Trevett Hooper is nothing if not innovative.
Legume Bistro, his stellar restaurant in Oakland, and the adjoining Butterjoint bar have long been on Pittsburgh’s best restaurants lists, thanks to Hooper’s resolve to use seasonal, locally-sourced products, and his inventive takes on classic dishes.
When Hooper announced plans earlier this year to open Pie for Breakfast, a restaurant serving made-from-scratch breakfasts, lunches and dinners at a lower price point, he told us that he had an out-of-the-box funding plan to get the idea off the ground.
In May, Hooper introduced the POPS (Piece of the Pie) program, which allows people to invest in the restaurant by purchasing gift certificates that increase over time. And now, in a video just released by Pie for Breakfast, Hooper shares more about program, and how small investments from family, friends and customers have helped to grow his Good Faith Restaurant Group.
Available in $250 denominations, POPS gift certificates can be used immediately at Legume or Butterjoint, or if you hold onto them, the amount will increase in value 10% every year.
From Pie for Breakfast’s website:
- in 2016, a $250 POP can be redeemed for $250 in gift certificates
- in 2017, a $250 POP can be redeemed for $275 in gift certificates
- in 2018, a $250 POP can be redeemed for $302.50 in gift certificates
- in 2019, a $250 POP can be redeemed for $332.75 in gift certificates
- in 2020 and thereafter, a $250 POP can be exchanged for $366.03 in gift certificates
Hooper said that since the program’s launch, POPS has been a success with regular customers.
“Legume has always been about the relationships we have, with our workers, with people we buy food from, and with our customers,” Hooper said. “It’s about a responsibility to each other – to me, that’s what community means. I want us to commit to long-term relationships with the people we work with, and I want customers to commit to a long-term relationship with us.”
Financially, this model makes sense for the restaurant group, Hooper said.
“We ran the numbers, and basically, we’re getting money that we don’t have to pay interest on. Though the value of goods does go up every year, it’s still good for us.”
The POPS program is only going to be available until December 31, though gift certificates purchased until then can be used in perpetuity.
Hooper said that he expects Pie for Breakfast to open this coming spring. In the meantime, Legume is hosting a preview brunch on Sunday, November 27, featuring potential Pie for Breakfast menu items, and the restaurant is also hosting a classic Maine Shore Dinner on October 30.
To watch the full video (and, it’s worth it alone for the behind-the-scenes look at Legume’s stockpile of preserved goods), visit their website.
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