Toronto’s Hospitality Sector Receiving Some Hospitality of Its Own
It may seem like an eternity ago given the events of the past two years, but it was just five years ago in 2015 when the Ontario’s Securities Commission investigated Toronto restaurants who were seeking investors through crowdfunding website Indiegogo. Back then, the fresh approach to raising capital was floated by flourishing restaurants with their eye on opening new locations, or those looking to launch establishments outright. In 2021, crowdfunding has not only grown into a viable platform for ventures seeking a donation-driven monetary influx; it has become a literal lifeline for the city’s struggling restaurants to stay afloat in the sea of turmoil created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several Toronto eateries and bars have been bolstered through donations from their customers, including downtown’s beloved, Sweaty Betty’s, and the list is likely to keep growing. With no sign of stay-at-home restrictions lifting anytime soon, the city’s restaurants face a grim reality, that in some cases, even the most creative thinking won’t be able to overcome. For many of Toronto’s foodies, reaching for their wallet in support of their favourite dining establishment until it can reopen is a fitting way of putting their money where their mouth is.
Those wishing to support Toronto’s hospitality sector can donate through the following websites:
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