In addition to the amazing benefits we’ve all come to expect from the World Wide Web, such as social networking, multimedia, hypertext documents, etc., the Web has also provided a platform for unique opportunities that would otherwise be impossible to realize.
Indiegogo, an international crowd funding site based in San Francisco, provides such an opportunity, enabling people all over the world to raise money for all types of campaigns or business ventures.
For example, Angelo Lutz, executive chef and owner of “The Kitchen Consigliere Cafe,” (read restaurant reviews) would like to expand his restaurant business. There’s just one problem: Angelo is unable to borrow funds from banks because of a past felony conviction, despite being in business for 3 years.
Angelo was convicted of gambling and extortion and sentenced to nearly nine years in jail. While he might disagree with the extortion charge, he readily admits the bookmaking charge.
He spent more than seven years in a federal prison. But now he’s doing what he loves.
“An avid fan of the Food Network, he is constantly taking ideas about how to prepare food, adding a twist or a spin, throwing in some unexpected ingredient and coming up with a new dish.”
Angelo applied to over a dozen lending institutions and is unable to borrow funds because of laws and Bi-Laws prohibiting the institutions from lending to convicted felons.
Thanks to companies like Indiegogo, Angelo, now a productive tax paying member of society, may be able to raise the funds he needs to expand his restaurant to a 3600 square foot facility within walking distance of its current location.
Angelo risked everything he had to get his business started. Here is part of the narrative associated with Angelo’s fund drive:
“He was forced into unconventional lending ( Hard Money). After overcoming that hurdle he was forced by the government to pay in full his financial fine of $15,000.00 levied at sentencing or not open his Cafe. Now on the verge of restaurant expansion and a reality television show about his life and struggles the past has appeared to once again block his path to success, redemption and a second chance.”
If you believe in second chances, you can help Angelo by contributing to his efforts to expand his restaurant facility. Angelo’s funding is flexible and his campaign will receive all funds raised even if it does not reach its goal. The funding duration is August 13, 2013 through September 16, 2013 (11:59pm PT).
Angelo’s funding goal is $25,000. Thus far, Angelo has collected $6,480 and there are 13 days left.
Angelo’s Bio
Born and raised in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, Angelo Jenaro Lutz aka “The Kitchen Consigliere” , fell in love with the fast life, sports gambling, mobsters and food. The fast life, sports gambling and the mob life led him to a 9 year Federal Prison Sentence.
Angelo was the only child of 2 loving parents, Angelo & Helen Lutz. In the year 2000, his father passed just 5 days after he was indicted on Federal charges stemming from violation of the RICO Act. In 2006 while serving his sentence his mother passed. Unable to visit his mother while dying of lung cancer or able to attend her funeral he lives with the pain of being a failure in his parents eyes.
Determined to make things right, he struggles everyday to make his dream of owning a successful restaurant a reality. He has been in business 3 years and about to expand to a new location.
According to his website, Angelo learned his way around the kitchen from watching and listening as his mother and grandmother prepared Italian meals while he was growing up. The connection to food was familial.
“His maternal grandfather, Charles P. Giunta, was the co-founder of Giunta Brothers which imported Italian food products to Philadelphia. Charles Giunta also patented one of the first noodle cutting ” pasta making ” machines.”
Related Article: Restaurants Mobbed by Famous Mobsters
The Kitchen Consigliere is located at 8 Powell Lane Collingswood, NJ 08108
[mappress mapid=”35″]Hours of Operation:
Monday: CLOSED (private parties only, please contact us for information)
Tuesday ” Thursday: 4:00 pm ” 9:00 pm
Friday: 4:00 pm ” 10:00 pm
Saturday: 4:00 pm ” 10:00 pm
Sunday: 3:30 pm ” 8:30 pm