Tectonic Nightclub & Bar | Application Preview
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 217638196
Location: Salem, OR, United States
Length of Operation: 1-5
Number of Employees: 1-10 Employees
Annual Gross Income: $1M to $10M
Annual Gross Expense: $1M to $10M
Open to Loans: YES
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Funding Usage
This money will be used to secure an appropriate location, demolish and construct what is needed, and full build out of facilities (kitchen, showbar, two dancefloors, game room, outside seating area).
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Business Plan
The Williams Institute at the UCLA School of Law estimates that Salem's queer population is 6.1%. This is roughly 11,000 people who are currently offered only a single explicitly-queer nightlife option that is dated, incohesive, and poorly located. Tectonic will offer a gorgeous, cohesive experience that is in the heart of Salem. We have extensive weekly, monthly, and annual event planning in place to draw various crowds that correctly l currently have no options. By focusing on offering an elevated nightlife experience, combined with excellent customer service and above-average food and beverage options, we can attract a customer that is currently underserved in Salem. Around the 6 month mark, we plan to add weekend brunch events. By year 2, we will open a ancillary space that will be non-alcoholic and all-ages to invite two entirely new, and currently unserved, demographics: youth and people living a sober lifestyle. An investment in Tectonic is more than an investment in a nightclub. It's an investment in community. We plan to offer industry-defying wages to our historically marginalized staff of queer, Black, indigenous, and other global majority, and women members. Our focus is on creating a vibrant community, then investing back into that community. Each quarter, a portion of our profits will go to supporting mutual aid and nonprofit organizations that serve the LGBTQIA2S+ community in Salem, OR.
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Self Identified Competition
Currently, the queer community is only served by a single space, the Southside Speakeasy. While the Speakeasy has been operational for 18 years, they have not evolved at all. The space that they occupy is dated, the decor feels like an identity crisis, their programming is the same as it was 18 years ago when they opened, and they've recently been sold to people from outside the community. 15 years ago, they were starting crowds of over 150 people per night. Today, they call it busy if there are 20. Focus on Community and Inclusivity: * Safe haven for LGBTQIA2S+ community: Our unwavering commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive space for the LGBTQIA2S+ community, free from discrimination and judgment. This goes beyond just aesthetics; it's about fostering a truly supportive and empowering environment. * Beyond the bar: We will go beyond the typical nightclub offerings by creating a space for cultural exchange, artistic expression, and community engagement. We will recruit the best DJs, the most innovative Drag performers, and local artists to collaborate with. Each month, we will have a special speaker, and we will host space additionally for community conversations. * Radical commitment to fair practices: Bars and nightclubs typically pay minimum wage, a practice which leads to employees needing multiple jobs, being run down, and constantly facing burnout. At Tectonic, our starting wage is enough to live on by itself. Our workweek is compressed, with no one working more than 4 days a week. Healthcare will be offered to every employee. Tipping is a thing of the past; this outdated modern of cost-sharing leads to financial insecurity and prevents wage transparency. **Unique Entertainment and Experience:** * Curated artistic excellence: We will focus on high-quality Drag shows, innovative DJs that get paid one day each week to stay home and find new music so that we're creating trends instead of following them, and performance artists.. We will offer unique experiences like educational drag workshops or interactive and community Drag shows. * Embrace technology and innovation: We're over the set-it-and-forget-it club lighting that is currently used. Our dancefloor lighting solution is two-fold: first, LED dancefloors; second, integrated lighting systems. Both will tie directly to the DJ boards and synchronize to create an immersive experience unlike anything found in Salem today. We're working with Void Acoustics to build a custom sound system to provide the best sonic experience, as well. * Focus on local talent and partnerships: Offering two monthly community Drag shows will give anyone new to Drag a way to easily explore. Our more polished Drag shows will feature celebrated members of the community who attract audiences on their own. Sustainability and Social Impact: * Environmentally conscious club: From the outset, our approach is different. We will be installing solar generation panels on our roof, contributing to the electric grid instead of just taking from it. All of our lighting is low-energy LED. We will be using bioplastic straws to lessen our waste. The kitchen equipment we've sourced is energy efficient. * Direct action for LGBTQIA2S+ causes: Each quarter, we will dedicate a portion of our profits to support local LGBTQIA2S+ mutual aid groups, nonprofits, advocacy groups, and scholarship programs.
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Contact Applicant
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