane Sandy.
This crowdfunding campaign runs the length of December. In the meantime, Chinatown Soup is on hiatus, but reopens to the public after the new year.
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