Hillcrest’s Fruitcraft Fermentery & Distillery is currently seeking investment from San Diegans via Wefunder.
“If things continue to trend this way it will mean the end of San Diego’s vibrant craft beverage and restaurant scene,” says Alan Haghighi, founder and CEO, referring to the COVID-19 shutdowns and “inadequate government response.”
“To date, as consumers, all we’ve been told to do in order to help is to get take out and spend money with our beloved neighborhood staples. But take it from an operator of one of these establishments, the revenue isn’t going to be high enough to make ends meet. What we really need is investment.”
To that end, Haghighi has begun to host the “Social Value Supper Series” on the patio at FruitCraft, where a limited number of participants can “learn about participatory economic activism and community ownership.”
In a press release, Haghighi, who also runs The School of Social Value, says the company’s founders “are donating their ownership and shares to the community and are creating a social value cooperative, designed to invest all of its profits to furthering community ownership of business in San Diego.”
At time of press, FruitCraft has raised $21,050 of their minimum $50,000 goal. This Wednesday there will be a virtual Q&A for investors.