A family that opened a coffee shop inside a recently closed Italian restaurant in Old Town North has launched a GoFundMe.
In January, Dream Chasers Coffee owners Leo and Brittani Maggio opened Valletta Espresso Bar inside Italian restaurant Valletta Port at 682 N. St. Asaph Street. On Friday (April 17), the restaurant abruptly closed. Maggio told ALXnow that he arrived at work to find the doors locked and the business shut down.
“We’re heartbroken by how suddenly this chapter ended, but we’re incredibly grateful for the people who supported us,” Maggio said in a release. “We’re focused on rebuilding, continuing to serve the community, and finding the right next home for what we know we’re meant to build.”
In the GoFundMe fundraiser, the couple said that they built Dream Chasers Coffee with “everything we had.”
“After pouring our hearts, time, savings, equipment, and energy into building Valletta Espresso Bar, we were forced to close unexpectedly due to circumstances tied to the location that were outside of our control,” they said. “Our goal is not just to recover. Our goal is to reopen stronger, wiser, and more rooted than ever.”
Due to ongoing litigation, they were limited with what they could say publicly and declined to comment further.
The couple are currently looking for pop-up opportunities and are looking for another standalone location.
The Maggios are asking for funds to pay for:
- Replacement equipment and operational essentials
- Inventory and supplies
- Relocation expenses
- Legal fees
- Buildout costs for a future standalone café
- Short-term support as we transition and rebuild
ALXnow has also reached out to Valletta Port for comment on its closure.
Image via GoFundMe
