Just months after stepping in to keep Baker’s (6408 32nd Ave NW) from closing, the neighborhood cocktail bar’s new owner is asking the community for help.
Molly Ringe, owner of Molly’s Bottle Shop next door to Baker’s, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help support the Sunset Hill bar through its first year under new ownership.
Baker’s announced in January that it would close after nearly seven years in business, citing “a myriad of factors” behind the decision. Later that month, the owners announced they were working with Ringe on a transition that would allow the bar to remain open instead of closing permanently.
Now, Ringe says additional financial support is needed to help make that transition successful.
“Our minimum goal is $30,000. Our full goal is $75,000+,” Ringe wrote in the fundraiser.
According to the campaign, the money would help cover employee wages and benefits, opening inventory, equipment repairs, insurance, licensing, cleaning costs, and provide enough financial cushion to help the business operate sustainably during its first year.
“So when I heard that Baker’s was closing, I couldn’t let it go,” Ringe wrote. “It made sense to turn to you — our incredible neighborhood & community — to help carry Baker’s into its next chapter and preserve our beloved neighborhood bar.”
In the fundraiser, Ringe said she hopes Baker’s will continue serving as a neighborhood gathering place, hosting live music, artisan markets and pop-up events while supporting local chefs, bartenders, musicians and other small businesses.
Photo: Baker’s