Business & Tech

Fundraiser Will Help Local Project Get Cooking — And You Can Help

A Kickstarter.com fundraiser to bring a shared-use kitchen to Romeoville is live now through Friday, June 15.

Steve Buresh has already . But after founding his own business in the wake of losing his job, the man known as “the cheesecake guy” is looking to help other entrepreneurs get their start.

Since launching “Steve Buresh’s Cheesecake Store,” Buresh has been working out of a shared-use kitchen in Homer Glen. But with that location closing, he realized there were no other local options for small food-based businesses.

So he decided to start his own.

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Buresh hopes to bring a to the Romeoville area, providing a venue for entrepreneurs who need a certified, commercial kitchen to create their products.

“There’s a demand for this,” Buresh told Patch last month. “This gives these entrepreneurs a chance to get going in a different type of business.”

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Now, he’s one step closer to realizing that goal for himself.

On Wednesday, Buresh’s Kickstarter.com fundraiser began. The site allows entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to the public and collect donations to make them happen.

Buresh is hoping to raise $25,000 to rent a space in Romeoville and outfit it with commercial ovens and sinks. But there’s a catch — if his Kickstarter.com fundraiser doesn’t reach that goal, he won’t get a dime.

Already, Buresh said he has 10 local entrepreneurs interested in using the kitchen, which would offer memberships for frequent users as well as hourly rental rates.

To view a video on Buresh’s plans for a shared-use kitchen serving the Will County area or to donate to the project, click here. The fundraising deadline is Friday, June 15.

Buresh is optimistic about making his dream a reality.

“Building the first shared use kitchen in the southwest suburbs will bring a new group of food artisans to our communities, jobs opportunities and give a boost to our local economy,” he said. “It's a win-win for everyone involved."

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